[Steve Hayes]

Hi , as the title says does anyone here tow? I am looking for real world reviews on towing. Weight , tongue weight etc....

Looking at about a 3500lb dry trailer with a tongue weight of 375 or so.

 

[Greasyfingers]

Hi , as the title says does anyone here tow? I am looking for real world reviews on towing. Weight , tongue weight etc....

Looking at about a 3500lb dry trailer with a tongue weight of 375 or so.

I have not towed with my Atlas SEL as of yet (only 750 miles on it so far) but I will be towing a 2,200GVWR landscape trailer in a few weeks. I had the dealer install the round 7-pin trailer plug, and I am curious how it will work.

I have a 4,500GVWR travel trailer with electric brakes that I will be taking on several camping trips this summer. I hope the advertised 5,000 lb tow capacity lives up to its claim.

One interesting, and surprising, feature with the rear sensing system is that it will quickly jack up the brakes if it senses something behind you while moving in reverse. This is a good thing if there is a child or bike behind you. Not good if there is a towed trailer connected. I discovered this when I put my cargo rack in the hitch receiver and loaded my trash cans in it. While backing out of the garage I heard lots of beeping and as I kept backing up, the car applied the brakes. I pressed the button behind the parking brake and that turned this feature off for the trip. Lesson: make sure to think about these safety features while using towed trailers or hitch accessories.

I would expect this backup warning system will be automatically disabled once a trailer harness is plugged in.

Another cool feature I found is a rear-view camera angle that guides you to hook up to your trailer. This is found in one of the on-screen options while the backup camera is on. I can’t wait to try it.

I would love to hear if anyone has had a trailer electronic brake controller installed on their Atlas SEL. How’d it work, and any trouble getting to the proper wires to connect it?

 

[RBurns237]

Can you follow up on using your 4500lbs travel trailer with your Atlas?

 

[Redneckson]

Just completed my first towing trip with my VW Atlas Highline with R Line package here in Canada. Overall trip length was roughly 850 km /500 miles. Purchased a new Jayco X19h trailer, dry weight of 3877 lbs, 360lb tongue weight. I went for the weight distribution hitch set up, although VW doesn’t want you too.... without the equalizer set up, the Atlas squatted really low on the back end. On the trip was myself and my adult daughter, our food and supplies loaded in the trailer. We don’t pack too heavy, but had a fair amount for our 4 day trip. We took one of the famous highways in Canada with mountain passes that were in some cases a 7percent grade for 15 km or so . Obviously you do feel the resistance from the trailer behind you, but the Atlas felt very stable.

As far as power in the Atlas, it could always use more.....but that being said, once you learn to use the manual shift mode properly,you will find that the Atlas has a sweet spot when towing, which is @ 3000 rpm. I would shift in manual mode on the hills finding the gear that held it at 3000 rpm and it did well. On the steep grades the Atlas would hold 80km/h and on the flats, 100-110 km/h in regular sport. Ode @2500rpm or less. I really didn’t want to push the atlas too hard so tried to keep it in the under 3000 rpm range.... revving higher really didn’t add much to speed, but rather just dropped the fuel economy further. When tracking the fuel economy, it was not great by any means. Went through 2 full tanks and a bit on the journey. I probably picked the hardest pulling highway , Hwy5 Coquihalla Hwy ..

I would definitely not pull anything heavier with the Atlas, lighter would obviously be better. I will rarely do that highway, so to me I a, more than happy with the way the Atlas pulls, and the comfort you get to ride in doing it... overall I would say the Atlas is a great choice if you keep the weight down....

 

[Redneckson]

Forgot to mention, had a good brake controller installed and it worked well, just takes some time to adjust it correctly. Had no issues with braking on the long steep descents , and utilized sport mode to take advantage of some engine braking. It had really well on the downhills maintains a steady speed with minimal braking required.

 

[JohnnyUnknown]

Just completed my first towing trip with my VW Atlas Highline with R Line package here in Canada. Overall trip length was roughly 850 km /500 miles. Purchased a new Jayco X19h trailer, dry weight of 3877 lbs, 360lb tongue weight. I went for the weight distribution hitch set up, although VW doesn’t want you too.... without the equalizer set up, the Atlas squatted really low on the back end. On the trip was myself and my adult daughter, our food and supplies loaded in the trailer. We don’t pack too heavy, but had a fair amount for our 4 day trip. We took one of the famous highways in Canada with mountain passes that were in some cases a 7percent grade for 15 km or so . Obviously you do feel the resistance from the trailer behind you, but the Atlas felt very stable.

