2015 Touareg TDI limits

[Ken G]

Most semi tractors have surprisingly low HP ratings. It is torque and an 8 or 10 speed transmission that is needed for towing. My ecodiesel Grand Cherokee is 240 HP & 420 ft lbs. of torque that comes on @ 1600 rpm 8 speed automatic. I tow up & down west coast incl sierra nevada range, I have never had trouble maintaining the speed limit on any hill.

[jcl]

Originally Posted by BayouBiker

Many drivers will find the 240 hp TDI too under powered to competently pull trailers heavier than 5500 lbs on steep grades. The Cayenne on the other hand has much more capable engine choices.

Do you apply that same criteria to all the years of production of the Cummins 5.9 in RAM trucks? I understood from many owners that they were considered competent towing vehicles, and most had lower hp than the TDI.

I spent years driving a Ford wrecker with a 300 cid six. Lots of heavy tows. Never knew it wasn’t possible. And we lived and worked in the mountains.

The hp arms race has warped many people’s thinking IMO

[BayouBiker]

Torque at any given point in time factors into acceleration but it is horsepower that determines maximum hill climbing speed. I think the 400-600 horsepower of Semi is a lot but I suppose that is the problem with vague terms. Like saying "my vehicle tows with ease", it is nearly meaningless without information about speed, grade and cornering ability.

260 Hp pulling about 5800 lb should indeed do fine on the 6% Sierra grades at 55 in California and 65 elsewhere.

[Rhinno]

I am one of the fortunate ones towing a 27FB with a 2014 Touareg TDI. Yes, I had CanAm strengthen the hitch (to handle the torsion from the WD hitch). Though I started with a different one, I now prefer the ProPride hitch.
In my view, it is an ideal setup. Lots of torque, quiet, zero sway, tight turn radius, great mileage (even after the recall) and great daily driver. You do not need an additional cooler -- you are well within the Touareg specs.
I've done thousands of miles. Is there a hill that I couldn't climb at speed? Don't know, never bothered me. Assuming I experience one, I'm OK with not travelling the speed limit for 0.05% of the time to allow a great solution for the remaining 99.95% of the time.
Downsides? After VWs re-tuning, I now consume a lot more DEF, especially when towing.

[BayouBiker]

Originally Posted by jcl

Do you apply that same criteria to all the years of production of the Cummins 5.9 in RAM trucks? I understood from many owners that they were considered competent towing vehicles, and most had lower hp than the TDI.

I spent years driving a Ford wrecker with a 300 cid six. Lots of heavy tows. Never knew it wasn’t possible. And we lived and worked in the mountains.

The hp arms race has warped many people’s thinking IMO

It's a matter of expectations jcl. I don't think any driver on a steep grade expects a Semi or a burdened wrecker to be maintaining speed. Expectations of travel trailer speeds in the 50's - 90's were far different than today. On the road, I find most drivers approaching travel trailers expect the campers to be traveling withing 5-10 mph of the prevailing average speed for the lane they happen to be in at the time.

I don't consider a 1998 Dodge Ram Diesel a competent tow vehicle for a 25' Airstream by today's standards, though a 2003 would be fine.

[thewarden]

Originally Posted by BayouBiker

It's a matter of expectations jcl. I don't think any driver on a steep grade expects a Semi or a burdened wrecker to be maintaining speed. Expectations of travel trailer speeds in the 50's - 90's were far different than today. On the road, I find most drivers approaching travel trailers expect the campers to be traveling withing 5-10 mph of the prevailing average speed for the lane they happen to be in at the time.

I don't consider a 1998 Dodge Ram Diesel a competent tow vehicle for a 25' Airstream by today's standards, though 2003 would be fine.

Expectations sure do change over time. I bought a new 1993 Dodge 2500 Cummins and it was considered the heavy hauler of the day. Loaded with a 10ft camper towing an 20ft boat, I was passing anything pulling a trailer uphill with ease. And it had less HP and TQ than the OPs Touareg.

Now, if a perspective TW does not have 450 HP and 900+ TQ it is considered unsuitable to tow anything more than a utility trailer

[PB_NB]

Originally Posted by thewarden

Now, if a perspective TW does not have 450 HP and 900+ TQ it is considered unsuitable to tow anything more than a utility trailer

There may be a solution for the under horse powered Touareg TDI and that is a quick ECM stage 2 reflash to squeeze another 65 HP and 84 ft-lbs out of the little beast. That will put it just 60 HP shy of the 6.6L Duramax.

Malone Tuning does a ECM reflash that will give you extra get up and go and even help with the Adblue usage.

Search for Malone Tuning and TuneZilla. I did a Malone stage 4 with my TDI and took my 1.9L to 161 HP/310 ft-lbs. I could pass everyone going up hill (9% grade) with my Camplite ~2,000 lbs trailer on the back .

I still got 30 mpg with the trailer and 50 mpg without it.

[Khale]

I think the Touareg TDI is a great TV. I have been towing boats and trailers all my life and the Touareg has what it takes. My 21 ft Airstream is probably just under 5000 lbs and the tongue weight is 720. It does suck down the DEF when it’s towing.

