Touareg capabilites for off-road - info please

[unky dunky]

We bought the extra spare wheel as well, immediately after we got the Treg, (ordered from the VW spare parts and bought the same tyre that were on Treg). The best is that we never had to use it.

Anyway, congratulations! ...and what colour and other options you've got? And now the most important thing, how long do you have to wait?

Getting 4XMotion - White optioned with air suspension, area view and sports package (primarily for the darkened glass). Delivery expected about Jan-Feb ... suits me as I am not in any particular rush.

For off-road touring, I intend to get a separate set of 17inch wheels and fit with ATR's. Off to a good start getting these wheels, as I have already acquired 4 x 17inch wheels from a MY10(?)Touareg - just need to find one more now.

Maybe someone on this forum has a 17inch Touareg wheel (130mm Pitch Circle Diameter) they wish to sell? Will keep my ears and eyes open.

[Transporter]

Watch this section as well. http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/foru...nce-60825.html maybe contact hitoriko.

[phantomcamel]

Nope, 150TDI (4Motion) is AWD with only high range gearbox whereas 4X4Motion is high & low range. Hence my question as to whether the 150TDI is suitable for off-road touring. Or in other words, does one require a vehicle with low range in order to tour the Kimberleys?

For most parts you won't need low 4, but it really depends WHERE you go in the Kimberley & what time of the year. There was a mid 1960s Kombi (LH drive!) at El Questro station among a dozen of highly modified Landcruisers
If you want to go to Mitchel Falls & more remote areas the answer is YES. If you just want to do the Gibb, no - I don't think you will. The access road to Bungle Bungle should be no problem for a Touareg even without 4M. Some of the tracks within El Questro you will need it as there are some pretty rugged ones.
I did see one Touareg up there....
So it all depends where you go & how far you are planning to push it

[T Rex]

Congratulations on ordering your new Touareg! Sounds like a great package.

Regarding fitting the 17" wheels please first check if they will fit over the brakes of the 18" 4XMotion. You may find the brake package is larger than those fitted to the base model and the smaller rims will not fit. They certainly do differ on the T2 between wheel sizes. Cheers. Geoff

[R36 Dreamer]

Getting 4XMotion - White optioned with air suspension, area view and sports package (primarily for the darkened glass). Delivery expected about Jan-Feb ... suits me as I am not in any particular rush.

For off-road touring, I intend to get a separate set of 17inch wheels and fit with ATR's. Off to a good start getting these wheels, as I have already acquired 4 x 17inch wheels from a MY10(?)Touareg - just need to find one more now.

Maybe someone on this forum has a 17inch Touareg wheel (130mm Pitch Circle Diameter) they wish to sell? Will keep my ears and eyes open.

Congrats on the purchase, sounds like a great spec you have ordered. Now the dreaded waiting game eh... Always a killer. I have waited 4-6 months for my last 3 cars (GTI, R36 and RRS) and the last month kills me.

Will be worth the wait though.

[unky dunky]

Congratulations on ordering your new Touareg! Sounds like a great package.

Regarding fitting the 17" wheels please first check if they will fit over the brakes of the 18" 4XMotion. You may find the brake package is larger than those fitted to the base model and the smaller rims will not fit. They certainly do differ on the T2 between wheel sizes. Cheers. Geoff

Thanks ... good tip. My homework on Touareg specs suggests all Aussie Touareg variants have same size brakes (330mm diameter) to accommodate both 17" and 18" wheels. I also believe European TDI176 comes standard with 17" wheels ... so I think I'll be OK (says he with fingers crossed).

[idaho]

Thanks ... good tip. My homework on Touareg specs suggests all Aussie Touareg variants have same size brakes (330mm diameter) to accommodate both 17" and 18" wheels. I also believe European TDI176 comes standard with 17" wheels ... so I think I'll be OK (says he with fingers crossed).

The RVD's show the same size brakes for all models;
Certification Unit Details

[unky dunky]

The RVD's show the same size brakes for all models;
Certification Unit Details

Thanks for that... just as I thought.

[Packhorse]

Unky Dunky,

I am also looking at same purchase. Really need vehicle for mainly towing caravan on dirt and up the beach.

