VW Touareg V6 Diesel Overland Build thread
- Thread starter casioqv
- Start date
casioqv
Dr. Diesel
Yeah, I doubt it... they never sold these with the rear diff lock either, but it can be retrofit from a V10. Possibly some confusion with VW calling their computer traction control system "Electronic Differential Lock" or EDL. The EDL system is so effective that I'm not sure a front locker would have any benefit except for rock crawling.
casioqv
Dr. Diesel
Thanks! Surprised to see someone on here that knows what an M15 is. I loved that boat and had a lot of great adventures over a decade, but just sold it and got a Sage 17, which I guess is pretty similar.
What a beauty! I am recently divorced and have room for toys now. Funny how that works but man gotta have toys
Sparse Gray Hackle
Geezer
I keep looking for another Monty. I should probably search for a 12’, but the 15’ still holds a place in my heart.
casioqv
Dr. Diesel
Good luck! They are hard to find, but if you're willing to travel anywhere there is almost always one available... If you join both the e-mail list, and the "Montgomery Sailboats" facebook group, and say you are looking, you can get ahold of people that are thinking about selling but haven't yet. On the e-mail list someone was giving away a free M12 a few days ago, but I'm sure it's gone by now.
M boats are the perfect "Expedition Boat" to go with an Overlander, because they are small, light, and tough enough to be trailered offroad to remote places, yet still suitable for week long backpacking style sailing trips.
Sage 17 behind the Touareg:
Sparse Gray Hackle
Geezer
Is Kieth Diehl’s list server still going? MSOG used to have a “For Sail” area, but it was never cleaned up.
casioqv
Dr. Diesel
Yep, http://msog.org/ has a link to it and a new maintainer- PM me if you want to talk more about M boats but I don't want to drive this thread too far off topic
casioqv
Dr. Diesel
I forgot to do this update: a year ago in last November, the TDI suddenly started making a clicking noise from the engine. It had just a few weeks left of the dieselgate warranty, so I flat towed it to the dealership. I suspected just a plastic timing chain tensioner- a cheap and easy fix, but they didn't want to tear into the engine and decided to just replace the entire engine plus almost everything bolted to it like the turbo, injectors, etc. without doing any real diagnosis. They first tried to offer me a laughable $6k to buy it from me, but then probably spent about $30k ultimately in parts and labor to repair it for me. They couldn't get an engine from VW, and it took about ~8 months, but the dealership built an engine from individually ordered parts. I also shelled out about $3k out of pocket to replace almost everything else on the engine that they weren't going to do- all of the coolant hoses in the engine bay, etc.
I've had it back now for more than 3 months and it runs perfect. Mechanically it is basically a new car, because almost everything in the engine bay is replaced, and I had already previously went through the rest of the suspension and drivetrain with new parts.
It seems a bit of a shame to replace an otherwise repairable motor, but for overlanding in remote places I can't complain that now every system has been carefully disassembled and replaced or put back into new condition.
I've had it back now for more than 3 months and it runs perfect. Mechanically it is basically a new car, because almost everything in the engine bay is replaced, and I had already previously went through the rest of the suspension and drivetrain with new parts.
It seems a bit of a shame to replace an otherwise repairable motor, but for overlanding in remote places I can't complain that now every system has been carefully disassembled and replaced or put back into new condition.
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casioqv
Dr. Diesel
I also ended up adding this Kremersino kit from Alibaba, which I really can barely believe actually exists- that adds full Apple Carplay support for the ancient NAV system in this old Touareg, by intercepting the screen and button controls, and sending them to a small solid state linux computer that fits under the dash. It has a few little quirks, like using the volume control directly on the nav unit now makes the entire thing crash, but the steering wheel volume buttons still work.
Mostly, I wanted this to use with GAIA GPS, as that is my major offroad navigation method nowadays, and I found it a real hassle to import data on routes, etc. into the ancient Touareg navigation system (although it was possible- and I did find a way to convert a GAIA route and add it via SD card).
