Porsche Cayenne GTS as a tow vehicle

[Boba911]

I currently have a Tommy Bahama 19ft 2018 Airstream that I would like to tow with my new Cayenne GTS. The Cayenne specs are ;

Tow capacity 7700#
Max Load 1750#
Hitch weight 616# (Europe @ 8%) 770# (US @ 10%)

Airstream specs;
GVWR 5000#
UBW 4200#
Hitch Weight 550#

I will be using an Equalizer WD hitch that I currently use on my Jeep Gladiator. So all the numbers look good to me but just looking for some encouragement that this setup will work. I have some concerns with hitch weight but I don't think it is a problem. Also the Cayenne comes with 22 inch rims and would like to know if anyone thinks this is a problem due to extra strain on the drive train? I could go with 21 inch tires and rims but the 22's look better. Any help/experiances would be greatly appreciated.

[ZeGermans]

Originally Posted by Boba911

I currently have a Tommy Bahama 19ft 2018 Airstream that I would like to tow with my new Cayenne GTS. The Cayenne specs are ;

Tow capacity 7700#
Max Load 1750#
Hitch weight 616# (Europe @ 8%) 770# (US @ 10%)

Airstream specs;
GVWR 5000#
UBW 4200#
Hitch Weight 550#

I will be using an Equalizer WD hitch that I currently use on my Jeep Gladiator. So all the numbers look good to me but just looking for some encouragement that this setup will work. I have some concerns with hitch weight but I don't think it is a problem. Also the Cayenne comes with 22 inch rims and would like to know if anyone thinks this is a problem due to extra strain on the drive train? I could go with 21 inch tires and rims but the 22's look better. Any help/experiances would be greatly appreciated.

Check if Porsche "allows" to use WD hitches. Most German SUVs especially the sporty ones dont because it messes with their active suspension. And the PASM in the Cayenne might not like it either...

[propchef]

Originally Posted by Boba911

I currently have a Tommy Bahama 19ft 2018 Airstream that I would like to tow with my new Cayenne GTS. The Cayenne specs are ;

Tow capacity 7700#
Max Load 1750#
Hitch weight 616# (Europe @ 8%) 770# (US @ 10%)

Airstream specs;
GVWR 5000#
UBW 4200#
Hitch Weight 550#

I will be using an Equalizer WD hitch that I currently use on my Jeep Gladiator. So all the numbers look good to me but just looking for some encouragement that this setup will work. I have some concerns with hitch weight but I don't think it is a problem. Also the Cayenne comes with 22 inch rims and would like to know if anyone thinks this is a problem due to extra strain on the drive train? I could go with 21 inch tires and rims but the 22's look better. Any help/experiances would be greatly appreciated.

foobar pulls a 27 FC with his. https://www.airforums.com/forums/f23...ml#post2647365

The Cayenne is a great tow vehicle. The GTS is my favorite variant. Enjoy!

[JetstreamAS]

You should be fine with a 19' trailer, but I would look on Rennlist for more answers as there are many more Porsche people there that are towing than on Air Forums.

[vanster]

Read your owners manual and go on Rennslist. I don't believe Porsche wants you to use the same equalizers that you use on your Jeep. I just spent a month driving in Europe including a trip to the Porsche factory and museum last month. Always curious I noticed Porsches towing trailers did not have equalizers. I tow my 17ft Caravel with my VW V10 TDI and it has the same suspension as many of the Porsches and I do not use an equalizer. However I have only towed a my trailer about 20k miles combined and never had an issue. I recently hauled a car 2000 miles with a U Haul trailer ( total weight 5500#) and had no issues. Those wonderful folks that sell equalizers are going to tell you that you need one and that its a law in the US...good luck with that. In my brain the Germans are pretty good engineers and they think this stuff through a bit differently. Also their speed limit is a bit higher than in the US when towing. There are a few great video's of a Cayenne towing a trailer around cones at speed. Good luck

[ONESICKPUPPY]

Get a quote on a transmission first. And have triple a lined up.

