k2kiesel

Hi
I have an audi Q7 TDI premium plus with a towing capacity of 5500. I am curious if it can tow a 3300 lb horse trailer with 2 horses weighing 1000 a piece. Will I be towing too much?

machish

It's interesting that you say your towing capacity is 5500. My 2015 TDI is rated at 6600 from the factory. Could it be that you added the hitch later, so it doesn't have the other upgrades of the towing package (probably increased cooling capacity, or maybe the hitch is attached differently).
Honestly I haven't done enough towing to know for sure if towing 5300 lbs is too much when you're rated at 5500. I've heard that it's easy to add other stuff and not realize how much you've added (e.g. gallons of water) and soon you're over capacity. I've also heard that a good rule of thumb is that you shouldn't exceed 90% of your capacity, but I'm not sure of the rationale behind that.

Sorry I couldn't provide a definitive answer,
-martin

dreadlocks

Tow Package for TDI got bigger radiator fans at factory, everything else is physically identical to after the fact install.. I consider my non-tow package TDI tow rating to be 6600lbs, I'll just take it easy if I'm towing that capacity on triple degree days.. if it's ever an issue I'll find the PN# for the fans and put em in my self.

I just pulled a 3k pound trailer very easily across the midwest through some gnarly winds.. I plan on taking it up to ~6k without issue..

However, it seems to me horse trailers tend to have axles pretty far back, I imagine because the bouncing behind axle would be rough on em.. that would tend to put alot of weight on the tongue.. I wouldn't put more than ~660# on tongue and you cant use a weight distribution hitch either.. so if you dont have air suspension expect to be sagging.

k2kiesel

Thanks-I do not have the Prestige package that comes with the upgrades. I just have the hitch, so I stuck either getting a second vehicle to tow, or a lightweight trailer .
Thanks for your help!

cuatrokoop

I would not think twice about using my 3.6L to tow my family's Sooner (all aluminum) with 1-2 horses in it most places my daughter, niece and nephew show in Ohio. The 3.6 does not have a factory tow package, I added the hitch and controller. I would add a brake controller however. My 4.2 has factory tow/air suspension/etc with a brake controller, I would not hesitate to tow the trailer pretty much anywhere in the US.

k2kiesel

I do not have the air suspension package, which it did have, I definitely would tow. I think I might buy a Bockman trailer, which is a European trailer that an be towed with a car! Thanks for the info.

dreadlocks

You dont have to have air suspension to tow, towing capacity is the same with or without em.. its just the Air Suspension keeps the tow vehicle perfectly level regardless what you hitchup to it.. which is really nice but not a requirement.

I suggest you try renting one and see how it loads up and travels with your creatures onboard.. then you can figure out if you need more or less trailer before committing..

k2kiesel

Hi
I just towed a Bockman and a kinsman and the Q7 was great! Thanks for all the info.