Show what you tow!

1sloVR4 · Oct 24, 2017

Stealth TDI said:
Hello,
I think we've been sharing some trailer setup advice in this mega-thread. I recently went to repack my hubs since my trailer may be joining us on an upcoming 1800-mile road trip. Rather than repacking, I discovered some hubs that feature a zerk fitting which flushes grease through the bearings and out the front of the hub (sort of like a Dexter axle). Purchasing them was overkill for my current needs since they're pre-packed, but the fittings will come in handy when it's time to "repack" next year.
Here are the exact hubs I purchased: https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200466891_200466891

Before putting the Tiguan centercap in place...

I have more photos and a write-up at https://stealthgti.com/2017/10/23/ultra-tow-trailer-hubs/. The swap was super-easy.
Scott

No need to replace the entire hub if all you were after was the "zerk fitting"(Bearing Buddies, EZ-Lube).

Bearing Buddies $24.86 - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000Y89L0S/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Generic version - $10.83 - https://www.amazon.com/Reese-Towpow...id=1508854402&sr=1-1&keywords=bearing+buddies

Stealth TDI · Oct 24, 2017

Hello,

romad said:
Scott, did dirt caps come on the zerk fittings? If not, suggest you get some so grit isn't pushed into the bearings when you regrease them.

No caps included. I'd probably just wipe them off before lubing. I'll look into caps, too. However, I wonder if they'll stay in place since the zerk fittings rotate with the hub in this application.

1sloVR4 said:
No need to replace the entire hub if all you were after was the "zerk fitting"(Bearing Buddies, EZ-Lube).

Bearing buddies are okay for ensuring the hubs have grease. But EZ-Lube, Dexter, and these Ultra-Tow units actually FLUSH grease through from back to front, which distributes fresh grease throughout.

These hubs are currently on sale for $38 a piece. I found them to be a worthwhile purchase. Again, super-easy to install and great peace of mind to know everything is lubed and ready for another year.

Scott

romad · Oct 24, 2017

Stealth TDI said:
Hello,

No caps included. I'd probably just wipe them off before lubing. I'll look into caps, too. However, I wonder if they'll stay in place since the zerk fittings rotate with the hub in this application.

They should as the ones I've seen are very tight fitting rubber/vinyl. Just wiping off will get most of the crud but it also can push tiny particles in around the ball.

1sloVR4 · Oct 24, 2017

That's a great deal for an entire hub assembly but the quality reflects the price. Might be OK on a small utility trailer that gets used once or twice a year but if I'm towing anything with a significant load or traveling on the highway, I'd rather repack my 5 year old Timken bearings than buy new hubs with Chinese bearings.

Those Chinese bearings need special attention. Repack them every few hundred miles and you might be ok. Or bring a spare hub with you on your 1800 mile trip. Or better yet, replace the bearings with Timken before you go on your trip. There's no worse feeling when a wheel goes rolling past you on the highway almost decapitating a driver from the oncoming traffic. Ask me how I know

Rrusse11 · Oct 24, 2017

Hubs?

So I bought one of the HF 4x8 utility trailers when we were moving,
but to my surprise I've been using it a lot lately, 2500 miles on the highway the last 2 months. Trailer was pretty much new when I got it, and it's been just fine so far, but I am getting suspicious about long term durability, yeah, it's el cheapo chinese.

I'd like to swap out the wheels for a 5-100 hub so I've got a spare in the boot for it. Obviously be the time to upgrade the bearings to something like the Timkens.

Any suggestions as to how to go about this?

Cheers,
R*2

jason_ · Oct 24, 2017

I welded/modified/bolted vw 5x112 hubs onto my trailer. Old. Axle stubb and nut to load it

Now.wjen I pull it with my vw the spare fits.

Unfortunately it matches nothing else I have. Everything else is 8bolt single and dually setup.

Sent from my One using Tapatalk

where2 · Oct 24, 2017

Stealth TDI said:
...I recently went to repack my hubs since my trailer may be joining us on an upcoming 1800-mile road trip. Rather than repacking, I discovered some hubs that feature a zerk fitting which flushes grease through the bearings and out the front of the hub (sort of like a Dexter axle).

Here are the exact hubs I purchased: https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200466891_200466891

I'm running Super Lube's on my 5x8 utility trailer and I pretty much ignore them on my 4,000-5,000 mile summer trips. The system just works. In the event of a failure, I've got a "Tie Down Engineering 86079 Spare Tire and Hub Carrier" on the trailer bringing a spare tire, hub, seals, bearings, and even lug nuts to the roadside party.

I'm curious with the NT link you posted above: specs on those hubs say those are 5x4-1/2" bolt pattern. That would seem to be 5x114.3 when converted to metric. Does that seem to give you any issues? Are you running cone seat or acorn nuts on the hubs?

