Show what you tow!

[gioTDI]

Took a trip last Monday to Hartville OH to pick up an engine for 2006 Sprinter, took out the door in order to fit it in the car

 

[Stealth TDI]

^^ WOW! Not towing; but a gutsy move!

PS: Please insert a space or paragraph between your photos so they'll display "over/under" for easier viewing.

 

[tomc585]

not something I would do to my interior just yet.

 

[dremd]

Took a trip last Monday to Hartville OH to pick up an engine for 2006 Sprinter, took out the door in order to fit it in the car

If you don't mind me asking, what happened to the old sprinter engine?
My dad owns an 06 sprinter and I'd like to avoid what you are going through.

 

[other-power]

Not really a TDI but a VW Diesel (IDI) and its a cool picture, taken out in Germany about three years agao, two Syncro Vanagons and one White Star.

Cheers

 

[gioTDI]

If you don't mind me asking, what happened to the old sprinter engine?
My dad owns an 06 sprinter and I'd like to avoid what you are going through.

Well, this is the story in a Nutshell

Sprinter was on CL, the guy was selling it as is. Went to pick it up no keys, and dead engine. Went to Dealership ordered a key

Knowing that the engine is dead, took it out and did a direct swap, since i bought one in OH

The engine that i've removed has 0 compression in all 5 Cyl, and the Turbo is locked, as far as i understood from the Owner the engine died because of the Turbo, but who really knows what happened

PM me the story with you dad's sprinter and we can talk more details

 

[where2]

eggcamper....hmmm, pricey little thing.

I thought that too, but then I thought the JSW I built for myself on VWoA's website was a bit pricy also @~$28k. Maybe it's not so much that things are pricy, maybe it's my income that is lacking.

It is an interesting little design. I like the customized interiors also. Hmmm, for me, I'd need to travel more to reach break even. I can't currently justify it with only 6-12 nights a year on the road.

 

[TDIdragon]

I thought that too, but then I thought the JSW I built for myself on VWoA's website was a bit pricy also @~$28k. Maybe it's not so much that things are pricy, maybe it's my income that is lacking.

It is an interesting little design. I like the customized interiors also. Hmmm, for me, I'd need to travel more to reach break even. I can't currently justify it with only 6-12 nights a year on the road.

I could justify it, but my income is lacking as well.

 

[03-246]

 

[other-power]

 

[Stealth TDI]

^^^^

This is a "show what you tow with your TDI" thread. We already know trucks can pull heavy stuff. This is about our TDIs. It's just not all in the title. From the top post:

I'm curious what other people are towing with their TDI's, so post up some picks of your TDI-trailer rig!

With Respect,

Scott

 

[romad]

Scott, maybe it's that new aftermarket stealth kit to make your TDI look like a Ford truck.

 

[Steve-o]

Took a trip last Monday to Hartville OH to pick up an engine for 2006 Sprinter, took out the door in order to fit it in the car

That is EXACTLY why I traded my Mk IV sedan for the Wagon. Biggest engine I transport is a 6.5 HP Snow King, but it's a whole lot easier in the Wagon. Very resourceful of you!

 

[Aquaticmind]

Pictures from my move to the PNW

Some pictures from my move to the PNW
From the bandlands South Dakota

From Yellowstone WY

Fun trip, but that car was FULL.. that space case was packed.. and it's big enough to fit a body or two in..

 

[bradamoniom]

how many of you use a scangauge or other type of monitoring device while towing? i just installed a hitch and was thinking about getting one. any input is appreciated.

 

[Stealth TDI]

Not sure what Scangauge can do for me when towing. However, I do watch my EGTs if I'm towing in the hills.

 

[Fix_Until_Broke]

I use the SG to monitor rising coolant temps and IAT's. The cluster temp guage is a cluster $%&@

 

[Stealth TDI]

Ah, yes! I forgot about that. I watched my coolant temps, too, during my last move. I had too little coolant:water ratio and saw the temps get up to about 212 when I was in stop and go traffic. All was well once I got into the open where I could keep the car moving at a steady speed.

