Show what you tow!

Brassfly

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 4, 2004
Location
Fort Worth, Texas
TDI
2004 GLS Silver - Manual
What I'm towing!

Here's what I'm towing with my 04 Golf TDI. Nothing Fancy, just a 5x8 mesh trailer 2nd hand from Tractor Supply. Was really noisy coming home empty, but I imagine once I load it up, it'll quieten down.
 

tomc585

Veteran Member
Joined
Aug 23, 2009
Location
Long Island, N.Y.
TDI
2009 Jetta TDI Sportwagen
Here's what I'm towing with my 04 Golf TDI. Nothing Fancy, just a 5x8 mesh trailer 2nd hand from Tractor Supply. Was really noisy coming home empty, but I imagine once I load it up, it'll quieten down.
I have the same trailer. Not heavy duty but with a little care loading it will haul quite a bit. Noise comes with the territory when traveling empty.
 

Stealth TDI

Pre-Forum Veteran Member
Joined
Feb 13, 1998
Location
Newport News, VA
TDI
2017 GTI APR Stage 3 (395 hp/376 lb-ft)
:)

Noise comes with the territory when traveling empty.
This is especially true of "dumping" trailers where the axle is centered along the trailer. I put a row of cinder blocks at the front anytime I'm not hauling more than 100-lbs. :cool:



Scott
 

QuickWrite

Veteran Member
Joined
Dec 24, 2003
Location
Sacto
TDI
2005 Jetta GLS TDI wagon, 5-speed
curious about how towing the EggCamper is working out. My wife and I are thinking of getting something similar to pull with our '05 wagon. What did your loaded weight end up being, and how does your car handle it? Any estimate on tongue weight with that rig? What about mpg?


So I finally got off my lazy arse and uploaded a couple of crappy cell phone pictures of my new toy.
Here we are stopped at a rest stop.
http://pics.tdiclub.com/data/500/IMG_07912.JPG

And my other toy at home. I think a better picture is the faces of people at the ramp.
http://pics.tdiclub.com/data/500/IMG_05762.JPG
Funny thing is I get worse mileage towing the boat (23-28MPG) than towing the camper (28-35MPG). I guess there is a lot more to the aerodynamics involved here than just frontal area?
Jason
PS: click on the pictures for larger versions
 

Quanger

Veteran Member
Joined
Nov 22, 2008
Location
Toronto/Ottawa
TDI
Mk4 ALH TDi
^^ Same questions too.
I've been looking around and I think I prefer a scamp 16' layout4. They say its roughly 1700lbs dryweight with a reasonably low tongue weight. Currently my ALH is stock with a new SMF clutch but I do plan to upgrade nozzles and get a mild Malone tune to boost Hp/Tq for the tow.

Have you come across towing your eggcamper in high wind? I'm just curious to know how much it will affect the tow.
 

QuickWrite

Veteran Member
Joined
Dec 24, 2003
Location
Sacto
TDI
2005 Jetta GLS TDI wagon, 5-speed
Quanger: I'm guessing a 16' Scamp will be a little much. Simply filling up the water/holding tanks on that would likely push it over 2,000 lbs. But I'm eager to hear what SilverGhost has to say!
 

isonic

Veteran Member
Joined
Aug 11, 2009
Location
St. Paul, MN
TDI
2003 Golf 4door 5spd
Nothing spectacular, just an 8' aluminum trailer with my atv:


The car actually tows it pretty well, very balanced.
 

Jnitrofish

Veteran Member
Joined
Jun 24, 2009
Location
Texas
TDI
2005.5, 2005.5, and 2006. 5m, 5m, and DSG.
My parents got their (crossover) SUV stuck, and then got my old daily driver stuck trying to rescue their SUV.

So I installed my hitch.



Then went to their property and rescued my truck.





So my first tow with the TDI, is the old gas burner. This is the second time my truck has been stuck in that very same spot, and the last time we had to pull it out with our 7.3 Powerstroke. Fortunately for us (no longer having any other trucks), the Jetta grips fairly well.

Got to fix up our 5x10 utility trailer now.
 

