yeah but can it merge on the freeway? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Tech · 12-06-2006, 09:40 AM

the thread title is obviously a joke, this is one serious exhibition of power...

other than putting steel weights in the car to ensure traction and swapping out the transmission for one from the V8 version (which i don't get but whatever) this was a completely stock V10 TDI Touareg

Quote:

(from Volkswagen Press Release) Record-breaking: Touareg tows Boeing 747

TDI power: A Touareg V10 TDI takes a 155-ton jet along for a ride

Wolfsburg, November 24, 2006. “Wanna bet that a Touareg V10 TDI can tow a Boeing 747?” “A 155-ton jet?” “Never!” “Sure it can!” This verbal exchange by two Volkswagen employees had consequences: A few months later, on Thursday this week, a Volkswagen crew did indeed hook up a new generation Touareg V10 TDI to a 747. The certified result: The SUV pulled it off easily. However, the receipt of orders from airport operators wanting to replace their tow vehicles weighing up to 70 tons with the significantly more economical Touareg could not be confirmed.

The “Touareg tows a Boeing 747” event took place at the Dunsfold Aerodrome in England, located 40 miles from the gates of London. From the very start the question, entirely seriously meant, was posed about how powerful a modern, top range SUV with engine, four-wheel drive and chassis is.

The Touareg is innately the ideal towing vehicle: Maximum load capacities are 3,500 kilos for trailers and 1,640 kilos for the rear axle. But when instead of a 3.5 ton boat trailer a jet weighing over 155 tons – consisting of 511 m2 of wing surface, 4 engines, 450 seats and a fuselage the size of a block of houses – is attached to the hitch, things look quite a bit different. Careful preparations must be made.

In order for the Touareg V10 TDI to be able to tow the big bird, the weight of the Volkswagen had to first be increased. This sounds paradoxical but is absolutely necessary so that the power of the engine can be converted into propelling force. For this purpose steel balls and steel plates were distributed in the SUV. Extra weight: 4,345 kilos! Total weight of the Touareg: 7,030 kilos. Weight distribution: 2,755 kilos in front, 4,275 kilos in back.

The other modifications were kept to a minimum. For the front axle drive the shorter transmission of the Touareg V8 was integrated in place of the V10 TDI transmission. The crew increased air pressure in the standard Michelin tires to 4.5 bar. And finally, the maximum speed was limited – not out of fear that the unusual harnessed system would become airborne, but to protect the tires. Everything else, from the engine to the stock suspension system and four-wheel drive corresponded exactly to the series production version.

An extra device was then used to hook up the Boeing 747 to the Touareg’s standard trailer hitch. The experiment could begin. Based on the maximum torque of the V10 TDI (750 Nm) and the transmission ratio, the engineers had previously calculated that the Touareg would be able to put approx. 200 tons into motion. But who would trust his calculations if a 1.7 meter high, 4.75 meter long car was suddenly attached to a 19.4 meter high jet over 70 meters long? Nobody would. Especially not when typical English weather with heavy rain and headwinds were lashing across the car and jet as if there was no tomorrow.

But the Touareg did the job. Volkswagen technician Uwe Krieghoff took the wheel. He started the engine. Using the four-wheel drive control on the middle console he selected the “LOW” setting for reduced off-road speed. 50 percent of driving force was now distributed to the front axle and 50 percent to the back. Krieghoff manually selected the second gear of the automatic transmission, accelerated slowly and reflected on getting the 18 head-height wheels of the 155 ton 747 rolling from a standing position. The greatest power was required in these few seconds. As soon as this harnessed system got moving, it would move. But the only thing that budged at first was the engine speed. Krieghoff continued to push down the gas pedal to about the halfway position. And with not a hint of traction problems the Touareg and the jumbo jet started moving. After a distance of 150 meters Krieghoff slowed the harnessed system to a stop.

A post check-up of the Touareg did not find any evidence of damage to the car. Everything was A-OK.

Incidentally, the new generation of the Touareg is now available for order. The SUV comes standard equipped with ESP plus trailer stabilization. It is extremely effective at preventing trailers from dangerously fishtailing when improperly loaded or traveling at excessively high speed. The system didn’t kick in during the test with the 747 – the speed was only eight km/h.

JStrider · 12-06-2006, 10:03 AM

thats pretty awesome... I wonder how my old explorer would do... prolly self destruct at the thought...

Coyote Hunter · 12-06-2006, 10:46 AM

Thats pretty cool

Ilow · 12-06-2006, 04:09 PM

it's pretty impressive, but I think it was really intended for the Euro audiences because there are literally dozens of American vehicles that could do that.

eribrav · 12-06-2006, 04:19 PM

Well next time I have to tow a 747 I will know which car to look at.

souzafone · 12-06-2006, 07:18 PM

TDI's rule.

healer · 12-06-2006, 10:19 PM

I work at the VW plant in Uitenhage. You wouldn't believe the stir this stunt caused among the senior management. They all suddenly wanted Touaregs as company cars.

