Jeffbucc

On the VW note my hitch finally came in today. No custom piece so I'm not worried about quality. Made by Westfalia who makes a ton of parts for VW OEM. 3700+lb class 2 that replaces the rear bumper and bolts into the frame rails. People in Europe been towing cars/campers/etc with their TDIs with this exact hitch for years.

Gonna test it out next week since I'm moving apartments to see how it does with a loaded trailer. I know there are a some who think I'm dumb for doing this but it has a stage 2 clutch, EGT gauge, 330 tq, 3 subframe braces, stiffer sway bars, GTI brake calipers, and stiffer springs. Should do great as long as I'm not dumb. Been towing motorcycle trailers since I was 16 so I'm not exactly new to this.

turbofan

iTrader: (1)

<p>anyone who thinks you're dumb is dumb. Hehe.</p><p>Just keep speeds down to a reasonable level. One of the greatest reasons they tow so much more in Europe is because most people don't try to drive 85 while towing the max rated load.</p>

Jeffbucc

Yup, don't mind going 65-70 as long as I have cruise and Air Con. Much more likely to drive to California for track days with the thought that I don't have to make it back in the Miata if something goes wrong(which I'm sure it will).

aidandj

iTrader: (5)

<p>So you're coming to Miatas@MRLS now right?</p>

jspadaro

iTrader: (1)

One of the greatest reasons they tow so much more in Europe is because it is strictly mandated that you drive at a maximum of 55mph with a trailer because sway is far more likely to occur at speeds of 65mph+

Fixed that for you. It's not magic. In america we want to tow at freeway speeds, so we need bigger, longer-wheelbase vehicles for the same load to minimize sway.

In europe, they simply stay well south of the magic 65mph speed that drastically increases your chances of sway.

Take your pick.

For the record, I think this is a dumb idea. I tried to have a do-it-all vehicle too (supercharged 4-banger tacoma that I offroaded) and now I have a real truck for a good reason.

You will not enjoy towing a car behind that thing, I really hope it's on a dolly not a trailer, and you're going to have quite a rough ride.

Jeffbucc

If I can steal someones track reservation maybe. Otherwise it is too much driving for hanging out.

aidandj

iTrader: (5)

<p>Someone was just selling a reservation.</p>

turbofan

iTrader: (1)

<p>Yes definitely better to dolly-tow. But this vehicle is no smaller/lighter than the outback XT&nbsp;that Tim uses to tow, and he has no problem. Just be careful.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>And get on that waiting list for a track spot and come party with us.</p>

jspadaro

iTrader: (1)

Wait wait wait wait. You're expecting to tow from Utah to California, with a class TWO hitch, with a car hauler + your miata, and you expect to go 70mph?

So many things wrong with this. Your trailer+car is about the same weight as your towed vehicle, which has an extremely short wheelbase. Red flags all over for sway.

Even with stiffer springs, I'll be reeaaaalll curious to see how close to the bumpstops you're riding. It's gotta be a short trailer, I'm assuming, so you won't have much wiggle room in adjusting the position of the car to fix tongue weight. Have fun with that.

And god help you if you get in a wreck with a class II hitch and a loaded car hauler. That'll be a fun day.

If you do this, keep it much slower than 70. Tail wagging the dog in a mountain pass and you're gonna have a bad time.

turbofan

iTrader: (1)

<p>He is dolly towing.</p><p>he is dolly towing.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>DOLLY TOWING.</p><p>But Tim tows on a flat trailer and he's been fine.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>I don't think I'd go with a flat trailer, but he's dolly towing.</p>

jspadaro

iTrader: (1)

Where did he say that? I only saw mention of testing with a "loaded trailer".

I guess a dolly is doable, would not be my preference though, especially in Utah, sheesh.

Is that outback stock? I have towed my car with a 250hp 4-banger before. It was... stressful.

turbofan

iTrader: (1)

<p>My posts are jacked up because I'm a little jacked up.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>And he's mentioned shopping for a tow dolly, and he and I have discussed it. Sorry for being jacked up.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>I swear I'm drunk posting 'cept I'm not drunk.</p>

Jeffbucc

I don't believe I mentioned towing with a Tow Dolly but as Ed iterated, I will be. It'll have hydraulic disc brakes, breakaway function, swiveling platform and weighs 330#s. Not some Uhaul POS tow dolly.

Again, I'm not going into this blind, I've been researching this for over a year now. I said 65-70 but it is all up to how happy the EGTs are, how happy the car is, and stability. Jetta Sportwagen TDI weighs 36-3700 from factory. Miata weighs 2200#s wet. Thats 2530#s, so I have 1000 lb weight difference and not a heavy tongue weight.

I know the risks, I know how to drive with a trailer, if it doesn't work, I at least tried. If I don't go this route at least I'll have a great hitch for other things.

turbofan

iTrader: (1)

<p>It will work. You will have zero issues.</p><p>My towing escapade was on a $400 POS craigslist dolly, and the towing setup was probably 1500 pounds HEAVIER than the tow rig.</p><p>I'm glad I'm not dead.</p>

FatKao

Uh, our transmissions lube from the input shaft.

I went from a 4.6L F150 to a diesel F250 for an open trailer. I've never regretted it. Having more truck is so much nicer. No concerns for trans/engine temp, no fighting with the trans to prevent it from kicking down, no speeding up to have momentum for climbs, no single digit MPG. It's amazing.

aidandj

iTrader: (5)

<p>Pull the driveshaft.</p><p>Thats been discussed, no issues there.</p>

Jeffbucc

Yup, have a spare drive shaft cut for a plug ready to go.

jspadaro

iTrader: (1)

Yeah, a dolly will probably be OK. Won't be as comfortable of a trip as an appropriate truck, but I'm sure it'll do it.

Tongue weight was my biggest concern, but the dolly shouldn't have much.

Jeffbucc

Well I got my first taste of how the wagon handles towing today. Moving apartments, and much to my chagrin I've collected way to much crap as time has gone by(remind self to purge unnecessary crap.)

Rented a 5'x8' uhaul enclosed trailer, hooked up the lights, prayed, and everything worked! Love it when wiring works the first time, without pulling out the multimeter.

Got it on the truck scales and the trailer fully loaded weighed 3,000lbs. I pulled it @ 70mph no problem, only needing to downshift on tall hills(3k elevation change from Cedar City to St George, UT).

I wish it had trailer brakes in case of an emergency situation, but I took it nice and slow and kept a lot of breathing space between myself and others. I have GTI calipers and a lot of transmission tunnel bracing, thicker sway bars etc etc, and the car and trailer were incredibly stable, very tiny amounts of trailer sway even with a pretty gnarly cross wind.

Rear suspension is only low due to a lot of crap inside the car as well.

Pretty happy with the test, seeing as the tongue weight of the tow dolly, and GVWR will be less than the Uhaul trailer.

GeneSplicer

iTrader: (14)

Dammit! Freaking retard turned into me from center lane (i was in left) which cut my right tire down or broke steering. After darting across the interstate at full left lock, i hit the concrete hillside at ~40. It was a dead stop too as it squared on my right tow hook. This this was a tank. Airbag didn't deploy but i got seat belt burn on my neck and abdomen. In true race car fashion, i yanked my hands off the wheel and covered my head from tons of projectile debris that might have flew forward - however, i doubt that would have helped should either of the 2 receiver hitches in the back flew forward. Likely gonna buy another 7.3 excursion tomorrow.