demonstrating the importance of trailer weight distribution<\/a>
\n– renting a 3\/4 ton pickup is totally an option. It’s about $120\/day from Enterprise rent a truck with all fees, cheaper for weekly and monthly.<\/p>\n——————————————————————-
\nIs using an Audi Q7 to tow a 5,100lb dry (6500lb GVWR) travel trailer a bad idea? We are getting such a travel trailer, a Keystone Bullet 243BHS, and want a car that’ll do the job. Having a truck (ie F150 crew cab) for a daily driver seems silly for us city folk. The Q7 3.0T (with the “55” engine and air suspension is rated to tow 7,700 lbs.
\n38 comments<\/p>\n
AE
\nYes it’s a bad idea. Tow capacity should be about 2x dry weight. Plus you have to add the tongue weight to the total load capacity of your Audi which will probably be fully loaded on a trip with people and luggage. also have to take your break system into consideration.<\/p>\n
AE
\nI assume the “6500lb GVWR” is supposed to refer to the trailer weight when loaded? I’m not clear on what you mean by that number based on how you phrased that sentence but I’m thinking you are confusing the meaning of GVWR. What is the GVWR of the Audi? Generally you shouldn’t try and pull anything more than 80 percent of your towing capacity and a 5100 dry trailer is probably 6k+ when loaded which is too much for a 7700 towing capacity.<\/p>\n
CP
\nAs AE said, terrible Idea. What makes a proper tow vehicle is rear suspension capacity, braking system, and transmission strength. After, and only after all these comes horsepower. These features are status quo on trucks (or anything built on a truck chassis) but not on passenger cars. They could do it….but they don’t.<\/p>\n
SG
\nUnless Audi is willing to do full transmission fluid changes, I would avoid towing with Q7. A lot of Audis tote \u201csealed transmission\/lifetime fluid\u201d. May be fine for normal use, but towing heats up trans fluid significantly and trashes it. I was considering a Q7 but since I will be towing an rv or horse trailer, I am shopping for a pickup (F150 or Dodge Ram).<\/p>\n
ES
\nLots of Australians tow “caravans” with underpowered crossovers\/SUVs and such, but also their trailers are smaller than that.
\nWe live in the land of (relatively) cheap F-250s. An overpowered diesel is far more fuel efficient than an underpowered Tacoma or Tundra, etc. An F-250 would be much safer and more efficient all around.<\/p>\n
JR
\nIt would not be safe, reasonable or good for the car. Get a smaller trailer if you wish to tow with a car.<\/p>\n
JC
\nJR, oh physics\u2026<\/p>\n
BS
\nthe F150 isn\u2019t that silly. We had one for years, specifically to tow our Coleman pop-up trailer. And Abigail will love it!<\/p>\n
CM
\nI was looking up info about towing 2000 lbs trailer cross country with an aftermarket installed hitch on an older 3 series BMW sedan (~130k miles) with a manual transmission. Most American forums said it’s terrible idea (few people asked in the first place, of course). But a few said it’s quite normal in Europe, where German cars are treated as regular cars, that are regularly used for vacations or relocations towing stuff. In the end I found a couple of folks who did that with similar setups, and ended up doing it without any issue whatsoever, adding a xc scenic trip to the deal (top speed climbing the steepest parts of i70 in Colorado was barely touching 40mph). Nothing suffered; all mechanics is as good as it was, and the hitch is very useful for bikes. Look up what they say about your question on European Audi forums.<\/p>\n
PC
\nNoooo! No ! No !<\/p>\n
PC
\nI saw a couple towing a big trailer with a powerful mid size car. They got in trouble as the trailer lifted the back wheels of the car going over a steep incline to a flat. It\u2019s not a big deal if you\u2019re going slow. They towed that way all through hilly\u2026 See more<\/p>\n
Megan Flom
\n????I read everyone\u2019s comments. I\u2019m sad about having to buy a pick up truck to drive around most days. Oh well. Safety first!<\/p>\n
MS
\nMegan Flom buy a smaller trailer. You drive the car every day, the trailer (I\u2019m assuming) only occasionally.<\/p>\n
JR
\nMegan Flom you can rent a pick up too. From enterprise. Do the math it\u2019s cheaper to rent. You aren\u2019t going to use it as much as you think you are. Pick up trucks are bizzarlly expensive right now.<\/p>\n
ES
\nMegan Flom I have a VW touareg and i believe it\u2019s similar to a Q7 in terms of weight and footprint & stuff. tons of people tow with it in Australia – just smaller caravans than the one in the picture. If you are set on it, there is a solution there and\u2026 See more<\/p>\n
ES
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