I'm finally getting the Passat set up to tow some stuff: small utility trailer for lawn care jobs (to pay for my car and gadget habits) and a small vintage popup for camping. I've got the DaLan hitch on order.
I've already done some minor upgrades to address braking (pads, rotors, and fluid), power (chip), engine oil heat/abuse (AutoRX, always full-synthetic oil, and oversize filter), and ATF heat/abuse (ATF fluid and filter change with plans to go to Redline D4). Koni shocks and 1BE springs are on the to-do list as well.
I also plan to install a B&M stacked plate ATF cooler which brings up a previously discussed topic. Has anyone installed an ATF cooler yet? I know there were a couple folks with plans to. I'd like to know how it is plumbed: do you unscrew an existing hose from the radiator and use adapters/fittings in the kit to mate up to those or do you have to cut and splice metal or rubber hoses?
Also, for the trailer wiring harness, how have you guys done that? There are convertors that adapt systems like ours with separate turn signals and brake lights to the combo single bulb for both turn and tail/stop that most trailers have. These power the trailer lights through the Passat lighting circuit. Has anybody had issues doing it this way? There's also the type of convertors/isolators that are basically a set of relays such that the Passat lighting circuitry in essence provides the signal/trigger voltage but the power to run the trailer lights comes from a separate feed from the battery. This also protects the Passat lighting circuits from a short on the trailer. Even though it costs a little more and requires more work, I think this is the route I plan to take. With heavy gauge wire, the battery feed could also be used to source 12V to the trailer for battery charging, 3-way fridge running, etc while on the road.
Any input from those of you who've been down this road before?
Thanks,
Matt
I've already done some minor upgrades to address braking (pads, rotors, and fluid), power (chip), engine oil heat/abuse (AutoRX, always full-synthetic oil, and oversize filter), and ATF heat/abuse (ATF fluid and filter change with plans to go to Redline D4). Koni shocks and 1BE springs are on the to-do list as well.
I also plan to install a B&M stacked plate ATF cooler which brings up a previously discussed topic. Has anyone installed an ATF cooler yet? I know there were a couple folks with plans to. I'd like to know how it is plumbed: do you unscrew an existing hose from the radiator and use adapters/fittings in the kit to mate up to those or do you have to cut and splice metal or rubber hoses?
Also, for the trailer wiring harness, how have you guys done that? There are convertors that adapt systems like ours with separate turn signals and brake lights to the combo single bulb for both turn and tail/stop that most trailers have. These power the trailer lights through the Passat lighting circuit. Has anybody had issues doing it this way? There's also the type of convertors/isolators that are basically a set of relays such that the Passat lighting circuitry in essence provides the signal/trigger voltage but the power to run the trailer lights comes from a separate feed from the battery. This also protects the Passat lighting circuits from a short on the trailer. Even though it costs a little more and requires more work, I think this is the route I plan to take. With heavy gauge wire, the battery feed could also be used to source 12V to the trailer for battery charging, 3-way fridge running, etc while on the road.
Any input from those of you who've been down this road before?
Thanks,
Matt