Jnitrofish

Veteran Member
Joined
Jun 24, 2009
Location
Texas
TDI
2005.5, 2005.5, and 2006. 5m, 5m, and DSG.
Not on what, in what. Gumbo mud. It's super sticky and thick, and it packs up the tread of your tires and makes you lose all grip. As soon has you break the surface of the ground, you are pretty much screwed if you come to a stop.
 

SilverGhost

Veteran Member
Joined
Mar 25, 2005
Location
Back in So Flo - St Lucie
TDI
'05 Golf - totaled :(, wife's '13 Beetle - buy back, TDIless
First off let me make one thing clear - we bought the most trailer we thought the car could handle for the short term, with the plan to get a larger vehicle for towing in the future (Touareg). Short term may stretch to a few years depending on how life happens....

Something most people miss when looking at travel trailers is aerodynamics. The Egg Camper is designed by a former(?) pilot and a big point for him is how smoothly it tows. He had sold several to people with Subarus (Impreza no less). It's big and wind will effect it but not as much as a stick frame camper. When I came back from the TDI fest we hit nasty weather from the hurricane going up the east coast. Only pucker moments were from hydro planing as it was raining so heavily (we should have been stopped anyway it was so bad).

I have RC1+ or whatever he called it on my PD Golf. It feels stronger than the CR cars I drive at work. The wagon would probably tow better - longer for stability and better gearing for load. I looked up load rating for my model in UK - over 3000lbs. But then I also added the airbags to my rear springs from Summit Racing, so it doesn't sag.

I pulled a Uhaul 2500 miles with that car stock and that weighed about 2800lbs. It handles the weight fine, though stock it would struggle on hills. Stopping always felt sure footed and not over powered by the load.

I have the all electric Egg (all he is building when I bought) so there is no propane tanks. I have a front bath on mine. The fresh water tank is over the axle but the grey/black water tank is up front under the bath. To be honest I usually keep the fresh water tank full in case we have to stop some where w/o hook ups and just move larger items in the camper for balance. We have a generator that I move to the back so the tongue weight isn't too high. You definitely feel the camper back there but I don't think the weight is that close to the limit that a few pounds of supplies or belongings is going to push it over the limit. BIG CEVAT - load carefully!!

Side note - I think Casita is heavier for the same size because of full fiberglass shell (underneath), I don't know about Scamp. Both look like they have regular wood cabinets - the Egg has its cabinets molded right out of fiber glass. Also more minimalist interior.

BTW - I get 28MPG at 65 MPH, I can get it up to 35 MPG below 60 (57 seemed best)MPH.

Jason
 

SilverGhost

Veteran Member
Joined
Mar 25, 2005
Location
Back in So Flo - St Lucie
TDI
'05 Golf - totaled :(, wife's '13 Beetle - buy back, TDIless
I've seen the mud before. It's almost like ice under snow. Even the slightest incline and you get stuck trying to move. On top of that it looks like the SUV was stuck rear wheel drive with the back end pointing up hill. Just needs enough help to get moving again.

Jason
 

QuickWrite

Veteran Member
Joined
Dec 24, 2003
Location
Sacto
TDI
2005 Jetta GLS TDI wagon, 5-speed
SilverGhost: Thanks for the additional EggCamper info. I looked up their website and here are the weight specs they provide:

HOW MUCH DOES IT WEIGHT?
1900 POUNDS BEFORE OPTIONS
250 TONGUE WEIGHT
2500 GROSS

So between those specs and your description, it seems to fall nicely into TDI towing capabilities. I've looked at a lot of small RV trailers but I guess I hadn't really looked at the Egg before. The floor plan in particular looks a lot better than the others. Thanks!
 

Jnitrofish

Veteran Member
Joined
Jun 24, 2009
Location
Texas
TDI
2005.5, 2005.5, and 2006. 5m, 5m, and DSG.
More importantly, what's your little helper's name?
My little helper, eh? :rolleyes:



That is Sunshine, and he absolutely loves the Jetta because it's the car that I found and rescued him in a year ago. Anytime he hears that TDI driving up the road he comes running out so he can hop on top of (or inside) the car. Very well behaved and friendly cat, and a good travel cat.
 