Stealth TDI · Oct 25, 2017

Hello,

Nice setup with the hub carrier. If I was doing a serious trip and thought I could use a spare hub, it's very easy to just carry the Ultra Tow packaged product since it's packed so well. I'll consider that if I tackle any big trips in the future.

where2 said:
I'm curious with the NT link you posted above: specs on those hubs say those are 5x4-1/2" bolt pattern. That would seem to be 5x114.3 when converted to metric. Does that seem to give you any issues? Are you running cone seat or acorn nuts on the hubs?

I had some hub adapters made to convert the 5x4.5 to 5x112:

See more adapters at http://adaptitusa.com/5-x-4.50-to-5-x-112-wheel-adapter.aspx. Not only do they allow me to mount VW wheels, now I can omit the trailer's spare tire since the car's spare will work in a pinch.

Scott

Rrusse11 · Oct 25, 2017

Thanks for the link Stealth! I'll take some careful measurements and make an order.
Cheers,
R*2

sandmansans · Nov 7, 2017

Howdy there,
Just stopped in to see what's going on. It's been a year since i turned in the TDI, but it's good to see the thread is still alive!

These days my towing needs are handled by my avalanche. Haha the mpg isnt what the TDI was, but the comfort and capability is ten fold.

Anyway, while I'm here I'll share a couple of random pictures of random stuff I towed with ole broomhilda (she was brown and German, get it? )

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk

absalom · Nov 10, 2017

Just won an auction on a Kei truck (1992 Subaru Sambar - 1,500 lbs) from a Japanese auction a few hours ago, and I'd like to use the Jetta to pick her up in Long Beach and bring back to Denver.

My question to you all is, how would you tow it?

1) Flat tow the Subaru.

OR

2) Load the Subaru on a 500 lb 5x8 utility trailer, and tow home that way?

My car setup, mostly stock with PP520's and VR6/G60 clutch. No trailer brakes. Total distance with this load: 1,200 miles.

What would you do?

Rrusse11 · Nov 11, 2017

Install brakes on the utility trailer.

where2 · Nov 11, 2017

Rrusse11 said:
Install brakes on the utility trailer.

Electric or surge, Disc or Drum? Either way, I expect you'll appreciate the upgrade. My surge discs just do their job. If it's disc & surge, did you get the reverse lock out solenoid valve?

TornadoRed · Nov 11, 2017

absalom said:
Just won an auction on a Kei truck (1992 Subaru Sambar - 1,500 lbs) from a Japanese auction a few hours ago, and I'd like to use the Jetta to pick her up in Long Beach and bring back to Denver.

My question to you all is, how would you tow it?

1) Flat tow the Subaru.

OR

2) Load the Subaru on a 500 lb 5x8 utility trailer, and tow home that way?

My car setup, mostly stock with PP520's and VR6/G60 clutch. No trailer brakes. Total distance with this load: 1,200 miles.

What would you do?

Definitely check the weather forecast before leaving California, this time of year. It can be a difficult drive even without pulling a heavily-loaded trailer.

Rrusse11 · Nov 11, 2017

where2 said:
Electric or surge, Disc or Drum? Either way, I expect you'll appreciate the upgrade. My surge discs just do their job. If it's disc & surge, did you get the reverse lock out solenoid valve?

WhereTo,
It was my response to absalom, I do intend to put electric drums on my boat trailer. Though with last night's frost, they can wait till the spring. My feeling is that anything much over a 1000#s for a long distance should have brakes with our FWD small cars.
Cheers,
R*2

Absalom,
Did a touch of research, neat little truck! 25yrs old, not much in the way of import restrictions. Kewl!

jason_ · Nov 11, 2017

I went with electric drum with the other small trailer.

Bought a voyager inertia controller with override and sensitivity adjustments.

3 wires, done.

It's. Not all fancy and tied into the abs module, but Fer fuk sakes, man has towed a lot of miles without that fancy stuff.

Tow smart. Keep the distance, look ahead. Nuff said.

Sent from my One using Tapatalk

sandmansans · Nov 11, 2017

absalom said:
Just won an auction on a Kei truck (1992 Subaru Sambar - 1,500 lbs) from a Japanese auction a few hours ago, and I'd like to use the Jetta to pick her up in Long Beach and bring back to Denver.

My question to you all is, how would you tow it?

1) Flat tow the Subaru.

OR

2) Load the Subaru on a 500 lb 5x8 utility trailer, and tow home that way?

My car setup, mostly stock with PP520's and VR6/G60 clutch. No trailer brakes. Total distance with this load: 1,200 miles.

What would you do?

