Really?

[AudiOnly101]

Fuel on the fire... https://youtu.be/k62gW3Se5e0

I work at a Vw dealer and these are stout heavy SUVs. And yes I drive a 2500 duramax daily to compare it to. Only thing wrong in that picture as others have noted is the adjustment on the wdh.

[CT Camper]

Even better.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WmM-635RR6o

[AudiOnly101]

Originally Posted by CT Camper

Even better.

Love that one!

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by Indymule

Ok so I get it, we all love our big trucks and our debating every weight issue known to man kind BUT that does not make everyone who doesn't have a truck a blooming idiot!

I have observed MANY people towing with big trucks that have NO business towing anything. I have also observed big trailers being towed with smaller PROPERLY equipped vehicles that were perfectly safe.

Let's not be so quick to judge this setup as unsafe. One of our own here on the board had a very similar setup and towed MANY miles. Don't fool yourself, just because we have big trucks does not make our setups safer!

Well said Indymule. general consensus is if you don't have at least a 1t dually or bigger you shouldn't pull even a garden trailer. Armchair experts.

[Minty]

I agree. Sadly the client probably went to dealer and said this is what I got for a vehicle. What kind of trailer can I pull? Sure sir no problem. This this is what you can pull( look at the money I made on that sale).

Scary. I know this as I went through it. Glad the folks at least like to Rv. Better get a bigger vehicle.

James

[Phenom]

First, I get a kick out of these pics on here. Partly because as I'm working, I live vicariously through seeing others out enjoying some camping. Then, the pics like these are just entertaining.

There's two scenarios here. One, they have no desire to own a truck. They tow two or three times a year for a short distance and that's it. Wouldn't be my choice but the sway and bounce will keep them slow.

Option two, they do own a truck. It had to go in the shop and the trip was planned. They're not retired and this was the only time they could do it. They weighed the options(not the trailer), and decided to go for it with the VW.

[breezyhillfarm]

I've got more truck than most of you here and I used to tow with a Dodge Caravan with our first TT. So tow with what you want, but if you have a problem, please don't take anyone else down with you.

[DreiHunde]

Originally Posted by Indymule

Ok so I get it, we all love our big trucks and our debating every weight issue known to man kind BUT that does not make everyone who doesn't have a truck a blooming idiot!

I have observed MANY people towing with big trucks that have NO business towing anything. I have also observed big trailers being towed with smaller PROPERLY equipped vehicles that were perfectly safe.

Let's not be so quick to judge this setup as unsafe. One of our own here on the board had a very similar setup and towed MANY miles. Don't fool yourself, just because we have big trucks does not make our setups safer!



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Exactly!
Go to Europe...all you will see are sedans and small SUVs etc towing 20 to 25 foot trailers. Saw hundreds of them And they are all doing fine in the mountains as well as the Autobahn. In 3 weeks I only saw a few Cherokees towing and only one "full size" truck but he wasn't towing.

[CC75]

Europe you say...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyXgMal3C1U

[DreiHunde]

Originally Posted by CC75

Europe you say...

And i can show you a hundred of accidents in the U.S. with duallys

[geeman53]

My advice is to stay on FLAT LAND !

[doc73]

Thing is with the European trailers or caravans.. They often do not have large water tanks, no waste tanks and use cassette toilets. They may look like our trailers but they are not. They are made to be pulled with the smaller cars if over there so they are much lighter.

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[DreiHunde]

Originally Posted by doc73

Thing is with the European trailers or caravans.. They often do not have large water tanks, no waste tanks and use cassette toilets. They may look like our trailers but they are not. They are made to be pulled with the smaller cars if over there so they are much lighter.

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True and generally better constructed from the ones I saw at a show in Munich.
Im just pointing out, as others have that just because its not a truck doesn't mean its not safe.

[rockfordroo]

I always get a chuckle on these vehicles pulling stuff. They aren't real tests; they are what are known as "STUNTS."