A pity they're not manufactured here...I'd love to see one of those rolling off the production line.

cyrnel · 12-06-2006, 10:39 PM

Impressive demo, but nothing special. It's heavier than a Dodge Durango with less torque or HP. (Not that I'd prefer a Durango.)

No surprise they switched transmissions, whether for the 6-speed ratios or its max load and temp abilities. The victim would have experienced some interesting temperatures getting that thing rolling.

DEI37 · 12-07-2006, 08:46 PM

A person can pull a 747. It's been done. I watched the video today. It's cool. But, yeah, any of the Big3 diesel pickups could do it, too. Plus, the actual vehicles that an airport DOES use to push a plane away from the terminal is a lot smaller.

catback · 12-08-2006, 02:42 PM

It doesn't take a big vehicle to push any plane on wheels around on a smooth surface at slow speed. I'd like to see them try to actually trailer it around at highway speeds with unpredictable traffic around. Then it'll be seen that the car can't handle it when it comes time to stop or change lanes.

waltert · 12-09-2006, 09:48 PM

yeah, swapping out the transmissions was a cute little trick...that probably doubled the torque of the Vehicle.

pretty neat, but not very impressive as things go.

DEI37 · 12-10-2006, 06:15 AM

I dunno about that. Guess we'd have to know transmission gear rations. I can see it being a little better. Though, the torque capacitity of the diesel trans would/should be a bit higher, considering it's making 550+ ft lb of torque, and the gas V8 is only in the 450 range, if I remember right.

waltert · 12-10-2006, 09:03 AM

I think its fair to assume that the gas engine's gear ratios are alot shorter than the diesel's gear ratios, since the gas engine likely redlines at 6500 and the diesel at 3000.

12-06-2006, 10:03 AM	#2 (permalink)
JStrider Poo-tee-weet? Location: The Woodlands, TX	thats pretty awesome... I wonder how my old explorer would do... prolly self destruct at the thought... __________________ -=JStrider=- ~Clatto Verata Nicto

12-06-2006, 04:09 PM	#4 (permalink)
Ilow Junkie Location: Pats country	it's pretty impressive, but I think it was really intended for the Euro audiences because there are literally dozens of American vehicles that could do that. __________________ "Religion is the one area of our discourse in which it is considered noble to pretend to be certain about things no human being could possibly be certain about" --Sam Harris

12-06-2006, 10:39 PM	#8 (permalink)
cyrnel Adequate Location: In my angry-dome.	Impressive demo, but nothing special. It's heavier than a Dodge Durango with less torque or HP. (Not that I'd prefer a Durango.) No surprise they switched transmissions, whether for the 6-speed ratios or its max load and temp abilities. The victim would have experienced some interesting temperatures getting that thing rolling. __________________ There are a vast number of people who are uninformed and heavily propagandized, but fundamentally decent. The propaganda that inundates them is effective when unchallenged, but much of it goes only skin deep. If they can be brought to raise questions and apply their decent instincts and basic intelligence, many people quickly escape the confines of the doctrinal system and are willing to do something to help others who are really suffering and oppressed." -Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media, p. 195

12-07-2006, 08:46 PM	#9 (permalink)
DEI37 Go faster! Location: Wisconsin	A person can pull a 747. It's been done. I watched the video today. It's cool. But, yeah, any of the Big3 diesel pickups could do it, too. Plus, the actual vehicles that an airport DOES use to push a plane away from the terminal is a lot smaller. __________________ Generally speaking, if you were to get what you really deserve, you might be unpleasantly surprised.

12-10-2006, 06:15 AM	#12 (permalink)
DEI37 Go faster! Location: Wisconsin	I dunno about that. Guess we'd have to know transmission gear rations. I can see it being a little better. Though, the torque capacitity of the diesel trans would/should be a bit higher, considering it's making 550+ ft lb of torque, and the gas V8 is only in the 450 range, if I remember right. __________________ Generally speaking, if you were to get what you really deserve, you might be unpleasantly surprised.

12-06-2006, 10:46 AM	#3 (permalink)
Coyote Hunter Upright	Thats pretty cool

12-06-2006, 04:19 PM	#5 (permalink)
eribrav Junkie Location: upstate NY	Well next time I have to tow a 747 I will know which car to look at.

12-06-2006, 07:18 PM	#6 (permalink)
souzafone Insane	TDI's rule.

12-08-2006, 02:42 PM	#10 (permalink)
catback Psycho Location: North America	It doesn't take a big vehicle to push any plane on wheels around on a smooth surface at slow speed. I'd like to see them try to actually trailer it around at highway speeds with unpredictable traffic around. Then it'll be seen that the car can't handle it when it comes time to stop or change lanes.

12-09-2006, 09:48 PM	#11 (permalink)
waltert Insane	yeah, swapping out the transmissions was a cute little trick...that probably doubled the torque of the Vehicle. pretty neat, but not very impressive as things go.

12-10-2006, 09:03 AM	#13 (permalink)
waltert Insane	I think its fair to assume that the gas engine's gear ratios are alot shorter than the diesel's gear ratios, since the gas engine likely redlines at 6500 and the diesel at 3000.