As far as power in the Atlas, it could always use more.....but that being said, once you learn to use the manual shift mode properly,you will find that the Atlas has a sweet spot when towing, which is @ 3000 rpm. I would shift in manual mode on the hills finding the gear that held it at 3000 rpm and it did well. On the steep grades the Atlas would hold 80km/h and on the flats, 100-110 km/h in regular sport. Ode @2500rpm or less. I really didn’t want to push the atlas too hard so tried to keep it in the under 3000 rpm range.... revving higher really didn’t add much to speed, but rather just dropped the fuel economy further. When tracking the fuel economy, it was not great by any means. Went through 2 full tanks and a bit on the journey. I probably picked the hardest pulling highway , Hwy5 Coquihalla Hwy ..

I would definitely not pull anything heavier with the Atlas, lighter would obviously be better. I will rarely do that highway, so to me I a, more than happy with the way the Atlas pulls, and the comfort you get to ride in doing it... overall I would say the Atlas is a great choice if you keep the weight down....

Redneckson, you used a weight distribution hitch? No problems, no issues? Im towing an Apex Nano, similar weights, without a distribution hitch. It squats and bounces alot. Was thinking about helper bags, but if theres brave people like you trying the distibution system, i just might invest in the new hitch system.

 

[notabiker]

I have not towed with my Atlas SEL as of yet (only 750 miles on it so far) but I will be towing a 2,200GVWR landscape trailer in a few weeks. I had the dealer install the round 7-pin trailer plug, and I am curious how it will work.

I have a 4,500GVWR travel trailer with electric brakes that I will be taking on several camping trips this summer. I hope the advertised 5,000 lb tow capacity lives up to its claim.

One interesting, and surprising, feature with the rear sensing system is that it will quickly jack up the brakes if it senses something behind you while moving in reverse. This is a good thing if there is a child or bike behind you. Not good if there is a towed trailer connected. I discovered this when I put my cargo rack in the hitch receiver and loaded my trash cans in it. While backing out of the garage I heard lots of beeping and as I kept backing up, the car applied the brakes. I pressed the button behind the parking brake and that turned this feature off for the trip. Lesson: make sure to think about these safety features while using towed trailers or hitch accessories.

I would expect this backup warning system will be automatically disabled once a trailer harness is plugged in.

Another cool feature I found is a rear-view camera angle that guides you to hook up to your trailer. This is found in one of the on-screen options while the backup camera is on. I can’t wait to try it.

I would love to hear if anyone has had a trailer electronic brake controller installed on their Atlas SEL. How’d it work, and any trouble getting to the proper wires to connect it?

IIRC there is a setting in the vehicle settings area to disable the sensors behind you and that would stay active (deactivated) until you went back into settings and changed it. Iirc it's right there with blind spot monitor setting.

I can see why vw wouldn't want a WD (weight distribution) hitch as it would put a lot more strain on the mounting locations. Basically they force the hitch joint into a pyramid type angle and force the weight to the front axle through the hitch and wd spring bars.

With that weight you need to make sure you're not going over the vehicles gvwr as the cargo in the car counts against the total weight you can tow. So if you have 2,000 pounds in the car then you're not going to be able to tow the full 5,000.

 

[Redneckson]

Redneckson, you used a weight distribution hitch? No problems, no issues? Im towing an Apex Nano, similar weights, without a distribution hitch. It squats and bounces alot. Was thinking about helper bags, but if theres brave people like you trying the distibution system, i just might invest in the new hitch system.

The equalizer hitch system made all the difference. It brought the tail end up nicely and handled very well. A lot less expensive then the bags. I didn’t go crazy putting tons of pressure on the bars when hooking up, but enough to even things out. Pulled great with no issues at all. Have pictures but can’t figure out how to put on this site.