[Hughmclaurin]

When out at Jackson Center for some work a couple years ago, I was shocked to see a Porsche pull in towing a 30+ ft AS. Not sure of the model but I do remember it being a Porsche. You may be able to see some of the hitch details on the blowup I attached.

[dmcfarlane]

We use a 2012 VW Touareg TDI to tow a 19" Airstream with an EAZ lift weight distribution hitch and it works great. We've gone over the Rockies and it pulled up the mountains with no problem.

[foster2]

Been pulling a fc27 for 7 years with a 2014 cayenne diesel and an ezlift weight distributing hitch. No modifications, no moving batteries, nothing. It just works and it is fine and tows like a champ.

[thewarden]

I have towed our 2016 27FB 10s of thousands of trouble-free miles with my 2008 Cayenne. I use a Reese WD setup adjusted to return all the weight to the front axle, and it handles great.

You will have no issues towing your smaller 19 ft. I stuck with the 21" rims and tires as they have a bit more sidewall than the 22"s, and I think they ride better when towing.

[thewarden]

Originally Posted by ONESICKPUPPY

Get a quote on a transmission first. And have triple a lined up.

What do you base this on? If you knew anything about Cayennne's or Touareg's, you would know that the drivetrains, particularly the transmissions, are near bulletproof.

[ZeGermans]

Originally Posted by ONESICKPUPPY

Get a quote on a transmission first. And have triple a lined up.

This is beyond stupid. Touaregs, cayennes, Q7s are the go to tow pigs in Germany. Yea trailers aren’t as big and heavy but a 19’ isn’t exactly big for American standards… probably every horse trailer in German gets towed by one of those…

[Tom_T]

Originally Posted by Hughmclaurin

When out at Jackson Center for some work a couple years ago, I was shocked to see a Porsche pull in towing a 30+ ft AS. Not sure of the model but I do remember it being a Porsche. You may be able to see some of the hitch details on the blowup I attached.

EDITS:

POST TITLE CORRECTION - Post Title should be 19' - your info bar at the left said 23' - so the 19' should be fine (apparently I can't edit the title).

FYI - We actually looked at the earlier 19' & 22' Bahama new, before we went the vintage trailer route in 2012.

Boba911 -

You should have no problem towing your 23' FC with your new CayGTS at all, & ignore the no WD hitch warnings posted here. The USA factory hitch receiver should properly list weight bearing & distributed HW ratings (770 or 700 for WD) & 770 or 7716 for total max GTW. If the decal lists Euro ratings, then your dealer/PCNA must provide you the USA decal at no cost.

There's a ton of Cayenne & other experience at the link below (more than Rennlist, which is mostly on car haulers) -

https://www.airforums.com/forums/f46...rs-134917.html

~ to ~

https://www.airforums.com/forums/f46...134917-81.html

Post your question here on there for more seasoned responses, but the WD question still comes up there.

The truth is that the Euro SUV mfgrs don't bother to update their owners' manuals to USA standards - for which the SAE test requires testing & certifying for both "bare ball" & WD towing ratings.

That looks like the Hensley Arrow hitch (1000# HW & 10000# GTW) in the photos above by Hugh... a great choice - but you can use their 600# HW, 6000# GTW Hensley Cub for about 2/3's the money - in the $1500 - $2000 range I think (I've not kept up on inflation rises).

https://hensleymfg.com/products/the-hensley-cub/

I've been using a Cub with our vintage kin 1960 Avion T20 since 2013 with various TVs. The advantages are: ZERO sway, you never have to remove the hitch head/torsion bars/etc. (except to grease the ball annually), you use easy & infinitely adjustable wind-up jacks to set the proper torsion (no chain links & 1/2-links to hoist), ability to open the rear hatch without unhitching, a very stable & untaxing ride towing - so watch your faster speed!


