Touareg capabilites for off-road - info please

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Originally Posted by T Rex

Congratulations on ordering your new Touareg! Sounds like a great package.

Regarding fitting the 17" wheels please first check if they will fit over the brakes of the 18" 4XMotion. You may find the brake package is larger than those fitted to the base model and the smaller rims will not fit. They certainly do differ on the T2 between wheel sizes. Cheers. Geoff

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Thanks ... good tip. My homework on Touareg specs suggests all Aussie Touareg variants have same size brakes (330mm diameter) to accommodate both 17" and 18" wheels. I also believe European TDI176 comes standard with 17" wheels ... so I think I'll be OK (says he with fingers crossed).

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Originally Posted by unky dunky

Thanks ... good tip. My homework on Touareg specs suggests all Aussie Touareg variants have same size brakes (330mm diameter) to accommodate both 17" and 18" wheels. I also believe European TDI176 comes standard with 17" wheels ... so I think I'll be OK (says he with fingers crossed).

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The RVD's show the same size brakes for all models;
Certification Unit Details

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Originally Posted by idaho

The RVD's show the same size brakes for all models;
Certification Unit Details

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Thanks for that... just as I thought.

Unky Dunky,

I am also looking at same purchase. Really need vehicle for mainly towing caravan on dirt and up the beach.

What have you been advised in regards to Tow Bar. Also although towing is 3.5T what is teh ball weight and does this suit a larger caravan.

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Originally Posted by Packhorse

Unky Dunky,

I am also looking at same purchase. Really need vehicle for mainly towing caravan on dirt and up the beach.

What have you been advised in regards to Tow Bar. Also although towing is 3.5T what is teh ball weight and does this suit a larger caravan.

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Hi Packhorse,

I have not been told anything ... my delivery is not expected until Jan, so I have not spoken with dealer since ordering in July.

I have read a fair bit about the towing subject in this and other forums, and don't think there is a clear cut answer just yet. To me it seems odd that VW would downgrade the towball downweight limit from 350kg to 280kg ... but is this even confirmed? In any case, it will not be an issue for me as I do not intend to tow anything over 2800/280kg.

I have a mate with a Mercedes ML350 whose towbar is rated 3500/350kg when tongue is fitted one way and is rated 2700/270kg when tongue is fitted the other way up? I found that curious, and I wonder if there is something similar afoot with VW towbar???

The other issue with VW towbar seems to be that it is not yet available because of some sort of interoperability issue with the Driver Assist Package electronics ... and VW seem loathe to release the tow bar even for vehicles not fitted with this option until all the issues have been ironed out. I am hoping it is all sorted out before my deleivery.

Good luck with purchase. Everything I have read about the MY12 4XMotion has been very positive ... and I have no regrets in ordering one.

unky dunky,

I keep changing my mind whether or not to jump in. Just a bit concerned as the dealer was very vague about a release date for tow bar and I dont want to buy thsi car and find they change their mind and don't release one. Do you knwo if you can put load levelers on them or the fact they have air suspension you don't need them. They seem to be a really good vehicle just want to be sure

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Originally Posted by Packhorse

unky dunky,

Do you knwo if you can put load levelers on them or the fact they have air suspension you don't need them. They seem to be a really good vehicle just want to be sure

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There's been a lot of discussion on this forum and also on clubtouareg.com forum about Weight Distribution Hitches when towing with Touareg.

General consensus is that if you get air suspension option you do not need nor should you even contemplate using WDH. The air suspension will do any load levelling required. One particular view suggests that if you use WDH with air suspension, they will 'fight' each other with adverse consequences.

WDH can be used with Touareg standard steel suspension ... but is needed only if you are towing with a substantial towball downweight. Touareg rear wheels are (supposedly) fairly close to the towbar so it should be able to handle fairly heavy loads before one would need to consider WDH.

Thanks,

Out and about all day today again driving everything from Prado (Not impressed at all) Pajero (Starting to feel very dated) Land Rover (Wife thinks to boxy) LandCruiser 200 (Had one too big feels like a boat) Pathfinder (3500 towing as well just didn't drive well) Keep coming back to the Touareg. Would really like to feel comfotable about its Off Road ability and reliability in western places. I think I have decided on 4Xmotion v6tdi. Now to get teh right price.

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Originally Posted by Packhorse

Thanks,

Out and about all day today again driving everything from Prado (Not impressed at all) Pajero (Starting to feel very dated) Land Rover (Wife thinks to boxy) LandCruiser 200 (Had one too big feels like a boat) Pathfinder (3500 towing as well just didn't drive well) Keep coming back to the Touareg. Would really like to feel comfotable about its Off Road ability and reliability in western places. I think I have decided on 4Xmotion v6tdi. Now to get teh right price.

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Yep, I came to much the same conclusion. I also checked out the new Jeep Grand Cherokee ... less $$$ but left me doubtful about quality.

I ordered MY12 4xMotion with air suspension, sports interior (for privacy glass mainly) and area view (given global VW unavailability of single reverse camera). However, deleivery is going to take quite a while (Jul- Jan). Will PM you some info on pricing to assist with your bargaining.

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Originally Posted by unky dunky

Yep, I came to much the same conclusion. I also checked out the new Jeep Grand Cherokee ... less $$$ but left me doubtful about quality.

I ordered MY12 4xMotion with air suspension, sports interior (for privacy glass mainly) and area view (given global VW unavailability of single reverse camera). However, deleivery is going to take quite a while (Jul- Jan). Will PM you some info on pricing to assist with your bargaining.

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Thanks champion effort got pm. Very helpful