I've been towing a trailer for many years now. Went from 1/2 ton pickups to 3/4 ton pickups and the difference was incredible! My Cayenne is rated to pull my 27 foot travel trailer but I would never do it. The "tail wagging the dog" comes to mind for some reason ....... I don't care what the vehicle is rated to pull, I want a BIG vehicle with a LONG wheelbase to pull a trailer with!!!

BTW, the last trailer I bought, the dealer insisted on having one of their 'old hands' taking me out in my vehicle and show me how to tow .... WTF do I need that for???? ..... I been pulling trailers for 6 years! Well, let me tell ya, this old guy showed me a trick or 3 .... told me to get it up to 65MPH ..... "OK, now jam your trailer brake on and see what happens!" ..... Wow, nice tire smoke back there ...... "OK, get back up to speed and lock your vehicle brakes up and see what happens!" ...... etc., etc., etc. By the time he got done with me, I wondered how I ever pulled a trailer without crashing ......

What about the My Other Car is a Porsche sticker?

Here's the pics of the van for sale, PM me if intrested.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1077587714.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1077587727.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1077587740.jpg

Real Steel These will out tow any of them SUV's.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1077588642.jpg

That's a pretty cool van... I've seen it running around my area for years. Always very clean.

BD is that a quigley conversion?

I am not sure who did the 4wd conversion? I can find out.

Todd, it's a little stupid, but in Australia manufacturer's websites need to show towing capacity ratings for braked and unbraked capacity. I would agree that 750kg (1,690lbs) is an unbraked load, where 2,300kg (5,190lbs) is braked, meaning that your trailer would need either an electrically activated trailer braking system, or one of those master cylinders built into the drawbars. I'm sure you know what I'm talking about.

Towing 2,300kg (braked) is not a Herculean feat. Most family sedans will tow upto that sort of weight, including the run-of-the-mill '04 Ford Falcon sedan.

Haha, a 4000 lbs Audi towing 5190 lbs. I bet that's a lot of fun.
Jürgen

Been there, a state park it didnt do it for me....
About 25 minutes north on HWY 1 is Lime Kiln campground.
Privately owned I think.
Named after the 3 huge kilns used in the ealry 1900s to burn off the lime before they shipped it to SFO to make concrete with or so I was told.
Also home to some 60s Greatfull Dead concerts in the forest.
It's on the ocean and offers great forest hiking too.
Worth a look.

Well, I think a 4000lb Audi with 300hp and quaatro pulling a 16' Airstream (2800lbs) would be going in style...

I think we might try <a href="http://www.sbparks.com/Scripts/ParksDetail.asp?ParkID=2">Cachuma Lake rec area</a>. Not exactly roughing it, but a good chance of other kids being around. Still looking for some other alternatives...I have fond memories of camping in the desert, so maybe heading east to Death Valley...

It sounds like fun. Just take it slow. Power is but one part of the equation in towing safely. Make sure the Audi is rated for the tongue weight of the Airstream.
regards, Jürgen

I think the tongue weight is the killer (I don't even know who would put a mount on the A8). The Infiniti FX ends up being a lightweight in that it will only handle 350lbs tongue weight. There there is the whole difference between load leveling vs. non....I have some reading to do. I never paid attention back when I was 10.

I second the overkill approach. I have pulled with a jeep CJ and it was able but a bit scary. I much prefer my current F350 SD powerstroke rig. Crew cab, long box. 19mpg unloaded. 14 towing. Set the cruise and I can relax and enjoy the ride.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1077608933.jpg

Ahhh, lake Cachuma, my childhood stomping grounds. Hey Todd, does the lake have any water? Years ago I drove past on the way to Santa Ynez and the water was nearly gone - inlets all dry. My biggest fear (for kids) would be falling rather than drowning. :)