Is the Touareg really a 4WD

[Flipper Dog]

Makes you think sometimes, I was looking for some after market accessories for my Touareg and the 4WD shop asked if this was a 4WD. They thought it was a German Transit van thingie???
To add insult to the injury they had a good range of after market gear for the Subaru Forester.
All I wanted was a storage box for my camping gear, not like a full face steel bullbar or anything.

Flipper Dog

V6 TDI without bullbar, aftermarket suspension, driving lights, full roof carry basket, side steps, winch or twin spare wheel carriers mounted on rear.

[dmm_au]

I have the ARB catalog at home, nothing for the the Touareg and surprising number of options for soft roaders.

To be fair, VW don't keep a stock of cars in the country, and aftermarket manufacturers don't see it as a market worth catering for.

And to be fairer, there is a roof rack compatible withthe Touareg listed in their catalogue. Actually I think it had specific places for things such as a spare wheel, jerry cans etc. May be worth researching...

[Transporter]

Makes you think sometimes, I was looking for some after market accessories for my Touareg and the 4WD shop asked if this was a 4WD. They thought it was a German Transit van thingie???
To add insult to the injury they had a good range of after market gear for the Subaru Forester.
All I wanted was a storage box for my camping gear, not like a full face steel bullbar or anything.

Flipper Dog

V6 TDI without bullbar, aftermarket suspension, driving lights, full roof carry basket, side steps, winch or twin spare wheel carriers mounted on rear.

Hi Flipper Dog,
Where did you get side steps from?

[dmm_au]

Doesn't it say 'without' sidesteps etc. Point being these are all the missing accessories

[bobzed57]

A couple of years ago, I did an accredited 4WD course with a company, and one of their tag-along instructors was an ARB rep/honcho. He'd never seen a Treg before and came away mightily impressed with how mine performed in the variety of situations they put you in on these courses.

My immediate question to him "when is ARB going to make some accessories for the Treg?", and he said "never". His argument was that I'd probably be the only guy in Oz who'd want anything, so the market wasn't there that would warrant the design and manufacture effort.

I've been in the ARB shops and soon as they ask what vehicle you have, they don't want to know you.

Their loss as far as I'm concerned.

[Transporter]

Doesn't it say 'without' sidesteps etc. Point being these are all the missing accessories

Sorry mate, I red it in a harry. Our TregV6Tdi should be delivered in early December and I'm searching where to get a side steps and some other accesories. In the worst case scenario I can make side steps and spare wheel carier myself but it is time consuming, so geting already made is cheaper option for me.

[Moonan]

I agree with the frustration level about this, but side steps are actually a VW spare part. A range of items are available through www.tregcentral.com in the US, but freight is dear (ask Bobz about the cost of getting his light bar shipped)

[Flipper Dog]

MRL T5,
I have been looking around at side steps as the kids could get into and out of the vehicle with ease.
I have seen several examples getting around on the net but most are American based which = big dollars to ship over (unless I hire a container and fill it with other Touareg parts ).
Checking out fitting instructions the local made idea is something I might look into. It appears that if I can get the mounting points right any local step can suit. My not at all local 4WD shop which is very helpful is looking into this for me but might need the vehicle to play around with.
The bloke I have been talking with believes that if you can get stuff to make a Range Rover Vogue look like a Hummer than he will help what ever he can for the Touareg.
Once I get some kind of answer I will post.

And yeah a snorkel would be nice but not the ones the local plumber made for the Touareg expendition models.

Flipper Dog
V6 TDI with front mud flaps

[dmm_au]

Obviously I haven't joined the ownership club yet, but I'm sensing there could be value in either a group buy, or perhaps some shared costs of R&D for local construction.

My priority would be a decent front recovery point.
Driving Lights
Snorkel

On the driving lights I was wondering if it would be possible to make a temporary mount that attached to the roof racks, so it could be added only when going bush?

I think the front recovery point is most important, because I've never seen a vehicle snatched backwards, it's always onwards.

[Transporter]

Touareg accessories

How about skid plates like these?

[dmm_au]

That looks quite cool. Nice picture anyhow.
I notice they have an ARB sticker, but I'm not sure what ARB have supplied.
Is that the standard recovery hook on the starboard side (RHS looking forward)?

I don't think the winch would be a great investment, better to travel with others and use a snatch strap. I'm still concerned about the reliability of this point, and the other threads I've read don't really provide a lot of comfort.

These recovery points look identical to the ones MountainLord sells.

http://allphaseoffroad.com/products.html?id=240

Presumably they are just stronger at the eye, no change to where they mount on the vehicle. Can someone comment on the value of this?

[Transporter]

That looks quite cool. Nice picture anyhow.
I notice they have an ARB sticker, but I'm not sure what ARB have supplied.
Is that the standard recovery hook on the starboard side (RHS looking forward)?

I don't think the winch would be a great investment, better to travel with others and use a snatch strap. I'm still concerned about the reliability of this point, and the other threads I've read don't really provide a lot of comfort.

These recovery points look identical to the ones MountainLord sells.

http://allphaseoffroad.com/products.html?id=240

Presumably they are just stronger at the eye, no change to where they mount on the vehicle. Can someone comment on the value of this?

It can be manufactured for less than $ 185 US. I'd machined it from one piece of steel. When I get our Treg I'll post pictures of finished recov. hooks.

[bobzed57]

The allphaseoffroad hooks are the same ones as mountainlord's. If you're thinking of making your own, the thread into the chassis is a LH one.

When I got my light bar, it was also supplied with sleeves so that you can use the recovery hooks without the light bar.

Cheers

[dmm_au]

If someone local has the ability to machine them local for less, consider making 2 more. I'm ordering my new T2 on Monday

[barefoot]

I'd like to know what everyone thinks about Composite Fibre for skid plates, it's light (won't squash you if you're under the car changing oil ), doesn't corrode and absorb shocks better than steel. I would imagine it'd be reasonably customizable into the various folds etc. for a skid plate.

I could investigate if there's enough interest ..... see this link to a Toowoomba company that makes bridges with composites:
http://www.wagner.com.au/cft.asp
Cheers