I'd pull it on a dolly. The ones that UHaul rents have electric brakes.
My reasoning for suggesting the dolly vs flat trailer, Is you will have the load at lower center of gravity. I've done that drive from Denver to CA. There's some real nasty cross winds especially around that Grand junction area. With the height of the kei truck on a utility trailer, that could spell a recipe for disaster.

The rates aren't bad. I did a 1 way dolly rental from CT to PA. There's no mileage and with the insurance it was only around $70.

You drive out there, enjoy the mpg with no trailer and have it reserved/ready for pick up there.

The downside to the UHaul dolly is that it's heavy. Around 800lbs if I remember correctly. But if it were me I'd take the 300lb weight penalty for the benefit of having my load down low. Also you will have brakes, that's a big win itself considering the weight and the mountains you will be driving.

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk

absalom · Nov 11, 2017

sandmansans said:
I'd pull it on a dolly. The ones that UHaul rents have electric brakes.
My reasoning for suggesting the dolly vs flat trailer, Is you will have the load at lower center of gravity. I've done that drive from Denver to CA. There's some real nasty cross winds especially around that Grand junction area. With the height of the kei truck on a utility trailer, that could spell a recipe for disaster.

The rates aren't bad. I did a 1 way dolly rental from CT to PA. There's no mileage and with the insurance it was only around $70.

You drive out there, enjoy the mpg with no trailer and have it reserved/ready for pick up there.

The downside to the UHaul dolly is that it's heavy. Around 800lbs if I remember correctly. But if it were me I'd take the 300lb weight penalty for the benefit of having my load down low. Also you will have brakes, that's a big win itself considering the weight and the mountains you will be driving.

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk

sounds like a great idea! Unfortunately, they are quoting me $302 for a dolly rental.

Geordi · Nov 11, 2017

Uhaul dollies have NO brakes. The 4-up trailers (Called an Auto Transport) do have brakes, but they will NOT rent it to you to put behind your Jetta or anything else that isn't an SUV because the trailer weighs over 2000 lbs EMPTY.

The thing about Uhauls is that you have to qualify the tow through their system, and that limits you to what their lawyers think every vehicle is capable of pulling and stopping. For a VW Jetta, the answer is their system thinks it is only capable of about 500 lbs of load after the overweight of their lightest trailer is considered.

I pulled a 4300 lb Jeep Liberty with my Jetta wagon, on a MasterTow tow dolly without brakes from Virginia to Florida. No issues with stopping it. Just leave plenty of following distance.

Oo-v-oO · Nov 12, 2017

If going the dolly route, check the track width of the mini truck and dolly to see if the dolly will be narrow enough to match u with the truck wheels... And, if you've never used a dolly be aware of the limitations - no backing up, no sharp turns.

Yesterday I got done with the decking on my 5x8 and took it to go buy the lumber to make the sides. It did great! Pretty easy load, of course. These are PT 5/4 deck boards, three 12 footers and six 8 footers.

I ended up putting on a new axle, springs, hangers, and hubs as the ones that came with it were getting pretty rusty. I went with a square galvanized axle that has the spindles drilled to allow you to pump grease back behind the inner bearing and flush it out through the front. I don't plan on submerging the trailer, but being galvanized and filling the hubs with grease as these do should help combat the New England road salt.

I ordered the axle through Northern Tool. It was made by Tie Down Engineering (who recently sold their axle and brake business to Dexter) and when I received it I didn't get the spring perches that were supposed to come with it. I have got to say that my dealings with Northern and their utter lack of basic customer service in this instance make me think twice about ever dealing with them again.

I think the trailer will complement the Golf nicely.

sandmansans · Nov 13, 2017

Geordi said:
Uhaul dollies have NO brakes. The 4-up trailers (Called an Auto Transport) do have brakes, but they will NOT rent it to you to put behind your Jetta or anything else that isn't an SUV because the trailer weighs over 2000 lbs EMPTY.

The thing about Uhauls is that you have to qualify the tow through their system, and that limits you to what their lawyers think every vehicle is capable of pulling and stopping. For a VW Jetta, the answer is their system thinks it is only capable of about 500 lbs of load after the overweight of their lightest trailer is considered.

I pulled a 4300 lb Jeep Liberty with my Jetta wagon, on a MasterTow tow dolly without brakes from Virginia to Florida. No issues with stopping it. Just leave plenty of following distance.

**Edit, I misread your post. I thought you said the dolly weighs 2k. But you meant the full sized trailer.

regarding the car, it will qualify. I've rented trailers that I've pulled with the Jetta from UHaul before. Including the full size. There's a pic in the tow thread

Regardless of the brakes, I'd still go with the dolly vs the full size trailer to have the load down low.

You're way off on the weight. I just checked and the dolly only weighs 750 lbs....

