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timhortons · 03-14-2015, 06:07 AM

After years of complaining about SUVs and trucks I seem to have bought one.

Does anyone on here have experience towing with the Audi Q7 TDI 3.0 circa 2011 ?

This well researched tow vehicle choice was based on my liking the color of the truck and the seat and the twinkly lights.

This is the middle of the VAG big SUV brand range between the Toureg and Cayenne.

Would have bought thre diesel porsche, but they seem to require the sale of organs and limbs.

fth · 03-14-2015, 06:25 AM

The manual for our 2014 Q7 says 660 tongue weight and 6600 tow weight but it also says you can't use an equalizing hitch. However the guy at Can-Am in Canada says it makes a great TV once his mods are done to it and then you could use an equalizing hitch. You might want to check with him about the mods. Ours is still under warranty so we're not going to do it and plan to get a F150 for towing. Great car except for the voice nav which is horrible.

EarlM · 03-14-2015, 06:31 AM

Why do folks continually want to modify vehicles to make them tow vehicles???
Why not buy a towed vehicle with the proper weight ratings and that you can use a weight distribution hitch?

rostam · 03-14-2015, 06:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EarlM

Why do folks continually want to modify vehicles to make them tow vehicles???
Why not buy a towed vehicle with the proper weight ratings and that you can use a weight distribution hitch?

That's an astute observation!

Road Ruler · 03-14-2015, 06:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EarlM

Why do folks continually want to modify vehicles to make them tow vehicles???
Why not buy a towed vehicle with the proper weight ratings and that you can use a weight distribution hitch?

If you want superior handling, performance, and ride you need to go to the next level. An off the shelf pick up just will only get a pass.

TimH.. I am truly envious. Would luv to have that Audi as a TV!

xrvr · 03-14-2015, 06:54 AM

Here we go!! Peace,jim

EarlM · 03-14-2015, 06:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Road Ruler

If you want superior handling, performance, and ride you need to go to the next level. An off the shelf pick up just will only get a pass.

I guess it is sort of like my situation RVing I started out as below

Ford eco online van and a mattress
15ft serri Scotty
Fifth wheel trailer
30 foot holiday rambler motorhome
35 foot holiday rambler or a Chevy P30 chassis real bad uses
Holiday rambler imperial 5th wheel
3 diesel pusher Motorhomes

And now a 31 foot airstream

There is no perfect rv vehicle in my opinion all have pluses and minuses

Just like performance and handling you buy a Porsche in my opinion but for a TV in my opinion I like a 2015 GMC Denali 3500 Durmax

Safety, power and handling without frame or hitch modifications.

Just my thoughts

SteveSueMac · 03-14-2015, 07:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EarlM

Why do folks continually want to modify vehicles to make them tow vehicles???
Why not buy a towed vehicle with the proper weight ratings and that you can use a weight distribution hitch?

I'm taking this as a question, not an observation.

As someone who has a 3/4 ton diesel truck, I can tell you one reason I would consider something smaller and customized - effectiveness as a daily driver. My truck is (in my opinion only) the perfect tow vehicle and I love it when doing its job. It is also a pig as a "commuter car" and a bear to park (sounds like a zoo :-).

A midsize SUV with a diesel and all the tow goodies beefed up for >1000# at the hitch would likely do a very competent job with my 27FB and be a much better daily driver.

Everything is so specialized now. It would be fun to have a vehicle that could do a few different things really well rather than one task to perfection while all others fall flat.

timhortons · 03-14-2015, 07:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EarlM

Why do folks continually want to modify vehicles to make them tow vehicles???
Why not buy a towed vehicle with the proper weight ratings and that you can use a weight distribution hitch?

because neat looking headlights.

timhortons · 03-14-2015, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Road Ruler

If you want superior handling, performance, and ride you need to go to the next level. An off the shelf pick up just will only get a pass.

TimH.. I am truly envious. Would luv to have that Audi as a TV!

Already have a call into Andy T, just wanted to see if anyone had done this.

EarlM · 03-14-2015, 07:15 AM

I have other small vehicles a GMC Acadia and a BMW X5 50i which is sporty and super fast but I would never want to modify either for towing a 31 foot trailer

As far a parking the pickup practice makes perfect

rostam · 03-14-2015, 07:38 AM

I'm curious about the hitch reinforcement you are doing. Does the shop put a new sticker on the hitch stating the increased rating of the hitch? (Say for your Audi the rating goes from 660# to 1000#?). Does the invoice say the use of WDH is allowed after modification?
Thanks,

timhortons · 03-14-2015, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EarlM

I have other small vehicles a GMC Acadia and a BMW X5 50i which is sporty and super fast but I would never want to modify either for towing a 31 foot trailer

As far a parking the pickup practice makes perfect

We have different definitions of "small vehicle".

timhortons · 03-14-2015, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fth

The manual for our 2014 Q7 says 660 tongue weight and 6600 tow weight but it also says you can't use an equalizing hitch. However the guy at Can-Am in Canada says it makes a great TV once his mods are done to it and then you could use an equalizing hitch. You might want to check with him about the mods. Ours is still under warranty so we're not going to do it and plan to get a F150 for towing. Great car except for the voice nav which is horrible.