Remember the Tundra pulling the space shuttle? A Tourareg pulling a 747 down a runway at 5mph is NOT the same as pulling a TT down the highway at 65mph. I've seen video of a guy pulling a locomotive with his teeth. But he can't do the same at 65mph.

All any of these vehicles have to do is overcome a bit of rolling resistance and the inertia of the thing they're pulling. No wind resistance to speak of and no changes in elevation. Most of our HP is expended in overcoming drag, not weight.

Gear anything down low enough and it can pull anything; just probably not very fast. Remember Archimedes Lever: "Give me a place to stand and I can move the world."

[doc73]

Originally Posted by DreiHunde

True and generally better constructed from the ones I saw at a show in Munich.
Im just pointing out, as others have that just because its not a truck doesn't mean its not safe.

It is amazing how much better they are build, no real frills but still well build... And parking brakes... Weird.

I am all about keeping the right size vehicle for the job.. But I bet that person in the photo from the op is probably not a member here, or anywhere... Where he looked at the numbers and came and learned the reality if towing size.. He prob bought into the dry weight was the weight and the sales person said he could do it... Those are the ones who scare me.. Not so much the ones that UNDERSTAND what they are doing.

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[DDC]

Well I towed with a Touareg, 30 foot surveyor using a Hensley and it handled it a lot better than some some of the so called great towing trucks, it also returned an economical 22 miles to the gallon towing, as for stopping, well the trailer for the most part had brakes but on one trip last year I had to do an emergency stop on I40 and after that the trailer brakes became less effective and I found I was braking more using the VW brakes (actually Porsche brakes). When I arrived in Goshen and Dexter disassembled the brakes on the trailer they all fell out in pieces, must say I was glad I had a vehicle capable of stopping this trailer because most don't, give it a try disconnect the brake and go up to say 25 mph and see how useless your vehicle is at stopping.
I would recommend this VW as a great tow vehicle and I know because I have actually been there.

[DreiHunde]

Originally Posted by doc73

It is amazing how much better they are build, no real frills but still well build... And parking brakes... Weird.

I am all about keeping the right size vehicle for the job.. But I bet that person in the photo from the op is probably not a member here, or anywhere... Where he looked at the numbers and came and learned the reality if towing size.. He prob bought into the dry weight was the weight and the sales person said he could do it... Those are the ones who scare me.. Not so much the ones that UNDERSTAND what they are doing.

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Well said and I agree!

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by doc73

Thing is with the European trailers or caravans.. They often do not have large water tanks, no waste tanks and use cassette toilets. They may look like our trailers but they are not. They are made to be pulled with the smaller cars if over there so they are much lighter.

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EXACTLY!
I get so tired of this comparison.

I've been in Europe a total of 10 weeks and did a lot of driving.
As doc said, European trailers are way different than ours.
Very lightweight, lower profile, rounded edges and very low tongue weights.

Then there's the basic amenities they have, compared to our trailers.
Everything is built for weight savings.
Visit some of the European RV manufacturers and check their TT'S features and specs.

That's why they can be tow by cars.

I can tell you that I saw many instances of the tail wagging the dog though.

[AudiOnly101]

The Touareg has a higher towing capacity, more torque and better braking than a 1500 Suburban. But so many members here have to have a good old American pickup chassis truck or SUV. The touareg actually has better towing capacity, torque and braking than most 1/2 half ton trucks.

[DreiHunde]

Originally Posted by bikendan

EXACTLY!
I get so tired of this comparison.

I've been in Europe a total of 10 weeks and did a lot of driving.
As doc said, European trailers are way different than ours.
Very lightweight, lower profile, rounded edges and very low tongue weights.

Then there's the basic amenities they have, compared to our trailers.
Everything is built for weight savings.
Visit some of the European RV manufacturers and check their TT'S features and specs.

That's why they can be tow by cars.

I can tell you that I saw many instances of the tail wagging the dog though.

"Built for weight savings" sounds like a truly horrible idea! Lol!

Im just trying to point out what many many others have tried to do. You dont need a 3500 dually to tow. I really dont care what others chose, its their decision, plain and simple.