Towing and hitch question

[DJR48]

I have a 2016 Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid and want to install a Curt Class 3 hitch to pull my 2018 Flying Cloud FB.
Porsche does not provide any hitches for the Hybrid, but I have seen numerous on line videos and post that show folks installing them for towing all kinds of trailers and equipment.
The towing capacity for the car is rated at 7700 lbs. and I will be towing around 5800 lbs GVW. Is there any reason I should not do this?

[Andy543]

Even though your vehicle is rated for towing 7700 lbs., the allowable hitch weight is probably not high enough to tow a 25' Airstream. Using European standards, the allowable hitch weight may be calculated using 8% tongue weight for the 7700 lb. trailer, or 616 lbs. Your 25' Airstream tongue weight will probably come in around 900 lbs., i.e., too much for your vehicle's hitch and probably exceeding anything you can find in the owner's manual. You are then faced with modifying the hitch against the recommendations of Porsche. That said, people do it all the time and get away with it. Just don't look to Porsche for help.

[DJR48]

Andy,

Thank you for your information. Very helpful.
I have a flying cloud 23FB which according to Airstream specifications has a tongue weight of 467. We have used the trailer a couple of times using my Tacoma TRD Off Road, which is a little short on power for the trailer towing. We will never load more than maybe 500 at most of provisions when towing the trailer so we will likely be towing more like 5300 lbs GVW. I believe the hitch weight will probably max out around 520/530 perhaps. The Cayenne I have has a hitch capacity of 617 lbs. so I believe that should give me a reasonable delta between both towing capacity and hitch weight capacity.
Does this makes sense to you?

[FMSports]

If I was setting-up a Cayenne I would first look at using a WDH.

For that...the Curt hitch has 3 bolts either side to frame with a shoulder bracket. That's not enough for Curt to spec a WDH rating.

I would say the hitch needs to be augmented (custom brackets & fastening) for WDH use.
Curt 13116
Weight Carrying Capacity (WC)7,500 LB
Weight Distribution (WD)n/a
Weight Distribution Tongue Weight (WDTW)n/a

Might want to invest in an ODB Haulgauge as well.

I towed a 27FB with my Range Rover, no WDH and the front end was definitely loose. It did OK but I didn't exceed 60mph, and it was just to transport.

[Taco Joe]

I've towed my 23FB with a Tacoma TRD Sport over 14K. A year ago I upgraded it with a Magnuson Supercharger. Now I have more than enough power for any grade.

[FredWilma]

Some other Cayenne drivers have had their hitch strengthened at CanAm (London, Ontario). Not sure if that is an option for you.

[Aprilrivet]

Talk to Andy Thompson at Can Am Airstream in London Ont (1-866-226-2678). No one knows more about hitching AS's including Porches.
He's a busy man so be patient

[Hans627]

Originally Posted by Aprilrivet

Talk to Andy Thompson at Can Am Airstream in London Ont (1-866-226-2678). No one knows more about hitching AS's including Porches.
He's a busy man so be patient

This would be my recommendation. I heard Andy give a presentation at the Region 2 Rally last year and it was very informative.

[Prairiedog48]

DJR48;
We also own a FC23FB. Airstream defined tw of 467 in their brochure as you said. After purchase we had it weighed and it was actually over 600. If you are concerned about weight you might want to have it weighed.

[switz]

Our fully customized 2015 23D International Serenity scales close to 6,100 pounds on the new 3,600 axles. The tongue weight with the ProPride hitch head is 906 pounds (15%). Our primary tow vehicle is a 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser rated to tow 8,100 pounds.

Careful research is required to tow with more modest equipment.

[madmac157]

There are lots of threads on this forum about towing with a Porsche Cayenne. They discuss in great detail how to go about reinforcing your hitch to pull the trailer such as yours. And yes, Andy at Can-Am RV in Ontario is a great resource.

[StevenD]

I’ll bet this is doable but I just have to think, Oh, the poor car! Maybe not too bad if you limit your tows to flat land trips. But if you’re heading to the hills in the summer, the workload on your transmission and suspension could lead to maintenance issues, which are never inexpensive with a Porsche. I love my Porsche and the Porsche products but I hate to see them suffer.
Good Luck, Steve

[pboomerx]

Originally Posted by DJR48

I have a 2016 Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid and want to install a Curt Class 3 hitch to pull my 2018 Flying Cloud FB.
Porsche does not provide any hitches for the Hybrid, but I have seen numerous on line videos and post that show folks installing them for towing all kinds of trailers and equipment.
The towing capacity for the car is rated at 7700 lbs. and I will be towing around 5800 lbs GVW. Is there any reason I should not do this?

You are going to need a weight distribution hitch for that trailer. Unibody vehicles cannot support such a hitch. Numerous vehicles have such a conundrum.

Imho, you are going to need a different TV. Sorry

[AlbertF]

The Cayenne has enormous power to tow. Based on the weight number, you are looking at a 23' trailer, which has a relatively low hitch weight.

There are a number of aftermarket receivers, as you have no doubt discovered, and these are rated for 7500 lbs and 750 lbs tongue weight. However, because these bolt to the ends of the frame rails where the bumper attaches, they are not designed to handle the torsional forces of a weight distributing hitch.

The solution is quite simple, and proven to work. The receiver tube needs to be extended with a piece of 2" square steel tubing (¼" wall thickness, ideally) to the subframe for the rear suspension. On most vehicles, it will need to be bent or curved to pass underneath the muffler. Do this, and your vehicle will happily tow a 28' Airstream. If you do some searching, you will find photos online. If you can't, PM me.

And concerns about unit body construction being unsuited for weight distributing hitches are completely unfounded. The first cars to be used with WDH were unibody Chryslers from the late '50s/early '60s.

In reality, pickup trucks would probably be more effective tow vehicles if the boxes were integrated with the cabs, to lend more torsional rigidity to the frame.