 

[Mdebiasio]

I also decided to purchase a WDH for my 3100 lb travel trailer. I went with the 'Blue Ox sway pro 550'. This hitch has built in sway control and allows you to back up without disconnecting. Despite the owners manual stating not to use one, a very well known towing expert throughout Canada and the US reassured me that a WDH wouldn't harm my Atlas. I will be getting the WDH installed in the next few weeks once I get my trailer out of storage and will report back and perhaps even share some pics with it hooked up to my Cherokee Wolf Pup 16bhs. Although I towed all of last summer without one, a WDH with sway control is definitely important for safe towing. You never know when you will come up against a strong wind gust, a passing semi creating sway, or having to make a sudden abrupt move to get out of harms way.

 

[DerralVL]

Real World Weight Distribution Hitch Experiences?

I also decided to purchase a WDH for my 3100 lb travel trailer. I went with the 'Blue Ox sway pro 550'. This hitch has built in sway control and allows you to back up without disconnecting. Despite the owners manual stating not to use one, a very well known towing expert throughout Canada and the US reassured me that a WDH wouldn't harm my Atlas. I will be getting the WDH installed in the next few weeks once I get my trailer out of storage and will report back and perhaps even share some pics with it hooked up to my Cherokee Wolf Pup 16bhs. Although I towed all of last summer without one, a WDH with sway control is definitely important for safe towing. You never know when you will come up against a strong wind gust, a passing semi creating sway, or having to make a sudden abrupt move to get out of harms way.

Has anyone else tried using a weight distribution/sway control hitch with the Atlas? I'd like to hear about your experiences. Now that the Atlas has been out for a while, I haven't seen many updates and wondering how it's going after a few trips with WD. Atlas SEL towing a Coleman TT here and seem to be running a fine line with weight and sway control. Actual loaded weight is around 4200 lbs (CAT scales) and currently using just a sway control bar. Have realized the OEM VW hitch is bolted onto the frame too.

Thanks

 

[VWMG]

I bought a Rockwood Roo Hybrid travel trailer last summer from Camping World. It weighs about 3800lbs with a 400lb tongue weight. They setup the trailer and the Atlas with the Eaz Lift ReCurve R3, weight distribution hitch and sway control. https://www.campingworld.com/eaz-li...cgid=sway-controls#start=1&cgid=sway-controls. I told him the manual states that you can't use a distribution hitch with the Atlas. He said, "I hook up 15 of these everyday, I have never heard of that." So I drove it home with it hooked up. I hooked up the trailer brake controller myself. I tried it without the WD hitch and the Atlas sagged pretty bad, so there was no way I was towing it like that, so I hooked the WD hitch back up. Drove it to the Jersey shore about 500 miles round trip without incident. The Atlas pulled it easily, and comfortably. No sway at all, gas mileage was about 12-13 mpg. I plan on using the same set-up this summer.

 

[whitevw]

I also decided to purchase a WDH for my 3100 lb travel trailer. I went with the 'Blue Ox sway pro 550'. This hitch has built in sway control and allows you to back up without disconnecting. Despite the owners manual stating not to use one, a very well known towing expert throughout Canada and the US reassured me that a WDH wouldn't harm my Atlas. I will be getting the WDH installed in the next few weeks once I get my trailer out of storage and will report back and perhaps even share some pics with it hooked up to my Cherokee Wolf Pup 16bhs. Although I towed all of last summer without one, a WDH with sway control is definitely important for safe towing. You never know when you will come up against a strong wind gust, a passing semi creating sway, or having to make a sudden abrupt move to get out of harms way.

Any update with the WD? How was the towing without one - any sagging? I will be towing a 2021 Cherokee Wolf Pup 16 FQ mid month and the thinking is to go with no WD as per VW's advise and just add a sway bar but eventually add air bags. Since the Pup will be picked up from the dealer, I will still have the option to add WD at that point but don't want any warranty issue.

 

[whitevw]

Real World Weight Distribution Hitch Experiences?



Has anyone else tried using a weight distribution/sway control hitch with the Atlas? I'd like to hear about your experiences. Now that the Atlas has been out for a while, I haven't seen many updates and wondering how it's going after a few trips with WD. Atlas SEL towing a Coleman TT here and seem to be running a fine line with weight and sway control. Actual loaded weight is around 4200 lbs (CAT scales) and currently using just a sway control bar. Have realized the OEM VW hitch is bolted onto the frame too.

Thanks

No sagging, I'm assuming?