SilverGhost

Veteran Member
Joined
Mar 25, 2005
Location
Back in So Flo - St Lucie
TDI
'05 Golf - totaled :(, wife's '13 Beetle - buy back, TDIless
QuickWrite: I have an upgraded SouthBend clutch and strong chip. I towed before and after the chip and it makes a world of difference. Also after a few tens of thousands of miles the clutch started slipping. I think a big part of that was how the torque came on at low RPM. When I took the OE clutch out it wasn't burnt or hot spotted, no excessive wear, it just wouldn't hold under hard acceleration.

Jason
 

Quanger

Veteran Member
Joined
Nov 22, 2008
Location
Toronto/Ottawa
TDI
Mk4 ALH TDi
Thats for the infor silver ghost. I dont know if i will invest in a 16ft camper especially knowing that i am not planning to upgrade to a bigger vehicle. I might just rent one and see how it is. I have a stg1 clutch and the airlift bags. Planning to run sprint520s with a malone tune eventually. Mass is needed to tow mass and my 2dr golf tdi has less mass then your jetta as well as a short wheelbase.
 

SilverGhost

Veteran Member
Joined
Mar 25, 2005
Location
Back in So Flo - St Lucie
TDI
'05 Golf - totaled :(, wife's '13 Beetle - buy back, TDIless
Well, I don't tow with the Jetta. Its my wife's car and she'd string my up for that. I tow with the Golf, 4dr GLS.

Jason
 

mr.mindless

Veteran Member
Joined
Jan 23, 2006
Location
Rochester, NY
TDI
2002 Galactic Blue Jetta GLS
205/75R15
smallest size you can get them in. I think next year im going to try the general grabber as its snow rated the bf is not....
Sounds familiar :)

Looks like you have a lift? Have a thread anywhere with details on your car? Looks really sharp!
 

Jnitrofish

Veteran Member
Joined
Jun 24, 2009
Location
Texas
TDI
2005.5, 2005.5, and 2006. 5m, 5m, and DSG.
Just towed this over 80 miles at 2am (when I didn't have to be bothered with the other car on the road).



5x10' angle and tube iron construction, solid pressure treated wood 2x6 deck, single axle utility trailer with tilting bed.

Fairly bouncy when empty. It sounds like an angry gorilla in my trunk. Hopefully it will quiet down some when it has a motorcycle or two on it and a little more weight on the tongue.
 

BadNewsMike

Veteran Member
Joined
Sep 5, 2007
Location
Buffalo,NY(i have vag-com)
TDI
01 Jetta TDI
Sounds familiar :)

Looks like you have a lift? Have a thread anywhere with details on your car? Looks really sharp!
this thread has a bit of detail scattered around.
http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=338614

I love the car and probably will never rid of it. Ive got an R32 Rear end sitting at work to be welded in if we ever have a slow week....

How was your car with the Grabber? looked good i always love the blue TDI's.
My dads lifted Baltic Green looks good with the 2" lift as well.
The red definitely gets it fair share of attention I got pulled over once just for the cop to ask how I got "truck" tires on my little sedan somewhere near the Catskills once.
 

mr.mindless

Veteran Member
Joined
Jan 23, 2006
Location
Rochester, NY
TDI
2002 Galactic Blue Jetta GLS
Loved the big snows and the Grabbers both.

I have a couple of Eagles now, once I have to actually put tires on them, Grabber AT IIs are a pretty likely choice.
 

dbwill

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 11, 2011
Location
Sarasota Florida, USA
TDI
2011 JSW 6M
After reading all 65 pages there are a couple of things I have yet to figure out.

Do Wesfalia or Bosal hitches have a receiver attachment of some sort so accessories like trays or bike racks can be used?

Do European Golf/JSW have the same DPF that we have in the states? If not perhaps there is something in the combination of DPF/Exhaust restriction/Turbo health that comprises the "technical reasons" for having no or low towing limits for US cars?

This thread reminded me of the 1979 4 speed Dasher we had in the early 80's that we used to tow and launch a 16' boat all the time. Never got stuck as far as I remember, but our ford van did. What a great little car; the reason I bought my JSW.
 
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