Guess I'm not missing out.

On mine the previous owner had skipped the nav package(5k?) and put in something aftermarket but completely hidden away. When you press NAV nav comes on, but you have to go back to radio, media, car whatever before you back up or the radar and cam doesn't come on automatically.

I'm assuming it's was done by the same installer who put a video game system in in it.

timhortons · 03-14-2015, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rostam

I'm curious about the hitch reinforcement you are doing. Does the shop put a new sticker on the hitch stating the increased rating of the hitch? (Say for your Audi the rating goes from 660# to 1000#?). Does the invoice say the use of WDH is allowed after modification?
Thanks,

Nothing has been done yet. This is a possible alternate tow vehicle when my Honda is elsewhere. I can post details here if and when I do this to the Q7.

> Does the invoice say the use of WDH is allowed after modification?

My used car dealer invoice does not mention this. Mostly it says I should show up with the money when I show up for the car.

rostam · 03-14-2015, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timhortons

Nothing has been done yet. This is a possible alternate tow vehicle when my Honda is elsewhere. I can post details here if and when I do this to the Q7.

> Does the invoice say the use of WDH is allowed after modification?

My used car dealer invoice does not mention this. Mostly it says I should show up with the money when I show up for the car.

Thanks! I was curious to know if the hitch modification invoice specifies the new hitch rating and whether the use of WDH is OK after hitch mod. Seems you have not done the hitch mod yet. It would be great if you share this info if/when you do the hitch mod.

Pivot429 · 03-14-2015, 09:37 AM

I have been towing with a 2011 Q7 TDI for the past 2 years. I already owned it when we bought our Airstream. After reading through all of these hitch threads and doing other reading I made the trip to see Andy at Can-Am and he installed a new hitch receiver that is reinforced for preventing twist when the weight distribution torque is applied. The set up is spot on and tows beautifully. If I were to replace it I would get another Q7 TDI. It is that good.

timhortons · 03-14-2015, 09:41 AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-He3Gq43DA

timhortons · 03-14-2015, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pivot429

I have been towing with a 2011 Q7 TDI for the past 2 years. I already owned it when we bought our Airstream. After reading through all of these hitch threads and doing other reading I made the trip to see Andy at Can-Am and he installed a new hitch receiver that is reinforced for preventing twist when the weight distribution torque is applied. The set up is spot on and tows beautifully. If I were to replace it I would get another Q7 TDI. It is that good.

Thank You !

fth · 03-14-2015, 11:12 AM

Boy am I sorry I replied to timhortons! I got jumped on for answering his question with what I knew. In my opinion if they had nothing useful to contribute than their silence would have been appreciated.

In our case we have a motorhome and bought the Q7. Then we decided to buy a AS and looked into what was needed to tow it. Obviously, as any intelligent person would do, we first checked on the vehicles we already owned to see if they would work. No need to buy another vehicle just for towing if what we had would do the job. My original post just shared what I had learned. I will be much less interested in contributing in the future after this experience.

The following is my emails with Canamrv and represents all the information I have. Do with it what you will:

Dear CanAmRV,

We are looking to buy a 2007 AS 31 and we have a 2014 Audi Q7. (We got the Audi before we decided to buy the AS) We were going to buy a used F150 to tow the AS until we saw your site. Can we tow the AS with the Q7? What would we have to have you make modifications to the Q7 and if so what would that entail? The Audi manual says it can tow 6600 and a 660 hitch weight but that it cannot use an equalizing hitch. Apparently the receiver is not attached very well from what I’m told.

Or what would you recommend for a TV?

We’re new to the AS but have had a Class C for 5 years and are moving up, in our minds to the AS.

Thanks in advance for your advice,

---

Dear Frank,

I had forwarded your inquiry to our towing specialist. Just in case you didn't receive this i'm forwarding you his response.

Best regards,

Ana Masse
Can-Am RV Centre
1-866-226-2678

Hi Frank

The Q7 is a wonderful tow vehicle for a 31' Airstream. We have outfit more than 175 Audis, VW Touaregs, and Porsche Cayennes to tow Airstreams. They are all essentially the same vehicle underneath. Weight-distribution hitches aren't used in Europe, hence the misinformation about not being able to use one here in North America. The factory receiver will not come off, but it may twist or flex due to torsional loads. Keep reading...

You will need the factory Class III hitch reinforced to be able to do this safely. This will prevent any twisting or flexing of the receiver and will spread the load over a greater area. I've attached a few pictures of a Touareg receiver that we've reinforced to illustrate. I added a post I wrote a while back for the Touareg owners' forum to answer a similar question.

I'm not sure where you're located. The only shops that do this work are Can-Am and a car restoration place in Los Angeles. We are approximately 2 hours east of Detroit, MI and 2.5 hours west of Buffalo, NY.

Regards,

Philip Tipler
Can-Am RV Centre
canamrv.ca
philip@canamrv.ca
Ana Masse
Product Specialist
Can-Am RV Centre
6068 Colonel Talbot Rd
London, ON N6P 1R1
Toll Free: 1-866-226-2678
Phone: (519) 652-3284
Fax: (519) 652-2695