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk

sandmansans · Nov 13, 2017

absalom said:
sounds like a great idea! Unfortunately, they are quoting me $302 for a dolly rental.

Eek! That's a lot more than my CT to PA trip. Then again you're going over a thousand miles!

Have you looked into uship? It's a bid site to have stuff shipped. Might be better in the long run, save you the trip and the wear on your vehicle.

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk

kjclow · Nov 14, 2017

Talk to your local moving companies too. There might be a partial load coming your direction and they could put your new toy on there.

1sloVR4 · Nov 14, 2017

absalom said:
Just won an auction on a Kei truck (1992 Subaru Sambar - 1,500 lbs) from a Japanese auction a few hours ago, and I'd like to use the Jetta to pick her up in Long Beach and bring back to Denver.

My question to you all is, how would you tow it?

1) Flat tow the Subaru.

OR

2) Load the Subaru on a 500 lb 5x8 utility trailer, and tow home that way?

My car setup, mostly stock with PP520's and VR6/G60 clutch. No trailer brakes. Total distance with this load: 1,200 miles.

What would you do?

I would never think about towing a car with a car with no trailer brakes through the 6%-8% grade roads in Denver. I've driven through there with just my car and have experienced brake fade going down an 8% grade.

If you are brazen enough to tow a car with a car without trailer brakes down a 6% grade, make sure to downshift into the lowest gear possible before going down the grade and don't use your brakes unless absolutely necessary (no riding the brake).

And most importantly, make sure to post the dates and roads you will be traveling so I can be sure to avoid them

TDIJetta99 · Nov 15, 2017

I think everyone is missing just how light that "car" is.. It's 1500lbs... lighter than 2 full size motorcycles... put it on the trailer and tow it.

1sloVR4 · Nov 15, 2017

Easy for you to say when you're doing the backseat driving

It only took me once of losing brakes with a 7500 lb load to realize the importance of working trailer brakes.

And don't forget the weight of the trailer. I've loaded my 1200lb Kawasaki Mule onto my 5x8 trailer which weighs almost 800 lbs which I pulled once 20 miles with my Jetta because my Excursion was waiting for a new transmission. Can it do it? Sure. But on a 5x8 trailer, it's super top heavy and will tip easily. And I would not want to rely on the puny Jetta brakes stop me in an emergency braking situation going down 55mph+ on a significant grade. Not to mention it crawled going up a slight grade.

nayr · Nov 15, 2017

hanging holiday lights like a boss

Fix_Until_Broke · Nov 15, 2017

1sloVR4 said:
Easy for you to say when you're doing the backseat driving
It only took me once of losing brakes with a 7500 lb load to realize the importance of working trailer brakes.
And don't forget the weight of the trailer. I've loaded my 1200lb Kawasaki Mule onto my 5x8 trailer which weighs almost 800 lbs which I pulled once 20 miles with my Jetta because my Excursion was waiting for a new transmission. Can it do it? Sure. But on a 5x8 trailer, it's super top heavy and will tip easily. And I would not want to rely on the puny Jetta brakes stop me in an emergency braking situation going down 55mph+ on a significant grade. Not to mention it crawled going up a slight grade.

There's not any backseat driving going on here - He's pulled a MkIV from New England to Florida if I recall, over 6000lb gross.

jsrmonster · Nov 15, 2017

I’ve towed cars and trucks long distance with enclosed trailer, flatbed, and dolly’s. My favorite is acme dolly by eze-tow with surge brakes. You need to pull driveshaft on suv’s But no big deal. These are so easy to tow you forget it’s there. Lots of RV’s use these for their toads.
Jeff

gearheadgrrrl · Nov 15, 2017

Anybody get denied warranty coverage for putting a hitch on a DSG TDI?

Asked over at TDI 101 but didn't get many answers, thought I should ask here. Got a 2015 Golf TDI with DSG tranny and need to get a motorcycle and sidecar from Illinois to Florida, weight with trailer would be 1100-1200 pounds. Thinking of using easily removable wiring and a bike rack gives an alibi for the hitch in case I have to get any warranty repairs.

Question before I try this- Has anyone been denied warranty coverage for having a hitch on a DSG equiped TDI?

Show what you tow!

Well-known member

Pre-Forum Veteran Member

Top Post Dawg

Well-known member

Veteran Member

Veteran Member

Veteran Member

Pre-Forum Veteran Member

Veteran Member

Veteran Member

Veteran Member

Veteran Member

Veteran Member

Top Post Dawg

Veteran Member

Veteran Member

Veteran Member

Veteran Member

Veteran Member

Veteran Member

Veteran Member

Veteran Member

Top Post Dawg

Well-known member

Top Post Dawg

Well-known member

Veteran Member

Top Post Dawg

Veteran Member - TDIClub Enthusiast

Veteran Member