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Any one tow or offroad with a Touareg ?

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Pinzel

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Hello everyone, I am a current Land Rover Disco II owner, and I have taken a liking to the VW Touareg....I think it take me back to my 16v GTI days
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Anyway I tow my boat which weighs in just under 8000, and I do alot of offroading. After looking at the touareg, I don't thinking towing my load will be an issue, after seeing those HUGE rotors
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I know stopping will not be an issue.
But as far as offroading, I've never offroaded with a ind. susp. vehicle, can some one give some insite to it's offroad ability, rigidness ? Does the truck lend itself for decent equipment storage, good recovery points ? Does any one have some sliders fitted yet, shackels, winches, etc ??
Also what is the ratio on this beast in low range ? Does it vary depending on which motor you get ?
Thanks for the help
Peter
 
#2 ·
Re: Any one tow or offroad with a Touareg ? (Pinzel)

First of all, you should do a search. There have been many of us who have off-roaded in the TOUAREG. There's nothing more to say other than: This is an AMAZING vehicle when the road gets rough.
Check out these pictures: (thanks aircooled)
http://avalonsystems.net/galle...Rally
Or this one:
http://www.avalonsystems.net/g...quito
Or this one:
http://www.avalonsystems.net/g...ruise

Modified by TREGinginCO at 10:05 AM 9-21-2004


Modified by TREGinginCO at 10:07 AM 9-21-2004
 
#3 ·
Re: Any one tow or offroad with a Touareg ? (Pinzel)

Recovery points are pretty poor in my opinion.
Rigidity is probably higher then anything out there.
Rumour has it the towing capabilities are very good. I wouldn't hesitate to tow anything in a treg that I would tow with a disco.
The road handling will be uncomparable - nothing against disco's, but they won't even pretend to try to compete.
Offroad, you'll lose articulation, possibly gain clearance with the independent suspension, but likely lose some long term ruggedness of the solid axle.
I think the lowrange was 2.3 to 1 or 2.7 to 1 - its plenty low let me put it that way - independent of engine size I believe.
Torque will be fine for anything the disco will pull in probably all the engines, but definitely the v8 and v10
-Jeff
 
#4 ·
Re: Any one tow or offroad with a Touareg ? (Pinzel)

for offroading the air suspension is a must, and though I don't tow I'm quite sure that with your towing at the limit of the capabilities you'd be much happier with the air for this purpose, too. for offroading, it's the extra ground clearance and the better approach/dep angles, for towing, it's the self-leveling that makes the air suspension worth while. on the road, it's the better handling and the better responsiveness.
you'll be limited by three things when offroading: your own desire not to get into situations that put the body of the car at significant risk; tire size (smallish wheel wells); and the impossibility to do suspension or other mechanical modifications.
if you're into offroading on vacations or simply to have a good time sometimes, while traveling in the luxury of an extremely well-made SUV, the Treg is for you.
 
Discussion starter · #5 ·
Thanks for the feedback
TREGingin, Thanks for the pic links they nice to see.
"This is an AMAZING vehicle when the road gets rough."
As far as Land Rovers we usually discount the whole notion that there is even a road where we are going. Pics looked a bit more like the roads we take to get to the trail as opposed to the trail itself.

Bigscout Thanks !
Those were some key points I was looking for opinoins on. I'll agree about the disco on road handling, I guess I have the hardest time adjusting to the fact that there will not be alot of shopping for mud tires, springs and other goodies of the type. Then again a set of muds wouldn't do the road dynamics of the vehicle any good.
sciencegeek
Thanks, good point about the modifications, that tends to be one of the best past times for guys used to coil sprung solid axles
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All in all, I'm sure the reliability is better than what I am used to. I love my rover, as far as style I like the rover more than the touareg (I like the boxy utility look ) But geeeez the things are service time bombs waiting to explode. After a while you just get sick of spending money on stuff that should not have gone wring.
Thanks again to all that replied
Peter
 
#7 ·
Re: (Pinzel)

So, Pinzel, where do you do this bad A** four wheeling? At that new park you guys built in downtown Chicago?............... Flatlanders??????
We have a saying... "don't trust anyone below 6500 FT"
Peter
 
#9 ·
Re: Any one tow or offroad with a Touareg ? (Pinzel)

The Treg offroad is great
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. Actually better than my 2001 4Runner I had. The clearence of 11.8 in is 2 better than an H2. The V8 has gobbs of lowend torque for getting you out of trouble. And the 4xMotion delivers Superior control. A lot better than my 4Runner did. If you want to check out some pics go see Aircooled's album!
 