However, you can certainly use your Equalizer on the GTS if you prefer hoisting up tension bar chain links, removing the hitch head & torsion bars, etc. when stopped, getting greasy hands & clothes, etc.! ;-)

Here's an article by Andy Thompson at CanAm RV about towing a 30' AS with a 2015 CayTDI using the Equalizer (similar to Hugh's photos), & you can email to Andy about your set-up, hitch tweaks he recco's, tire/wheel sizes, etc. - or he may post on in the other Cay/Treg/Q7 topic if you post specific questions there for him.

https://www.canamrv.ca/blog/post/hit...ch-diesel-417/





Also talk with your fellow local PCA & POC members who tow with Cayennes for their experiences, although it too is probably mostly with car haulers to DE, AX, CdE, etc.

Lastly, for wheels - as a 911 owner you may have a sweet spot for the classic 5-spoke Fuchs, & Porsche does offer a 22" Fuchs-look wheel for the Cay in their online build sheet, but if you go to the Tech Options section under build your own, then you'll also find a 20" version in a snow tire package - so you could swap the snow for all season tires on that, then use the snow on another set of 20" wheels for winter use, when you probably won't be towing in RI.

Good luck & enjoy towing either way you go on hitch & wheels! You'll find it's a great tow combo.

Cheers!
Tom
///////

[propchef]

Originally Posted by thewarden

What do you base this on? If you knew anything about Cayennne's or Touareg's, you would know that the drivetrains, particularly the transmissions, are near bulletproof.

Yup! True, although there were a few years with transfer case issues unrelated to towing.

[thewarden]

Boba91, check this out if you have any doubts. Starts at 1:23 of the vid.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cMg42sW6NU

[dwinick]

We have a !9' Bambi that we tow with a 2014 Touareg. The Touareg is basically a brother of your Porsche. We have towed our trailer through the Rockies to and from Utah from Michigan several times without any issues. I prefer towing it with the Touareg as opposed to my Ford F-250.

You do not need any type of weight distribution.
We use an anti-sway bar which I would definitely recommend. Other than that you're good to go.
Did your Porsche come with an installed brake controller?

[Boba911]

What do Cayenne owners use for a brake controller? I was looking at the Tekonsha 90250 Prodigy RF Electronic Brake Control. I like the idea of plug and play and the ease of changeover to a second trailer. I am somewhat concerned about RF interference and there seems to be thoughts who love this setup and thoughts that don't? Anyone have experience with this controller used on a Cayenne?

[thewarden]

Originally Posted by Boba911

What do Cayenne owners use for a brake controller? I was looking at the Tekonsha 90250 Prodigy RF Electronic Brake Control. I like the idea of plug and play and the ease of changeover to a second trailer. I am somewhat concerned about RF interference and there seems to be thoughts who love this setup and thoughts that don't? Anyone have experience with this controller used on a Cayenne?

I use the Prodigy RF, and I like it very much. I have never had any RF issues, or any other issues, for that matter. They are an excellent unit.

[ModernVista]

Tow a 2016 28’ International with a Cayenne since new (currently on my 3rd Cayenne, a 2021 Turbo/ love these vehicles for towing!) and before that a 20’ Airstream FC.

Zero tow problems, zero car issues and use an Equalizer hitch and Prodigy RF.

Cheers!

Originally Posted by thewarden

I use the Prodigy RF, and I like it very much. I have never had any RF issues, or any other issues, for that matter. They are an excellent unit.

[ONESICKPUPPY]

Originally Posted by thewarden

What do you base this on? If you knew anything about Cayennne's or Touareg's, you would know that the drivetrains, particularly the transmissions, are near bulletproof.

I'm just basing this on pulling my As with my wife's GTS. Wasn't that great. The DCT doesn't seem to do well at slow speed or backing into a spot. I don't think it would last that long. But a 19' isn't too heavy so try it out.