Towing "oddity" - longish post -
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Joined: Apr 2003
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From: Northern VA
Towing "oddity" - longish post -
Had an odd towing experience:
"Borrowed" my neighbor's Cayenne S w/Air Susp. & equipped for towing (and got the neighbor, too - thanks, RS!!) to bring the boat home for the winter (Lake Anna to storage here in No. VA). It's an Arriva 2550, on an 80's vintage ESCORT very low profile dual axle trailer. A very nice drive down to Lake Anna, hooked the trailer on, and headed out, only to have the Cayenne act as an ill tempered horse! The road towards Thornburg from the lake are 4+ lanes in spots, but we simply couldn't take advantage of the empty, smooth roads. Turned around, asked @ the Marina - they steered us to a local "big truck" (CAT) shop w/a scale. The entire rig weighed in at 6, 119 lbs, with a tongue weight @ 700+ lbs (whoops). Readjusted to 650 lbs - with no good results! Kept sliding the load backwards (is that outdrive getting closer to the ground????), and got the tongue weight to 550 lbs, and presto - very stable, no problems!
I know - Tongue weight is "supposed" to be 10 - 15% of trailer weight. I can't find any good, sound engineering data on that range, though. In fact, the paperwork on my trailer says that due to it's "low profile" (the hitch stands just under 16" when level) the tongue weight "MAY VARY" (their emphasis).
So - is having a heavier tongue weight a real requirement, or is it a bit of "urban legend"....
Anyway, I plan on towing like crazy when the "S" arrives!!! Can't wait!!
J
"Borrowed" my neighbor's Cayenne S w/Air Susp. & equipped for towing (and got the neighbor, too - thanks, RS!!) to bring the boat home for the winter (Lake Anna to storage here in No. VA). It's an Arriva 2550, on an 80's vintage ESCORT very low profile dual axle trailer. A very nice drive down to Lake Anna, hooked the trailer on, and headed out, only to have the Cayenne act as an ill tempered horse! The road towards Thornburg from the lake are 4+ lanes in spots, but we simply couldn't take advantage of the empty, smooth roads. Turned around, asked @ the Marina - they steered us to a local "big truck" (CAT) shop w/a scale. The entire rig weighed in at 6, 119 lbs, with a tongue weight @ 700+ lbs (whoops). Readjusted to 650 lbs - with no good results! Kept sliding the load backwards (is that outdrive getting closer to the ground????), and got the tongue weight to 550 lbs, and presto - very stable, no problems!
I know - Tongue weight is "supposed" to be 10 - 15% of trailer weight. I can't find any good, sound engineering data on that range, though. In fact, the paperwork on my trailer says that due to it's "low profile" (the hitch stands just under 16" when level) the tongue weight "MAY VARY" (their emphasis).
So - is having a heavier tongue weight a real requirement, or is it a bit of "urban legend"....
Anyway, I plan on towing like crazy when the "S" arrives!!! Can't wait!!
J
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,572
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From: San Francisco Bay Area
Jeff, there is a very long thread on tongue weight on the VWvortex board.
A guy tried to tow the exact trailer rig they used on the VW TV commercial.
It had a 700lb tongue weight and the guy had real safety issues towing the rig. VW refunded his $ and the issue made it to CBS network news on a segment called "shame on you".
I don't believe the 616# tow capacity. My rig is about 6,000 lb wet. But I think my tongue weight is 550 - 600lb. I towed about 250 mi (freeway speeds) without problems and handling was excellent.
A guy tried to tow the exact trailer rig they used on the VW TV commercial.
It had a 700lb tongue weight and the guy had real safety issues towing the rig. VW refunded his $ and the issue made it to CBS network news on a segment called "shame on you".
I don't believe the 616# tow capacity. My rig is about 6,000 lb wet. But I think my tongue weight is 550 - 600lb. I towed about 250 mi (freeway speeds) without problems and handling was excellent.
