Porsche Cayenne, VW Touareg, Audi Q7 owners

[Hittenstiehl]

Now this would be a great VW tow vehicle.

[Ohiobrits]

Aero 3s here also. They do vibrate a bit but the extend enough to see the whole drivers side of our 27FB but not quite all of the curb side but almost. We are happy with them.

Make sure you have them on tight - we lost one that worked loose. Put it on below freezing after handling the PP stinger and could not feel my fingers ❄️probably not on tight enough.

[Tom_T]

Originally Posted by Ohiobrits

Aero 3s here also. They do vibrate a bit but the extend enough to see the whole drivers side of our 27FB but not quite all of the curb side but almost. We are happy with them.

Make sure you have them on tight - we lost one that worked loose. Put it on below freezing after handling the PP stinger and could not feel my fingers ❄️probably not on tight enough.

As I said above - those Aero 3 mirrors on our Cayenne/Pathfinder TV + trailer - & your, & many folks' situations - would NOT be legal for use in California!

First, under CA law your mirrors need to allow you to see your rear-most wheels, as well as visibility at least 200' behind the trailer - so your mirror set-up would get you ticketed here as well!

Secondly, in CA you broke the law by losing that mirror, would be liable for any damage to other vehicles & persons/property, & would be ticketed & fined! Nothing can come off your vehicles/rig, as I'm sure is similar in many or most other states.

Other states may have other mirror & towing rules, so it always makes sense to check the laws of any states your trip will take you through.

FYI ALL - Here's a handy link to a download of the California DMV's RV & Trailer Handbook, for those in or coming to our often sunny state.

https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/wcm/co...df?MOD=AJPERES


PS - A google search & AAA will bring up the relevant laws in your own &/or other states on your trip(s) as well.

Cheers!
Tom
///////

[dkottum]

Tom, are you sure you cannot meet CA requirements with the Aero mirrors? I haven't measured it but they look to be out there as far as factory tow mirrors, and work well on our Ram. We were towing in CA last year and no issues raised.

[Tom_T]

Originally Posted by dkottum

Tom, are you sure you cannot meet CA requirements with the Aero mirrors? I haven't measured it but they look to be out there as far as factory tow mirrors, and work well on our Ram. We were towing in CA last year and no issues raised.

Doug - it will depend on each rig - TV & Trailer - that one can see the last wheel + 200' min. behind the back end of the trailer & anything else on the back bumper - on both sides.

Ohiobrits stated that he couldn't see the side of his trailer on the curbside of his trailer, & the side of the trailer isn't the test by law - so I'm not sure if he could see his rearmost trailer wheels + 200' beyond the end of the trailer.

When you were towing out here Doug, you probably also noticed a lot folks towing above 55 mph - yet that is also the law.

It all depends if you're caught over 55 or not, to get ticketed - & likewise with your mirrors, but if you're stopped at 65, then you'll probably also get the inadequate mirrors written up at the same time.

But besides the law - which was written for some very commonsense safety reasons - with ANY TV & TT rig using ANY mirrors (stock or add-on) - it just makes sense that you need to see BOTH sides of your trailer, it's wheels, & at least 200' behind your rig - whatever state you're in at the time.

So I do not think it's a good idea for folks to get on here & say they've used product "X" of any type, which has legal, safety &/or other issues & concerns with them.

I do know that the McKesh mirrors will meet the CA laws & give the needed visibility on most tow vehicles, but the Aeros & other clip-on mirrors may not - depending on the TV & TT rig specifics. Also note that - even though it's a 1960 Avion - they were built wider than most ASs of that era, so I have even more to see around.

Doug - The rented RAM 2500s & Ford F250/150 trucks with which I towed, all had the pull-out towing mirrors & they gave adequate vision, so I didn't use the McKesh Mirrors nor any clip-ons with them, so I can't speak to your RAM.

However, I did use the McKesh mirrors on the prior rented Nissan Pathfinders (all were the prior model truck body-on-frame based version), after a literally dizzying experience with a set of CW clip-on mirrors.

The McKesh mirrors & Hensley Cub etc. were all purchased after our 2nd trip with the Avion - 1st ABQ > SoCal with a rented tow equipped Ford F150 with bare ball, but it had internal sway control & pull-out mirrors; 2nd trip was with a rented Pathfinder, which was a white-knuckle ride on bare ball & needed extra mirrors. The 3rd trip onward with a Pathfinder & Hensley Cub + McKesh mirrors were a dream!

I didn't mind popping for the McKesh mirrors then, because we still planned to eventually get a smaller mid-sized SUV for our TV (initially I even played with the `86.5-89 Porsche 928s with a 4200+ lb tow rating ) - so I will use them on our Cayenne S, whenever we get it.

On a mid-sized & smaller SUV - the McKesh mirrors should go out far enough to get the needed rearward visibility within their range of adjustment, so they should likewise work on a full sized truck/suv like your RAM - if the clip-ons you have won't.

Also note that - even though it's a 1960 Avion - they were built wider than most ASs of that era & more like the wider ASs of today - so I have even more trailer to see around & back.

Happy Trails!
Tom
///////

[Tom_T]

Originally Posted by Hittenstiehl

Now this would be a great VW tow vehicle.

