bojali

the receiver has a sticker that states the distance from the pin to the ball must be 6" max! checking my current unit i used on my tahoe the distance is 14" (with the loadlevel arms) Any reason this distance is recommened so short? any ideas?

jim

Jeffrey Behr

Well, certainly one reason has to be vertical loading of the receiver system itself. A 14" ballmount will load the receiver anchors one-and-a-third times more than a 6" one. Maybe the mounting surfaces and flanges are plenty strong enough to absorb the front/back and left/right forces of 616 pounds on the ball but not the equivalent of (616 x 2.33 =) 1436 pounds on the ball.

I'd try a shorter ballmount if physically possible.

Torags

The real question is, how does the 6" affect the level of your trailer beams. Don't know the engineering answer. Some of the tow hitches are really long for high pick ups to bring the trailer beams to an almost level position.

bojali

the problem is that porsche does not offer anything but their shorty. I am using a standard hitch for the load leveling system, it doesnt look like it can be shortend. I will do a test connection a check ball height and trailer level today. I agree that the 14" vs 6" will add more flex torque. bummer porshce has not looked into all the issues with towing..
jim

Torags

Could be the 6" max is because of unibody construction vs Tahoe truck rail chassis..

bojali

did even think about that.. I will get the shorty monday and check with other trailer shops to see if my stabilizer unit can be made shorter.. Since i am towing the end of next week, just down to Laguna Seca, i can probably get away without the stabilizer system, and stay within speed limits

jim

Torags

Good luck at Laguna Seca. Please post your tow set up experience. I know I'm interested in how you make out.....

bojali

Below is a semi-official response I got from Porsche Cars North America:

> Porsche does not recommend aftermarket towing stability "solutions." These devices were developed to help control vehicles with relatively primitive suspension systems, such as a live axle vehicle. The Cayenne's toe correcting rear axle provides a far greater level of stability and control than these systems.

sasilverbullet

Let's make sure we've all got this straight...

There are two things being talked about here, that I believe some of you don't understand the difference between...

There is a "load equalization hitch" and a "anti-sway stabilizer". What Porsche is referring to is the "anti-sway stabilizer". That's nothing more than a shock absorber that helps keep the trailer from swaying in the wind.

The other device is the "load equalization hitch". This unit is a MUST HAVE for tongue weights of about 450lbs or over. Porsche is NOT saying don't use one of these...

Just thought I'd straighten things out...

Pardon me for the abrupt response, I'm having a bad day...

Torags

Thanks for the clarification Mike......... you grumpy guy :-)

bojali

Sorry for my incorrect terminology of towing systems. where I said load-leveling and stabilizer replace with weight distribution system. Now I am not sure if this is the same as the load equalization hitch but I would assume that it is.

But what I explicitly asked was if a "weight distribution and sway control system was needed?" according to the response from PCNA through my dealer was "No system needed."

Can someone else verify this through their dealer?

jim

sasilverbullet

I had another cup of coffee, I'm fine now!

bojali

here is my email back from my dealer on my question:

Hi Jim,

The answer is that the Cayenne doesn't need a weight-distribution
device. Below is a semi-official response I got from Porsche Cars North
America - and Doug Nike, our shop foreman (who tows a good-size boat
with his Tahoe and who uses a weight-distribution system with it) agrees
with PCNA.

I also remember the Cayenne going through the slalom at Barber
Motorsports with the 996 on a trailer, and it used only Porsche's ball
carrier, period.

Also, part of what the rear-suspension subframe does is distribute load,
and it's a massive son-of-a-gun!

Anyway, I hope this helps - just stick to the Porsche stuff!

All the best,
< name removed>

> Porsche does not recommend aftermarket towing stability "solutions."
> These devices were developed to help control vehicles with relatively
> primitive suspension systems, such as a live axle vehicle. The Cayenne's
> toe correcting rear axle provides a far greater level of stability and
> control than these systems.
>

P.S. I'll probably get additional responses to the question, and, if I
do, I'll pass them along.

bojali

And another one from a PCNA tech guy:

"Let me just add one additional point of information reweight-distributing hitches. Contrary to uninformed opinion, WDH are not in themselves a stability aid at all. Rather, they are generally used when a trailer's tongue weight exceeds the tongue weight recommended by the vehicle manufacturer - and there may have some indirect stability benefit in the sense that a WDH keeps the tow vehicle's rear suspension
from bottoming out and unloading the front wheels. Of course, exceeding recommended
tongue weight is certainly an unlikely situation with Cayenne given its very robust
tongue weight rating."


jim

sasilverbullet

I've been pulling heavy and light trailers for over 25 years (both in the US and Germany) with a variety of vehicles.

First...a load-leveling or weight distribution hitch is NEVER supposed to allow you to connect a trailer that exceeds your vehicles maximum tongue weight!!!!!

It just takes the weight that's on the little ball, and distributes the weight more evenly to the tow vehicles frame. A picture is worth a thousand words. Click on the link below:

Here is a url of a good picture:
http://www.disneycampers.com/RV/Hitch%20Guide.htm
Be sure and scroll down, there's a lot of good pics...

Back to my original statement, It MAY not be necessary to have a anti-sway stabilizer (not load-leveling hitch) installed because the Cayenne handles like a dream. But, regardless of handling characteristics, if you want 450 lbs distributed more evenly on the Cayenne's frame, then you need a load-leveling unit! (see url above)

As you can see from the pictures, the load leveling hitch is a part of the unit that plugs into the Cayenne's receiver. So there is no 'parts' that need to be installed on the car...