Hitch bolt broke - now what?

[ck21084]

Sal,

You might be surprised

[noreen&sal]

Its probably just me, but not to much surprises me anymore. Sal.

[adwriter73]

Originally Posted by JFScheck

adwriter73,

Please come visit your fellow "Touareg & Cayenne" owners either at "Rennlist" under the "Cayenne" forum or at "Club Touareg" on their forums.

I have the same user name on both - have been towing with both a V8 Cayenne S with air suspension since 2004 and upgraded to a 2010 TDI Touareg with steel suspension just last January.

If you have found "install" instructions for brake controllers for either vehicle, chances are my name rings a bell.

I am hopeful that you can come visit us on either forum, lots of information that will be very helpful to you as you contemplate towing your new 31’ Airstream trailer with your Touareg.

Best Wishes,

John

John, I am on Club Touareg under "adwriter73", same as here. I will check out "Rennlist". Would love to hear your input on installing the brake controller. I will look up your posts. I bought the Tekonsha P2 to install in my Twarg.

[adwriter73]

I'm taking the vehicle to the dealer's body shop on Thursday for them to take a look at what they can do to correct the problem.

[JFScheck]

Originally Posted by adwriter73

I bought the Tekonsha P2 to install in my Twarg.

Used the P2 with the Cayenne - only went with the P3 for the T-Rex cause I liked the little graphics on the display.

We have beat to death the install procedures for both revisions of the Pepper & T-Rex - do a search and read up as all your questions (and then some) can be found - but if you think of a new one just give me a shout! Always glad to help.

[withidl]

Originally Posted by adwriter73

Wow. Lots of response. Let me see if I can provide more details:

1. The VW dealer tech told me that there is a weld nut on the back (he thinks) and that must have broken loose. There is no access to the back of the holes. I would have to create an opening to reach it.

If the welded nut has in fact broken loose I would try to drill a SMALL access hole adjacent to the nut so that a hardened rod (screw driver) could be inserted adjacent to the nut and fulcrumed against the nut to keep it from turning while tightening the bolt. With friction against the broken weld sheet metal AND the fulcrumed rod you may be able to stop the nut from turning to get the proper torque applied to it. If you can get the proper torque than the broken spot welds won’t matter.

Additionally, see my avatar ……… I’ve pulled a 31 foot 2002 ASCL 8,300# GVWR for over 32,000 miles with my 2001 BMW X5 using a Hensley without any problem what so ever.

[adwriter73]

UPDATE: Took it in to the body shop today. I don't quite know what they did, but they got the bolt out. Sounded like they had to drill out a larger hole to accommodate a larger bolt as the existing hole threads were damaged during the removal of the bolt. All I asked is that everything is tightened to spec and safe to pull what I need to pull.

[MoBambi]

Could it be time for a Ford F150/250/350

[JFScheck]

Great News!!!

[noreen&sal]

Originally Posted by mobambi

could it be time for a ford f150/250/350

yes

[adwriter73]

Originally Posted by MoBambi

Could it be time for a Ford F150/250/350

Not yet!

[mojo]

Originally Posted by MoBambi

Could it be time for a Ford F150/250/350

No, because a 150/250/350 can't do this...

YouTube - Touareg Moab 2009 - Fins and Things Kenny's Climb

[noreen&sal]

Originally Posted by mojo

No, because a 150/250/350 can't do this...

Why not?

[JFScheck]

I bet you my new F-350 crew cab short bed could, clearance and angles look right, plenty of torque and suspension, put her in 4-wheel drive mode and lock the rear and let her rip!

Now for the new 2011 Touareg's, that feat is gonna be impossible till they offer the "off-road package" as an option latter in the year which returns to the Touareg the off-road plating, transmission and AWD components that made the previous two generations so kick A$$...

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Hi, I did stuff like that with my Jeep CJ-5 and I didn't even have a two way radio coach.

[adwriter73]

Originally Posted by overlander63

To answer one of your questions, YES, you do need all those bolts. They are designed for all of them to be there, and all properly torqued. You will be putting 25% more strain on the remaining bolts, which can overstress them. They can and probably will stretch, loosen, or break at the most inopportune moment.
If you can get no help from VW, try one of your better auto body shops for help. They deal with damaged fasteners all the time.

I double-checked all 4 bolts yesterday. Was starting to obsess over whether or not the body shop got them all torqued properly. Well, the problem bolt is definitely tight, but not to VW specs (80 lbs). I didn't want to mess with it for fear of messing something up, so I asked the body shop about why it wasn't tightened to 80 lbs., and they told me they cannot get it any tighter. Period. I just don't know how concerned I should be about this, but no one at the dealership or the body shop seems to think I will have any issues. But, what do they really know about towing? I'm thinking not much. Where else do I turn or do I just monitor it when I start pulling my Airstream?

[newroswell]

Originally Posted by adwriter73

Well, the problem bolt is definitely tight, but not to VW specs (80 lbs). I didn't want to mess with it for fear of messing something up, so I asked the body shop about why it wasn't tightened to 80 lbs., and they told me they cannot get it any tighter. Period.

They can't get it any tighter because they're concerned it will strip/break, you have your answer.

[easyride]

Originally Posted by mojo

No, because a 150/250/350 can't do this...

Now if it could do it pulling that 31' ,that would impress me. Dave

[VIKING]

If they strip a bolt it will cost them as much as $50 to $100 max to repair the bolt.
If the hitch comes off when you are going up a steep grade some day, it won't cost them a dime.
#80 is not all that much for a hitch bolt. I think it would be totally sufficient if you just leave it parked, but I would not drive that rig to the end of my driveway to pickup the mail in that condition.

Rich the Viking

[Aviator]

I torque the lug nuts on my trailer to 90#, no way would I tow with the hitch torqued to anything less than spec.