Re: [A/S] VW Touareg towing an Airstream

["Tuna" <rctowns@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

the wheelbase question has been pretty much beat to death, but the short
version is this: The important distance is the distance from the rear wheels
of the tow vehicle to the first axle of the trailer - it ought to be as near
as possible to that of the tow vehicle's wheelbase. But, there are
mitigating factors...

Example:
A long-bed Ram 1500 with long 'overhang' will increase the distance between
the trailer's axle(s) and the rear axle of the truck, whereas the shorter
distance of a Durango with the same drivetrain, rear axle, trans-cooler and
other tow package benefits will actually be an equally safe or safer
tow-vehicle (within weight limits). Another factor is the hitch. A Hensley
or other good anti-sway/load-distributing hitch will compensate for a bit
shorter wheelbase.

I did quite a lot of towing with a '99 Durango, 5.9L w/tow-package,
reese/ez-lift hitch, etc... if i was towing something at or near the weight
limits of the durango, i would shift as much of the towed weight into the
back of the suv as was practical.

For anything over 7,500lbs/24', i wouldn't consider anything less than a
3/4-ton truck.

Tuna
Reno, NV