Well now - you CAN tow the smaller & lighter Euro trailers with a classic VW Bus or Bug, such as the Eriba Puck/Fawn/Pan/Familia family, which are small & light weight aluminum trailers specifically made to tow with a wheezy VW or other car!

We're actually looking for one to tow with our `88 VW Westy Van & `85 BMW 325e E30 - so there!

Cheers!
Tom
///////

[Hittenstiehl]

Okay how about this one.... Color is good!

[Hittenstiehl]

Ahhh, forgot picture

[Knuff]

arghhh - my eyes are burning

[mhutchinson]

Here's a photo to maybe get this thread back on track.

[cactusjk]

Nice!

Originally Posted by mhutchinson

Here's a photo to maybe get this thread back on track.

[Tom_T]

Originally Posted by mhutchinson

Here's a photo to maybe get this thread back on track.

OK, you're on here!

So maybe ask your WD question again on here too, for more vehicle specific answers (altho you had a few Treg & similar mid-size SUV answers on your other topic in the hitches forum).

There are also some WD & anti sway info in the posts throughout the now many pages of posts in this thread.

BTW - that's a good looking pair!
Tom
///////

PS - That Blue Metallic is one of the colors that we'd LOVE to find in a 2008-12/13 Cayenne S - but Porsche just made Waaaay too many in flavors of Black!!!! :-(
////

[Tom_T]

Originally Posted by Hittenstiehl

Ahhh, forgot picture

Probably a chrome "wrap" .... but what's your point relative to the TVs on here??

Cheers!
Tom
///////

[Knuff]

Originally Posted by mhutchinson

Here's a photo to maybe get this thread back on track.

Love it!
So well balanced and simply beautiful
Tell us more about the setup if you like.

[mhutchinson]

Originally Posted by Knuff

Tell us more about the setup if you like.

Not much to tell: 2013 Touareg Sport TDI w/tow package (no other options) in one of the 5 shades of gray available. 2015 AS Sport 16 (butter ultraleather & microwave) with no mods to-date.

Thinking about a WD hitch with ~400 lb bars - but still pondering the best approach for us.

Also thinking about dual batteries, rear bumper, solar panels, power inverter, 1000W generator... but just thinking at this point since thinking is free-ish.

Matt

[chris_kelly]

Originally Posted by mhutchinson

Here's a photo to maybe get this thread back on track.

caw

[chris_kelly]

Originally Posted by Tom_T

PS - That Blue Metallic is one of the colors that we'd LOVE to find in a 2008-12/13 Cayenne S - but Porsche just made Waaaay too many in flavors of Black!!!! :-(
////

Totally agree with you on the black color with Porsche - I'm a fan of white with the terra-cotta interior




caw

[chris_kelly]

Originally Posted by mhutchinson

Not much to tell: 2013 Touareg Sport TDI w/tow package (no other options) in one of the 5 shades of gray available. 2015 AS Sport 16 (butter ultraleather & microwave) with no mods to-date.



Thinking about a WD hitch with ~400 lb bars - but still pondering the best approach for us.



Also thinking about dual batteries, rear bumper, solar panels, power inverter, 1000W generator... but just thinking at this point since thinking is free-ish.



Matt

Oh free'ish is good - just wait until you want'ish


caw

[JustinCase]

Current tow vehicle is a 2010 Audi Q7 TDI. It has been pretty easy to tow our 19' Bambi CCD. We moved from the Midwest to Idaho a few years ago. On the drive out, the noticeable difference was left shifting than our 04 Touareg V-8 in the mountains.

Now waiting on delivery of a 2010 Touareg TDI with air suspension to add to the tow fleet. May be looking into a larger trailer as well.

With either the Q7 or the V-8 Touareg, we NEVER felt like we were underpowered or lacked braking capability. We towed without sway control/ WD and never seemed to have any issue while driving. However, both vehicles had air suspension, so that may have made a difference as well.

Looking forward to reporting on the 2010 Touareg as a tow vehicle.

Cheers,
Matt

[Tom_T]

Originally Posted by mhutchinson

Not much to tell: 2013 Touareg Sport TDI w/tow package (no other options) in one of the 5 shades of gray available. 2015 AS Sport 16 (butter ultraleather & microwave) with no mods to-date.

Thinking about a WD hitch with ~400 lb bars - but still pondering the best approach for us.

Also thinking about dual batteries, rear bumper, solar panels, power inverter, 1000W generator... but just thinking at this point since thinking is free-ish.

Matt

Matt

BTW - if you decide on the Hensley Cub, you can transfer it to a longer AS up to 6000# & 600# HW (600# bars).

Well dang my ole eyes - I thought it was blue!

I guess it's similar to the Meteor Grey Metallic on the Cayennes (maybe even the same color name for VW?), which we also like.

We like the tan/beige & grey interiors over black though, because black gets so much hotter in the sun in the Southwest & SoCal, & it shows dirt & stuff more.

But we may have to settle for a black interior, if everything else we want is on it - e.g.: paint color, tow option, rear camera with the Nav - & maybe a few other options like roof racks/rails, & my wife seems enamored with heated seats (which seems antithetical to too hot in SoCal!!??) - which are nice to have, but not necessary to our needs.

We're looking for used `08-12/13, so we get what's out there.

Cheers!
Tom
///////