[mbsprouse]

Wow! Thanks for the overwhelming responses. I feel much more confident now with our TV. Now on to find the Airstream...which is no small task these days

[ROBERT CROSS]

Sorry...I just don't understand a TV with no payload or cargo capacity.
Granted it CAN tow...but, why?

We love our stuff...TETO

Bob
🇺🇸

[PB_NB]

Originally Posted by ROBERT CROSS

Sorry...I just don't understand a TV with no payload or cargo capacity.
Granted it CAN tow...but, why?

We love our stuff...TETO

Bob
🇺🇸

Is that a flamingo weather vane?

Great shot to depict "cargo". What do you figure all that stuff weighs and is it carried in your TV?

[ROBERT CROSS]

Originally Posted by PB_NB

Is that a flamingo weather vane?

Great shot to depict "cargo". What do you figure all that stuff weighs and is it carried in your TV?

A Flamingo? Or in our case a 'Party Stork'

The CAT tickets from that 3 week trip to the 'Lake'.
The AS gets the extra food, clothing and adult condiments, but the load there doesn't vary much.
The 'Burb' carries the extras.👍
Bob
🇺🇸

[jcl]

Originally Posted by BayouBiker

Many drivers will find the 240 hp TDI too under powered to competently pull trailers heavier than 5500 lbs on steep grades.

I found this claim surprising.

Originally Posted by BayouBiker

It's a matter of expectations jcl. .....

I don't consider a 1998 Dodge Ram Diesel a competent tow vehicle for a 25' Airstream by today's standards, though a 2003 would be fine.

So the 2003 RAM pickup had 235 hp standard in some markets, 250 in others. And the tow vehicle weighed more than the Touareg, so it had reduced performance on grade relative to the tdi with 240 hp.

This is an example of the horsepower arms race warping our thinking, IMO. I spent many years in the on highway truck engine business. We sold a lot of 3406 engines at 325 hp for Class 8 trucks operating in our local mountains. I remember when that engine went to 400 hp, then 500. That was for pulling B trains. Now people have a sense that that sort of power is required to tow a recreational travel trailer. It is fine to have expectations, and people can buy what they want if it makes them feel better, but it is strange to me to see those expectations translated into alleged requirements for safe operation.

[BayouBiker]

I show the 5.9 with 305 hp in 2003. If not, my mistake 17 years takes a toll on memory.

Rational drivers would agree a slow moving vehicle not in a slow vehicle lane is a safety hazard.

[jcl]

Originally Posted by BayouBiker

I show the 5.9 with 305 hp in 2003. If not, my mistake 17 years takes a toll on memory.

There was a HO version available in some markets. There were three ratings. The standard rating quoted was 235 in California, 250 elsewhere.

Agree that safe drivers will choose the appropriate lane. My last SUV, with 260 hp (naturally aspirated, so less than that at altitude) was able to maintain highway speeds in the left lane through the Coquihalla pass snowsheds when towing. I just had to take it to 4000 rpm for a short while, which wasn't an issue at all given the 7000 rpm red line.

[GolfStream]

I had the Propride hitch and the CanAm hitch. The TDI (Air suspension) handled the 28 footer at 9,000 feet elevation better than our F-150. 8% grades on incline for 15 minutes at 60+ mph without a problem. It’s not the HP or the torque. Diesels combust with pressure not oxygen.

[Tasta]

We have a 13 TDi (without the VW fix ) and absolutely love it. We’ve towed everything from 17 Ft Safari Sports to the older 1970’s 30ft sovereigns. No issues at all. Absolutely love towing with the Touareg diesel.

[mkbrown]

We have a 2009 International 25FB and tow it with a 2004 V8 Toureg with air suspension using a Blue Ox wd hitch. I was looking for a 23 AS but the 25 came along and we loved the Ocean Breeze interior. The Toureg does a pretty good job along the California coast but long climbs test the limits on engine heat. As others note the hitch weight is the concern. Definitely at the limits but the hitch and air shocks really help plus we keep loads down on both vehicles. Planning to get a heavier duty TV before any long haul, mountain crossing trips. You should be OK up to a 23, just get a good wd hitch. We get some great looks and comments pulling into campgrounds with our set up ("you tow that with that!"). Touregs are baby tanks.

[kathyek]

We had a 2011 Touareg TDI, and loved it. We pull a 20’ and have a stabilizer hitch, which I highly recommend. It towed like a dream. We took advantage of the buyback and received enough $$ to purchase a 2017 Jeep Overlander. While I miss the power and low torque of a diesel, the Jeep has been a really dependable towing car.

Our Touareg was able to tow up to 7,000. A 20” fully loaded is probably about 4500. We try to keep things light inside, and don’t tow with full water, etc.

One quirk- the electrical connector on our Touareg was European. We had to find a dealership that had the converter to US plug. Make sure you’ve got the plug you need to connect electrical.

[PB_NB]

Originally Posted by mkbrown

The Toureg does a pretty good job along the California coast but long climbs test the limits on engine heat.

The TDI's generally run cooler due to their nature. I would think that a gasser would be unhappy unless it had some added cooling support.

It is good to hear some feedback on the gas model to add to this thread!