Towing with 2011 Touareg TDI??

[grohgreg]

Originally Posted by imaginair

The 2" ball size didn't seem to make much sense given that most if not all trailers today use a 2-5/16" ball even if the trailer(Airstream) is only 4500lbs with a tongue weight well under what Volkswagen allows. This is very frustrating. When Volkswagen's Toureg Team was pressed for an explanation they could only say that a ball in excess of 2" normally indicates a towed vehicle in excess of their 7700 lb allowance, which we all know is not necessarily the case. Wish we had known this before shelling out nearly $50K.

I have to side with the VW folks on this. But ball diameter isn't necessarily the determining factor for weight ratings, it's the shank size. Here for example is a 2" with a 1-1/4" shank that rated for 10K. Yet here is a 2-5/16 with a 1" shank that's only rated for 6K. What I run on mine is an 8K rated AlumiStinger ball mount (1" hole) and an combo ball set rated at 8K; all three ball sizes mount interchangeably on a 1" shank. Not that I'd actually do it, but technically I could tow the entire Touareg 7.7K rating with a 1-7/8" ball.

//greg//

[imaginair]

Thanks for the feedback on ball/shank ratings,etc. The problem is still not being able to tow the Airstream at 4500lbs because it requires a 2-5/16" ball, which Volkswagen doesn't allow.

[grohgreg]

The 2-5/16" ball I linked to above will work just fine IF you take precautions not to exceed either its 6000 pound rating OR the 616 pound Touareg tongue weight limit. Same for the 8000 pound combo kit - provided you adhere to the Touareg 7700/616 limits. I consider the latter to be the more sensible option, since it would give you the flexibility to tow other trailers with smaller hitch couplers than your AirStream.

Here's my recommendation: 2" drop AlumiStinger and a 3 ball combo kit. I can't imagine getting any flack from VW over this rig. If it still offends your sensibility, use the 2-5/16" ball to tow your AirStream - then change to the 2" ball when you go to the VW dealer. I have this setup, and - when not in use - it all fits nicely in the styrofoam partition just to the left of the spare tire.

//greg//

[andytrig32]

Thanks for the info on towing. Looking to pack up my wife's and had no idea where to start.

[imaginair]

Again, thanks for the suggestion. Both the Airstream and VW dealers suggested the same thing. But because not to use anything larger than a 2" ball is clearly stated in the Touareg manual and supplement and was reiterated to me by the "Touareg Team" at VW, I'm pushing VW to agree to the 2-5/16" ball as long as the towing capacity and tongue weight is not exceeded. I'm doing this because I was told by VW(not the dealer) that the vehicle warranty could be voided if an issues arose that could be traced back to the ball size.

[grohgreg]

Originally Posted by imaginair

I'm doing this because I was told by VW(not the dealer) that the vehicle warranty could be voided if an issues arose that could be traced back to the ball size.

Since you seem to understand what I'm explaining, the problem is apparently with VW. And I'm assuming what you're calling the "tech team" is actually Touareg Executive Service. In the case of the latter, you're actually speaking an outsourced call center whose sole source of reference material is based upon what VW manuals and documentation they can call up on the screen in front of them.

The Touareg manual clearly incorporates the misconception that ball size automatically dictates load rating. And your tech team is merely precipitating this lack of understanding. Educate them to the fact that ball size and ball capacity are not mutually exclusive. It's not ball diameter that automatically dictates the load rating, it's shank size. This is not theory, this is sound engineering principle. So what you have to do is firmly request that the tech team escalate your issue to an engineering level. Once they grasp the concept, they can't possibly object to either of the two alternatives I suggested above. Might even result in getting the owner manuals revised.

//greg//

[imaginair]

Thanks for the follow-up. What you have suggested is in progress; however, Touareg Executive Service will not "escalate" this issue, nor will they provide us with the necessary contact information. We are now appealing to the dealer to press this issue with Volkswagen.

[imaginair]

The 2011 Volkswagen Touareg TDI supplement to the manual that came with my vehicle specifically states no weight distribution hitch is to be used, nor is a ball diameter greater than 2". Hope this helps.

[BlazinPond]

Looks like nice suggestions to me grohgreg....thanks for sharing!

Originally Posted by grohgreg

The 2-5/16" ball I linked to above will work just fine IF you take precautions not to exceed either its 6000 pound rating OR the 616 pound Touareg tongue weight limit. Same for the 8000 pound combo kit - provided you adhere to the Touareg 7700/616 limits. I consider the latter to be the more sensible option, since it would give you the flexibility to tow other trailers with smaller hitch couplers than your AirStream.

Here's my recommendation: 2" drop AlumiStinger and a 3 ball combo kit. I can't imagine getting any flack from VW over this rig. If it still offends your sensibility, use the 2-5/16" ball to tow your AirStream - then change to the 2" ball when you go to the VW dealer. I have this setup, and - when not in use - it all fits nicely in the styrofoam partition just to the left of the spare tire.

//greg//