Discussion starter · #10 ·
Re: (Psl53)

Peter , you realize your allowed to leave the state you reside in, right ?
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I usually like to leave the state of Illinois for some off roading. Even though the Discovery can't compare to the Touareg ON road. It is still legal to use them on road to drive down the interstate.
You may be missing some really great trails, no doubt Colorado is a offroading heaven.
Black Bear Pass
Pearl Pass
Hackett Gulch
But there are some really great others
Tellico NC
Charouleau Gap AZ
Badlands IN (just a 4x4 park but some hairy shorter trails)
Drummond Island MI
Poconos Mt. PN
Just to name a few
As far as the park in Chicago , I'm pretty sure they would arrest anyone who would drive their truck through there. Don't know what you have heard about it but it is more for summer concerts and city events.
I can double check though.
Peter
 
Discussion starter · #11 ·
Re: (madeindueschland)

Quote, originally posted by madeindueschland »
I tow a 32 ft 7200 lb race boat

SWEET !!
Hope all is well with all the Huricanes you guys have had down there.
I am getting ready to winterize in 3 weeks
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I notice a porsche cayenne at the ramp pulling a Searay 280 sundancer. That thing must weigh in at 8500-9000 including trailer. He pulled it around like a toy wagon, there rear was perfectly level.
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I am confidant in it's towing, and stopping. Even in it's offroad ability, I am concerned about the inability to modify, even the 18" rim is a major limitation for finding some good mud rubber. It's just something I need to weigh yet, that's really the only con so far.
Peter
 
#12 ·
Re: (Pinzel)

Do you have any good links on Pearl Pass? Never even heard of it, but found it runs from Crested Butte to Aspen.
Here is a set of pictures I have found on Hackett Gulch. I suppose you could run it in a touareg (at least the pictures I have found, but you would be severely limited by a lack of large tires, and lack of underbody protection.
http://rustybrain.com/cruisers/hackettgulch.html
 
Discussion starter · #14 ·
Re: (aircooled)

If I remember correctly I think there may be another name Pearl Pass goes under as well.....Montezuma.....something or other. I thnk
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But yes it does run from Aspen to Crested Butte.
 
#16 ·
Re: (leebo)

OK, from my experience, the Touareg is a VERY capable machine, but it has it's short comings. The three biggest are:
Lack of articulation prevents your wheels from staying on the ground. A wheel in the air does nothing to help propel you up and object. It also means that as you vehicle transition from one wheel to another, you risk losing control of your vehicle or doing damage to the under carriage as it comes down, possibly on an unexpected object.
Lack of ability to use big tires. You will loose valuable surface area that would be used to reduce wheel slippage and loose or slippery terrain. You can air down your 18" or 17" tires, but unless you use bead lockers, you run the risk of popping the tire off the bead if you air down too low. You also will LOOSE valuable clearance.
Clearance. The touareg has the best clearance in its class. Nothing hangs down to get smacked, like differentials. However, you don't have the rocker clearance that most other vehicles do. When at all possible, you want to try and put rocks and other obstacles under the wheels. Where Jeeps and other serious offroad vehicles have a leg up on us is their greatest clearance is at the rocker panels. A jeep with a lift may have only 12 inches at the diffs, but it can have (say) 28 inches or so at the rocker panels.
Willingness to do damage.
I bet the Touareg could make it up obstacles in Hackett Gulch, but you would probably do damage to the vehicle, even if it's just body damage. it would add up quickly, and I for one don't care to get that extreme. If I do, I'll get a Jeep or other vehicle where replacement parts are relatively cheap, or can be done by the end user.
 
#17 ·
Re: (Pinzel)

You picked a beaut! Pearl Pass is more trail than pass in spots, but passable enough when the snow melts It goes from the end of Castle Creek Road, south of Aspen, to CO 135, about 4 miles south of Crested Butte. It is 22 miles in distance with a technical rating of 9, open only in the very late summer and early fall at best -- August and September. Scenic rating -- takes your breath away; elevation 8,838 feet to 12,676 feet.
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Modified by DenverBill at 9:29 PM 9-23-2004
 
#18 ·
Re: (DenverBill)

Nothing to special but i just got done pulling my friends camaro out after he just "crashed it" Well it was raining and he was going well over the speed limit being the idiot that he is and lost control around a turn and went into the ditch at about 20 or 30 and ramped up one the sewer things that go under your drive way and was completly bottomed out with no wheels touching the ground. Well after hooking up our V6 touareg and throwin it in low mode just for fun I barley hit the gas at all never over 2000 Rpms and it dragged the camaro out of the ditch like it wasnt even behind me. And thats with the V6. and as for offroading I have yet to do anything serious but i did go to the beach this weekend and i tried to see if i coud get the Treg stuck and it just wouldnt happen.


Modified by 02_GTI_1.8T at 4:40 PM 9-23-2004
 
#19 ·
Re: (Psl53)

Actually badlands offroad park in Indiana is about a 2.5 hour drive - I've been there a few times - not in the Treg, but its a decent place. It doesn't have the views like CO, but it has the obstacles in spades.

Rockport is West along the river, also a decent place - haven't been but from reputation.
A new place just opened here about 45 minutes SW of Chicago - in Marseilles. I haven't made it there yet either.
As to the other fourwheeling spots - theres hundreds if you know where to go - again they don't have the views, but you're not wheezing when you hook up a strap for lack of oxygen
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-Jeff
 
#20 ·
Re: Pearl Pass

Pinzel,
I like your style. Take the Touareg on road to go to other states.......Brilliant!!!!! No offense, but I'll stick to anywhere west of Denver. By the way, Pearl Pass is in my back yard, I have dragged my dirt bike through the snow fields on more than one occasion. We would ride over have lunch and be back for a night on the town. Pearl Pass to Cement creek. When the snow was too much, we would go Italian Pass to Taylor into Crested Butte. That was many years ago and I wouldn't even consider doing it in my Touareg, as I've said before... That's what a Rubicon is for.
Pinzel, Thanks for being a good sport.
Out
Peter
 
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