Quote:
Originally Posted by Flyn2High
Hi Lateott
I just purchased a new Jay Feather Light 24RL to go with my 2018 Audi Q7 3.0 with Air suspension, factory installed hitch and prodigy P3 brake controller. As you probably know the owners manual strongly says not to use a WDH. I am plan to test it out with the Audi receiver no sway bar to see how it tows. My dealer strongly suggests to a WDH. What is your experience?
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Congrats on your 24RL and Q7. Your Q7 has 1100 lbs more tow capacity and 110 lbs more tongue capacity than my 2014 model. Also, the more recent models have shed a lot of weight, so you should have a more forgiving carrying capacity on the Q7 without exceeding its GVWR. I am seeing inconsistent specs for the 24 RL, but it seems like a good partner from what I read. You are well within all your towing capacities and you have a very competent two vehicle.
You should be fine without a WDH. But, even though it says not to use a WDH, you could probably do that without problems as long as it wasn't excessive for the job (get the 600# or 800#, not a 1000# or 1200# and don't tension it excessively.) If you think about it, your trailer is imparting a 600-700lb downward rotational torque to the hitch. If you counteract that partially with a WDH, you are just bringing it closer to a neutral torque state. However, if the WDH tension bars were too firm, some elevation changes (in/out of driveways or campsite) I suppose you could risk over stressing the hitch.
With your air suspension and if your trailer is properly loaded you should not need a WDH. Before I give up on mine altogether, I just need to tow in more situations without my WDH to be sure that comfort is maintained sufficiently by my air suspension. I am thinking bounce and bumps from some roadways, and whether some highways with repetitive expansion joints will drive me nuts without the WDH which
in my imagination might smooth things out. So far, so good without it.
The other problem with most WDH is the hitch shanks are very long (usually 10-12") so your tow ball will be even further from the rear axle.
However, you may want to eventually add sway control to yours in case you encounter windy conditions that are otherwise uncomfortable. Otherwise, your 3 best friends against sway are proper trailer load balancing (tongue heavy, nothing heavy or high behind the trailer wheels), reasonable speeds, and the manual lever on your brake controller.
If you haven't figured it out already, you have to violate one or two of Audi's towing laws anyway, so you will have to just use good judgement along the way. I don't think the OEM shank and ball will be high enough for your Jayco trailer, and it may not be long enough to allow your rear hatch to clear the trailer jack. It is not worth the price it costs, so if you haven't bought it, i recommend you don't, especially if it is not high enough for your trailer. I was able to get the OEM close to the right height by removing the 2" ball (I had to use a blow torch and long pipe wrenches to break the red loctite.) I flipped the OEM stinger, and used a 2 5/16" ball with a 2" rise and long threaded portion
BALL. I also have a sway plate and ball sandwiched in there
(SEE BRACKET HERE) so I can use a friction sway device (I had to drill the hole larger to accomodate the 1.25" ball shank threaded diameter.) I carry an EazLift friction antisway device that came with my hitch. Honestly I have not used it yet, I carry it in case it gets really windy and I need to limp to a stopping point.
However, in my case, the OEM hitch shank was too short to allow the tailgate to open in all geometries without hitting the trailer jack. This would not work since I travel with a dog that we need to let in an out while hitched.
I am now using an aftermarket shank from Home Depot:
(TowSmart). This has a 3" rise when flipped, it is just long enough at ~8" to allow the tailgate to open, and it is not much longer than the OEM. I added the drilled-out Husky sway ball bracket linked above. This is working great.
If you haven't already, try to read all the towing threads at AudiForums. Even though you have the MarkII design there is a lot of good information in the threads for the previous version as well. Also, there is a great thread in the Airstream forums for towing with Q7s, Cayennes, and Touaregs. Andy from CanAm hitches and RV center in Canada has a lot of experinece outfitting these vehicles and participates there. (He is also very responsive by email.)
(THREAD HERE). Yes, it is an Airstream forum, but they deal with many of the same questions for their tongue-heavy beasts.