 

[whitevw]

I bought a Rockwood Roo Hybrid travel trailer last summer from Camping World. It weighs about 3800lbs with a 400lb tongue weight. They setup the trailer and the Atlas with the Eaz Lift ReCurve R3, weight distribution hitch and sway control. Eaz Lift ReCurve R3 Hitches with One-Bolt Sway Control- 1000 lb. tongue weight. I told him the manual states that you can't use a distribution hitch with the Atlas. He said, "I hook up 15 of these everyday, I have never heard of that." So I drove it home with it hooked up. I hooked up the trailer brake controller myself. I tried it without the WD hitch and the Atlas sagged pretty bad, so there was no way I was towing it like that, so I hooked the WD hitch back up. Drove it to the Jersey shore about 500 miles round trip without incident. The Atlas pulled it easily, and comfortably. No sway at all, gas mileage was about 12-13 mpg. I plan on using the same set-up this summer.

I'm assuming the sag is during towing and level while stationary?

 

[EdmontonATLAS]

I’ve done some in-town towing of a 9x5 UHAUL open box utility trailer.
Most times loaded with 4200-5500 lbs of concrete or soil / sand / rock. Never over 80km/hr (50mph). Fuel mileage change wasn’t noticeable. Used sport mode to keep shifts a touch higher RPM. NO suspension sag. very satisfied with performance for a unibody SUV.

 

[robtkurtz]

I am towing a 3800 dry weight travel trailer this weekend for about 4200 miles. I bought the Firestone helper springs (air bags) and installed them last night. I am not going to use a WD hitch as VW suggests. I will let you know how it does.

 

[JQP]

I’ve done some in-town towing of a 9x5 UHAUL open box utility trailer.
Most times loaded with 4200-5500 lbs of concrete or soil / sand / rock. Never over 80km/hr (50mph). Fuel mileage change wasn’t noticeable. Used sport mode to keep shifts a touch higher RPM. NO suspension sag. very satisfied with performance for a unibody SUV.

Did you use any particular brake controller? Was this a single/tandem trailer? Looking into purchasing the smallest (5x10 7k GVWR) dump trailer I can find for work around the house but not sure the Atlas can handle it. I have a 2019 Atlas SEL Premium so I think I should be good to go as far as the tow package, just need a brake controller recommendation.

 

[whitevw]

Towed a 2021 Cherokee Wolf Pup 16FQ TT, curb weight of 3234 lbs from PA to NJ via MD & DE for about 100 miles. No WD, but with anti-sway bar(Reese). No issues with rolling hills of PA & MD. No problem with sway while on a downpour on I 95. Had auto setting on sport - no problem with power or braking. Mileage going to dealer was ~ 25mi/gal while towing was down to 18.5 definitely using more gas on open highway most likely due to aero drag and high(er) speed. Using a Draw-Tite Ball Mount with - 3/4" Rise and a Curt Echo Wireless Trailer Brake Controller. Curt has issue powering the furrion rear camera and dealer had to use another connector from eTrailer that they use for GM trucks.

 

[Newcanadiantower]

Towed a 2021 Cherokee Wolf Pup 16FQ TT, curb weight of 3234 lbs from PA to NJ via MD & DE for about 100 miles. No WD, but with anti-sway bar(Reese). No issues with rolling hills of PA & MD. No problem with sway while on a downpour on I 95. Had auto setting on sport - no problem with power or braking. Mileage going to dealer was ~ 25mi/gal while towing was down to 18.5 definitely using more gas on open highway most likely due to aero drag and high(er) speed. Using a Draw-Tite Ball Mount with - 3/4" Rise and a Curt Echo Wireless Trailer Brake Controller. Curt has issue powering the furrion rear camera and dealer had to use another connector from eTrailer that they use for GM trucks.

Any chance you could upload a pic? Specifically how the back end and trailer dip/tilt due to the lack of WDH? Is it pretty level? I’m wondering if since the towing capacity is 5000 lbs, tongue capacity is 500, and actual trailer is around 36-3800 lbs loaded, with close to 400 lbs loaded, how badly it sags.

 

[whitevw]

Any chance you could upload a pic? Specifically how the back end and trailer dip/tilt due to the lack of WDH? Is it pretty level? I’m wondering if since the towing capacity is 5000 lbs, tongue capacity is 500, and actual trailer is around 36-3800 lbs loaded, with close to 400 lbs loaded, how badly it sags.