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Touareg pulls off heavy-duty tow-job

November 23, 2006

London England - Engineers, Volkswagen personnel and bemused passers-by watched open-mouthed as a VW Touareg V10 TDI towed a 155-ton Boeing 747 down the auxiliary runway at Dunsfold airport, 60km south-west of London – not once but seven times.

The vehicle was a standard production Touareg fitted with a special towing adaptor to connect it with the aircraft towing link and loaded with 4345kg of metal ballast to bring its total weight to 7030kg including the driver, an engineer from the technical department at VW's headquarters in Germany.

The car's engine, self-levelling air suspension, wheels, tyres and structure were all standard, but the outer body panels were changed so this example was visually the same as the next-generation Touareg, due to be launched in 2007 .

One precaution that turned out to be unnecessary was the fitting of the 4.56 axle ratio from the Touareg V8 in place of the 3.27 gearing of the V10 – scond gear was used for the tow, rather than first!

A theoretical towing capability in excess of 200 tons was calculated by multiplying the V10 TDI's 750NM of torque through the standard transmission's lowest ratio, without taking into account the torque multiplication benefits of the torque converter – but assuming a dry surface and loading the Touareg's body and suspension well in excess of its rated limits.

The aircraft was an ex-British Airways Boeing 747-200, complete 500 seats, 11 toilets and complete landing gear, without engines or brakes but with 28 tons of water ballast in the fuel and nose tanks .

Conditions for the two were far from perfect with a strong headwind and heavy rain, prompting concerns over traction on the wet surface.

The Touareg's engine was warmed up, the tyres were checked, the adapted towing bracket was hooked up to the nose wheel collar of the Boeing and the chocks were removed.

Driver Uwe Krieghoff selected "drive" and the low ratio, second gear setting on the Touareg's six-speed gearbox, pressing the accelerator about halfway down to overcome the additional resistance due to flat spots on the 18 tyres formed under the aircraft's 155 tons, easing off as it gained momentum.

The Touareg began dragging the 109m airframe along the runway, maintaining an even 8km/h; after about 150m Krieghoff eased off the throttle and gently braked to slow both vehicle and aircraft to a stop.

He said afterwards: "I was a bit disappointed we couldn't find something heavier to tow – it was too easy! If anyone can lend us a heavier aeroplane, please let us know."


The Touareg was checked after the repeated runs and no ill effects from the demands made on the engine and transmission could be found. The engine temperature remained normal, as did the transmission - and the tyres survived without a hint of the forces passed through them.

 

having that "custom towing thingy" made it a lot eaiser .....didnt have to worry about toungue weight, or anything bearing down on the vehicle...it just had to pull

 

It's still quite a bit of airplane to "just pull"

VW gets a for doing something fun

 

Looks PS but still, if its true, KUDOS for VW

 

Definitly not , how many pictures like that could there possibly be to photochop?

 

It is completely legitimate, it was on the TV news last night. Great publicity for VW, kudos goes to their marketing department for thinking it up!

 

I think I saw some guy tow a plane with his tongue before!

 

Big deal! Once motion is initiated, moving anything on a flat horizontal surface is not as difficult as you may think. Anyone remember a guy pulling a tractor trailer with his teeth? Hook a Mustang up to that hitch...

 

Gee, thats Great! Ill remember VW next time I'm in the market for a tow vehicle for my passenger jet!!!..

 

Do you really think that the Mustang gearbox and diff would be up to it? I have my doubts!

 

also the weight of the stang would make it near impossible to do. they added ballest to the Tourag and it weighed in at 15466lbs... I really don't think you could add 12,000 lbs to the stang without some suspension trouble.

 

If you need more weight, just order yourself a GT500

 

Hell, that's nothing. This, on the other hand, takes some serious *****.

 

What they didn't show you is the Toureq being "towed" the the closest VW dealership for a new trans. Rumor has it they used a TDI Jetta to do it.

 

Dude that is just WRONG!

 

But... It sums it up pretty well...

 

Here's the video... its from Fifth Gear.... and its actually pretty good!

 

Pretty cool.

 

Now I know how the get rid my step brother's old 747 he's had sitting in the back of my driveway since last March and blocking in my yard tractor.

"Yeah, I'll get 'er fly'n just next week when the parts come in..." How many times have we all heard THAT before. Now who'll be laughing when I drag it out to the curb with my new Toureg and slap a For Sale sign on it.

Wonder if it'll work for that old tramp steamer my cousin's got sitting on blocks next to my tool shed? "Wait 'till bass season, I'll have her fired up by then..." Yeah, right.