[V8] gone completely to the dark side

[Dave Saad]

Well... the hitch is on, and I did a test pull. I don't yet have the lights or brakes hooked up so I could not go far, but I found several surprises:

I have a very steep driveway and the trailer is parked between the house and a big tree. To get it in there, I have to back onto the driveway - first 90 degrees turn, then proceed up the driveway a few feet and then do another 90 degree turn into the parking spot.  The trailer has done a 180 degree turn by this time and the car is basically jackknifed at the final maneuver. My V8 explorer was modified so it could be in low range AWD to make all this happen. The allroad did it with ease! the biggest problems are that the first 90 turn has the car teetering on two wheels for a bit due to the steep angle of the driveway off the street. The second is the air suspension - on level 4, gets a little confused and tries to level right at a bad time. I think a different height hitch "stinger: will solve that problem. 
I could not get up to speed in the neighborhood, but it went up the hill at least as easy as the explorer, maybe even easier!
It also seems the explorer has much stronger brakes though. Its rated for 7000lbs and is basically a Ranger truck so I guess that makes sense. Trailer brakes are definitely required.

Anyway, now I have to figure out how to install the brake controller, and disable the parktronic while towing. I am also going to figure out how to install another transmission cooler.

Dave


> On Jun 1, 2020, at 8:24 AM, kneale at knitknacks.com wrote:
> 
> Don't have a real weight figure, Dave.  Trailer itself is around 1200 pounds. I once loaded the trailer with sufficient weight to break the OEM axle spring midway between Michigan and Colorado. Once had a load of 600 pounds of yarn in boxes for my wife's biz.   Single axle doesn't have brakes.  Reason for AR originally was so the air suspension would keep the car level with trailer weight.  I've pulled trailers with an OEM manual and with the slushbox AR that's been converted to manual.  
> 
> I have an open utility trailer I've loaded with about 50 sheets of OSB for adding a cold roof to a rental house.  That's like 3000 pounds plus nearly 1000 for the trailer.  But that wasn't going uphill in the mountains.  I'd think you'd be fine with your trailer.
> 
> Regards, Kneale
> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: Re: [V8] gone completely to the dark side
> From: Dave Saad <dsaadme at me.com <mailto:dsaadme at me.com>>
> Date: Mon, June 01, 2020 6:48 am
> To: kneale at knitknacks.com <mailto:kneale at knitknacks.com>
> 
> This is good to hear! What kind of weight are you pulling? Do you have trailer brakes? Still have the air suspension?
> Mine will have a pretty big frontal wind load because it sits high off the ground, but I think the car can do it too. I just hope my 160K mile transmission is up to the task. I am thinking of overhauling it anyway just because I did the one on my daughters allroad (it had a broken drum) and the difference in shift quality is really noticeable. 
> I did sort of want a TDI Touareg or Q7, but for now I am going with the devil I know…
> 
> Dave
> 
> btw, good to see a little action on the V8 list! I wonder if there are any still on the road?
> 
> 
>> On May 31, 2020, at 8:48 AM, kneale at knitknacks.com <mailto:kneale at knitknacks.com> wrote:
>> 
>> I tow with an Allroad regularly.  I have a 6X8 enclosed single axle that I've way overloaded repeatedly and pulled across the country (including in the mountains of Colorado).  Hardly know it's there except for bumpy roads.  If you can, be sure you have a 2" ball.  A metric will rattle.
>> 
>> -------- Original Message --------
>> Subject: Re: [V8] gone completely to the dark side
>> From: Dave Saad <dsaadme at me.com <mailto:dsaadme at me.com>>
>> Date: Sun, May 31, 2020 7:11 am
>> To: V8 at audifans.com <mailto:V8 at audifans.com>
>> 
>> Boy! I haven't thought about this list in a long time!
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> I actually found a factory tow bar for my allroad and hope to install it soon. If it pulls my 3300lb R-Pod trailer OK then i'll just stick with it, otherwise I will need something with a little more grunt.
>> 
>> Dave
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>