 

[coalminer16]

I have a scan gauge in my car (other family members do not). I find it nice for both coolant, MPH, and intake air temps (tells you when you have boosted for along time basically with heat soak). It kind of can tell you boost as well but you have to account for elevation as it is absolute pressure (subtract around 14 psi to get closer to your readings. Also is nice to know when you are having a alt pulley failure.

 

[dremd]

I have a scan gauge in my car. . . ... Also is nice to know when you are having a alt pulley failure.

Sorry to get off topic, but how do we tell that the alternator pulley is failing? Low charging voltage?

 

[TomJD]

gioTDI's post of the Sprinter engine in his back seat reminds me of the time I carried three Briggs and Stratton engines (a 12.5 hp, a 14 hp, and 18 hp) plus the rear end to a craftsman riding mower to a guy about 75 miles North of me. I sold the stuff on craigslist but the guy couldn't afford the gas to pick it up. I will try and find pics.

 

[coalminer16]

Sorry to get off topic, but how do we tell that the alternator pulley is failing? Low charging voltage?

Correct. I got my scan gauge just as my pulley was starting to fail. I had my pulley making noise at idle but once in a while I would get a battery light. I don't always trust just lights and like to see what is going on. With the scan gauge I saw it go from 14.1-3 to 12 volts and then it would come back. It would go back and forth. Not needed to do the test but I just like to see what things are doing.

 

[A_Shifter]

Just updated my thread on making a two inch reciever hitch for both the sportwagon and the MKIV jetta wagon now with pictures if anyone cares to look. So far they are tested and they are great. Much better then the other ones that were on there.

Hey '16, I just searched but no joy...Ya mind posting a link?
Anybody else with a heavier towing package?

 

[romad]

http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=324910&highlight=2+hitch

 

[bradamoniom]

i installed a hitch a few weeks ago and have been towing every weekend since. i noticed yesterday when coming back home with a small load, a faint knocking sound coming from what sounds like the front left of the car. it sounds like a marble in a tin can being shook around, but not really fast, kinda fast and methodically. but it only made the noise when accelerating and would stop when i completely let off the throttle. today with no trailer i tried to replicate the noise with no luck. anyone have any ideas?

mods to date-
2000 jetta 5 speed, 240k miles, 17/22, tdtuning stage 3, unknown monster nozzles, fmic w/2.5" piping, dc stage 4+ clutch, 10# flywheel


thanks in advance

 

[A_Shifter]

Worse under load, sounds like, but does it change with road speed or engine speed?

 

[bradamoniom]

Worse under load, sounds like, but does it change with road speed or engine speed?

i could only here it at higher speeds, say 45-65. most noticeable when in 5th gear at a lower speed( ~55), but that may be because of road/engine noise that it makes the knocking stand out

 

[Stealth TDI]

Only when towing? If the sound is REALLY faint, might it possibly be the hitch drawbar rattling around in the receiver and you only THINK it's coming from the front? I've discovered accoustics can play tricks on the ear! Try reloading the trailer with more forward bias... at least 100-lbs on the tongue. That will weigh down the ball and prevent rattling. Doing this as a test will eliminate the drawbar as a suspect.

Then again, I don't think the drawbar can sound like a "marble in a tin can." So I could be way off-base here.

 

[tomc585]

did you check your fasteners from the installation and yeah...you gotta have some tongue weight.

 

[coalminer16]

http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=329047

Unibody plays tricks with you. Try to find a bad front wheel bearing once and you will see what I mean. The issue with a trailer is you have a unibody with a hitch connection that flexes a little (more so with the prefab class 1 hitches). Then you have the ball mount going into the receiver hitch that allows movement in all direction and it can rattle some. Then the hitch on the trailer sitting on the ball also allows some movement in all directions. You can tighten up the trailer hitch some with adjusting the set nut/bolt on the lock down. There is hitch clamps/holder out there for the receiver hitch part. Also you have another axle transmiting the road noise/feel through all those connections into the car. My current setup I can feel if the tire is out of ballance on the trailer or if the wheel bearings are going bad. When it is smooth it is really smooth.