Towing with a VX

[tom4bren]

Eric,

I've towed a 6x8 trailer that's boxed in (fully loaded with junk). I'm not sure of the weight either but it did the job well. The mountain pass will be slow going - the power mode will be your friend there - just pick a speed that the VX can maintain even if it's slow & don't keep shifting up & down just to keep the speed up. See if you can find a trailer with surge brakes - that'll help on the back side of the mountain pass.

The only other thing I'd mention is to keep both hands on the wheel. Side winds can be quite entertaining if you're not prepared.

[etlsport]

thanks tom.. my plan is tomorrow or wednesday to go rent the trailer and drive it around town a bit to get used to it, its only 20 bucks a day so thats no biggie.. wish me luck! lol

[etlsport]

well tomorrows the day.. pick up the trailer at 7am.. we'll see how it goes

my vx is in tip top shape with..
new tires and shocks
fresh trans fluid, fresh t-case fluid..

wish me luck!

[Ldub]

thanks tom.. my plan is tomorrow or wednesday to go rent the trailer and drive it around town a bit to get used to it, its only 20 bucks a day so thats no biggie.. wish me luck! lol

well tomorrows the day.. pick up the trailer at 7am.. we'll see how it goes

my vx is in tip top shape with..
new tires and shocks
fresh trans fluid, fresh t-case fluid..

wish me luck!

...............

And happy motoring!

[tom4bren]

Best o luck buddy.

Let us know how it went.

[Leah]

Sheesh! Does anyone know what happened to etlsport? He never reported back...

[tom4bren]

He survived the trip. IIRC experienced no difficulties whatsoever. If you check his gallery, I think he has a pic of the setup.

[etlsport]

I made it! Haha no problems at all.. Even parallel parked with the trailer.. Vx handled with confidence and authority. Later towed the larger trailer about 40 miles loaded around 4000 lbs with no issue other than getting up one steep hill I was worried that I was running steady around 4k rpms.. That made me nervous but it was fine

Larger trailer



Smaller Trailer

[Bob Barker]

Wowser! It looks like a Tonka toy next to those big rigs!!!

[vt_maverick]

You have a Tone hitch right?

[etlsport]

yep, didnt notice any deflection in it, i kept a close watch on my back up cam, and before leaving had a buddy jump up and down on the trailer connection, the suspension flexed, but not the hitch

[Cobrajet]

Looks like a scene out of Transformers!

At least it didn't end up looking like this one...

[RallyDude]

Those are some big boats to be towing with the VX, especially the sailboat. I've towed a small enclosed camper with a Wrangler (same short wheelbase, high profile). In downtown Chicago traffic, the trailer started wagging me back and forth like a dog with a squeaky toy. The front end would go back and forth with all the weight coming off the suspension at each side. Unnerving as hell. I found that the only way to stop this, was to actuate the trailer brakes and apply the gas at the same time. Once I figured out that trick, I never had any issues. Still, not a preferred situation.

I think a small boat, a couple jet skis, atv's, or dirtbikes, a light sport aircraft, or a utility trailer or pop-up camper would be what I would be most comfortable towing. Anything above 1,500lbs, I'd want a trailer with brakes. I think it matters how often and how far you plan on towing that boat.

As far as messing with the TOD, you could install an off switch so you could tow in 2wd. Don't use it in 4th gear either, overdrive is not intended for towing, and you could easily burn out that tranny. Keep the speed down as well, and you'll be happy for the advise the first time you come to a stoplight.

Etisport, that's probably a bit much. I'd probably rent or borrow a truck for the day, or a utility trailer rather than an enclosed one. Besides all the extra weight, you have a lot of drag on an enclosed trailer.

[RallyDude]

You're much better off running at higher rpm's, rather than upshifting and trying to tow in too high of a gear. You're not going to harm the VX constantly keeping 4,000 rpm's. I didn't make that last post before looking at page 2. I think the smaller trailer is more fitting for the vehicle. I'd want trailer brakes on the larger one especially coming down a pass. Glad it worked out for you.

[Volksnick]

My VX was my only vehicle for quite a while (10 years!) and it saw plenty of towing duties. I regularly pulled a 20 ft sailboat and a large (12ft box) popup. I also flat towed a lot of old VWs (~1800lbs). The pop up was the only one with electric brakes. There were frequent utility trailer/dirt bike hauling trips. I never once got in a scary situation and never once felt like the tail was wagging the dog. Always lots of power and plenty of stopping ability. I'd argue that the trailer hitch is the only reason I kept the VX all that time, because without a hitch, a vehicle is useless.

The VX has towed stuff ALOT better than my 2007 V6 frontier (manual) and its rated for 6,500 lbs...which is why I still have it...