Hello all - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Elsi · RV-Dreams Community Member

Hello all

Gpndavid · RV-Dreams Family Member

Welcome. We have owned several pop-up campers, a travel trailer, and now a motorhome. Since you are new at this, you may want ask a friend you has an RV to go with you on your first trip to give you some tips. Maybe there is a local RV club you can go out with. Just ideas to consider. Wherever you go, just meet the other RVers out there and folks are always willing to give help and advice.
When you start looking for a camper, check out the Keystone Outbacks. We had a 210RS that was a great rig with separate sleeping areas and a side cargo door. Step up one size from that and it has a ramp entry door.
See ya on the road!

jonesy · RV-Dreams Community Member

hi elsie we just had an short camping trip with a friend of ours. he was towing a 26 foot trailer with a vw toureg without a problem. the toureg is well rated to tow and he was quite pleased with its performance. we were up and down a lot of hils in vermonst and the adirondacks as well

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

First of all, welcome to the forums.

But, never mind what you hear from salesmen, whether they be auto or RV salesmen. They will sometimes tell you anything to get you to buy.

Go to a VW dealer and have them look at the VIN or door post information and get you the actual towing weights, specifically the Gross Combined Vehicular Weight (GCVW) rating to see how much of a trailer you can safely tow. Then, load up you VW with what you might be carrying in it when towing, along with both of you and full fuel to get the weight of the VW. Subtract that amount from the GCVW to see how much weight the fully loaded trailer can be. Just because a vehicle can "tow" a trailer doesn't mean it can tow it safely, especially when going down mountain passes.

Terry

Gpndavid · RV-Dreams Family Member

Terry is spot on. I would add to check to see if there is a "Trailer Frontal Area Limit" listed for the Toureg. We had a Grand Cherokee rated for 6,500lbs and thought it could tow a 5,000lb travel trailer no problem. I missed the Frontal Area Limit which was something like 48 sq feet (8X6). My travel trailer was something like 96 sq feet (8X12). When we hit I-40 westbound driving into a 40kt wind, the error became apparent. We were pulling a big sail with a short sleek SUV. Engine overheating and eventual transfer case failure had me stopping at the nearest Ford dealer where I bought a new F-150 with HD tow package. The F-150 was a great vehicle with the right equipment to take and all the stress out of towing that travel trailer.
Research well to avoid this kind of lesson. When in doubt, buy more tow vehicle than you think you need.

BiggarView · RV-Dreams Family Member

x3 on Terry's comment. Took a peak at the Touareg towing specs... ~7700lbs is decent for that type of vehicle but with that, it only accounts for the driver and a full tank of fuel. Subtract the weight passengers, gear etc in and on the Touareg from that ~7700lbs tow rating. Caveat emptor. Try to avoid having the tail wag the dog... go for the better( more capable) towing vehicle.

on edit, towing upto your max rating in such a vehicle, which, let's face it, is not truly designed to tow like that... is putting heavy duty strain on the trans etc. At the minimum I'd go for an aux trans oil cooler. The other thing would be... to be aware of the required change in your driving habits... it is far too easy if you are used to driving a certain way to forget about that giant brick behind you.... you simply cannot go cruising down the freeway at 75MPH with a large trailer in tow with such a vehicle. Not to mention that the tires on the trailer are problably not rated to go that fast... disaster just waiting to happen.

-- Edited by BiggarView on Thursday 12th of October 2017 03:12:38 PM

LarryW21 · RV-Dreams Family Member

"With two of us puttering around in the trailer, we're looking at a 23-25 (interior) length trailer. We need two sleeping areas as hubby is disabled, and I do NOT want to keep taking the dinette up and down all the time to make up a second bed."

Welcome! That's going to be tuff to find in that length.

PIEERE · RV-Dreams Family Member

Welcome Home!

Elsi · RV-Dreams Community Member

Thanks for the welcome. Yes, although the Toureg is "rated" to tow up to 7700 pounds, there's a section in the owner's manual that blatantly states that the vehicle is not intended to tow a trailer. I'm not sure why they have a tow rating and extra-charge tow package if it's not intended to tow a trailer. Perhaps the towing ability is only for boats and lawn mowers.

At any rate, I've just about come to the conclusion that we'd be a lot safer with a proper pick-up truck. We're not in a position to go away from home right now, so we've got plenty of time to put together the right package for us.

Elsi

LarryW21 · RV-Dreams Family Member

Elsi, a pick-up will make it easier to find a larger TT with a second sleeping area that doesn't need to be put away every morning. I just don't think you'll find one in the 23-25 length. Couple more feet won't be a big deal when towing. The Winnebago 2455BHS at 28 feet might work.