What have you been advised in regards to Tow Bar. Also although towing is 3.5T what is teh ball weight and does this suit a larger caravan.

[unky dunky]

Unky Dunky,

I am also looking at same purchase. Really need vehicle for mainly towing caravan on dirt and up the beach.

What have you been advised in regards to Tow Bar. Also although towing is 3.5T what is teh ball weight and does this suit a larger caravan.

Hi Packhorse,

I have not been told anything ... my delivery is not expected until Jan, so I have not spoken with dealer since ordering in July.

I have read a fair bit about the towing subject in this and other forums, and don't think there is a clear cut answer just yet. To me it seems odd that VW would downgrade the towball downweight limit from 350kg to 280kg ... but is this even confirmed? In any case, it will not be an issue for me as I do not intend to tow anything over 2800/280kg.

I have a mate with a Mercedes ML350 whose towbar is rated 3500/350kg when tongue is fitted one way and is rated 2700/270kg when tongue is fitted the other way up? I found that curious, and I wonder if there is something similar afoot with VW towbar???

The other issue with VW towbar seems to be that it is not yet available because of some sort of interoperability issue with the Driver Assist Package electronics ... and VW seem loathe to release the tow bar even for vehicles not fitted with this option until all the issues have been ironed out. I am hoping it is all sorted out before my deleivery.

Good luck with purchase. Everything I have read about the MY12 4XMotion has been very positive ... and I have no regrets in ordering one.

[Packhorse]

unky dunky,

I keep changing my mind whether or not to jump in. Just a bit concerned as the dealer was very vague about a release date for tow bar and I dont want to buy thsi car and find they change their mind and don't release one. Do you knwo if you can put load levelers on them or the fact they have air suspension you don't need them. They seem to be a really good vehicle just want to be sure

[unky dunky]

unky dunky,

Do you knwo if you can put load levelers on them or the fact they have air suspension you don't need them. They seem to be a really good vehicle just want to be sure

There's been a lot of discussion on this forum and also on clubtouareg.com forum about Weight Distribution Hitches when towing with Touareg.

General consensus is that if you get air suspension option you do not need nor should you even contemplate using WDH. The air suspension will do any load levelling required. One particular view suggests that if you use WDH with air suspension, they will 'fight' each other with adverse consequences.

WDH can be used with Touareg standard steel suspension ... but is needed only if you are towing with a substantial towball downweight. Touareg rear wheels are (supposedly) fairly close to the towbar so it should be able to handle fairly heavy loads before one would need to consider WDH.

[Packhorse]

Thanks,

Out and about all day today again driving everything from Prado (Not impressed at all) Pajero (Starting to feel very dated) Land Rover (Wife thinks to boxy) LandCruiser 200 (Had one too big feels like a boat) Pathfinder (3500 towing as well just didn't drive well) Keep coming back to the Touareg. Would really like to feel comfotable about its Off Road ability and reliability in western places. I think I have decided on 4Xmotion v6tdi. Now to get teh right price.

[unky dunky]

Thanks,

Out and about all day today again driving everything from Prado (Not impressed at all) Pajero (Starting to feel very dated) Land Rover (Wife thinks to boxy) LandCruiser 200 (Had one too big feels like a boat) Pathfinder (3500 towing as well just didn't drive well) Keep coming back to the Touareg. Would really like to feel comfotable about its Off Road ability and reliability in western places. I think I have decided on 4Xmotion v6tdi. Now to get teh right price.

Yep, I came to much the same conclusion. I also checked out the new Jeep Grand Cherokee ... less $$$ but left me doubtful about quality.

I ordered MY12 4xMotion with air suspension, sports interior (for privacy glass mainly) and area view (given global VW unavailability of single reverse camera). However, deleivery is going to take quite a while (Jul- Jan). Will PM you some info on pricing to assist with your bargaining.

[Packhorse]

Yep, I came to much the same conclusion. I also checked out the new Jeep Grand Cherokee ... less $$$ but left me doubtful about quality.

I ordered MY12 4xMotion with air suspension, sports interior (for privacy glass mainly) and area view (given global VW unavailability of single reverse camera). However, deleivery is going to take quite a while (Jul- Jan). Will PM you some info on pricing to assist with your bargaining.

Thanks champion effort got pm. Very helpful