The photo shows GAIA GPS displaying on a 15 year old factory head unit:
Mostly, I wanted this to use with GAIA GPS, as that is my major offroad navigation method nowadays, and I found it a real hassle to import data on routes, etc. into the ancient Touareg navigation system (although it was possible- and I did find a way to convert a GAIA route and add it via SD card).
The photo shows GAIA GPS displaying on a 15 year old factory head unit:
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casioqv
Dr. Diesel
We had a great family spring break trip around Joshua Tree National Park along the OTG Joshua Tree Adventure Route- and explored a lot of abandoned mines. We were remote enough that we saw no other vehicles once a few miles from the paved roads. At one point we overturned a rock in a wash and found tons of gold dust- but with no gold pan or water, we decided to simply leave it there.
The roads had eroded somewhat and there was a section of road that was much more technical than we expected. We found that we had to do some mild rock stacking, careful route planning, and having a 2nd person guide through obstacles to get through, and still made some rock contact. There were many cases where we had to angle 45 degrees to the narrow cliffside trail to find a suitable route, which would have been impossible with a longer wheelbase.
We ended up putting a dent in the skid plate, and shearing a skid plate bolt head off, plus making ground contact with the spare tire carrier- but no damage to the vehicle/unibody itself.
I am continually impressed by the traction control system on the T2- virtually zero tire slippage with two tires in the air... and also impressed by the E load range KO2 tires which seem impossible to puncture even on the sharpest rocks.
Overall, I don't think I could have made it where we wanted to go without the skid plates, lift, and aired down larger tires on smaller rims- so am happy having done these modifications. I found our existing air pump for reinflating after airing down was just too slow, so after getting home I immediately ordered an EZFlate M.E.S.A. Auto Air pump. However, the thing is MASSIVE and heavy at 13" long and 17.5 lbs so I'm considering returning it and finding a smaller pump as I don't need all of the capacity, just the high duty cycle.
Also during the trip the Blackstone oil analysis came in for the first 5,000 mile oil change on the brand new TDI engine. It looks good, no major fuel dilution as I had been concerned about.
The roads had eroded somewhat and there was a section of road that was much more technical than we expected. We found that we had to do some mild rock stacking, careful route planning, and having a 2nd person guide through obstacles to get through, and still made some rock contact. There were many cases where we had to angle 45 degrees to the narrow cliffside trail to find a suitable route, which would have been impossible with a longer wheelbase.
We ended up putting a dent in the skid plate, and shearing a skid plate bolt head off, plus making ground contact with the spare tire carrier- but no damage to the vehicle/unibody itself.
I am continually impressed by the traction control system on the T2- virtually zero tire slippage with two tires in the air... and also impressed by the E load range KO2 tires which seem impossible to puncture even on the sharpest rocks.
Overall, I don't think I could have made it where we wanted to go without the skid plates, lift, and aired down larger tires on smaller rims- so am happy having done these modifications. I found our existing air pump for reinflating after airing down was just too slow, so after getting home I immediately ordered an EZFlate M.E.S.A. Auto Air pump. However, the thing is MASSIVE and heavy at 13" long and 17.5 lbs so I'm considering returning it and finding a smaller pump as I don't need all of the capacity, just the high duty cycle.
Also during the trip the Blackstone oil analysis came in for the first 5,000 mile oil change on the brand new TDI engine. It looks good, no major fuel dilution as I had been concerned about.
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gnel
Well-known member
How is the berdoo canyon these days?
casioqv
Dr. Diesel
Not sure, we didn't end up going to the southwestern corner of the park at all. We mostly did the easternmost 50% of the adventure route and the (very easy) northwestern corner, with lots of exploring around the old dale mining district. I'd like to go back and try the rest at some point.
I also think I'd prefer to go with at least one other vehicle next time for safety.
vintageracer
To Infinity and Beyond!
We purchased a 2004 V8 Touareg new in the fall of 2003.
My wife owned the Touareg for 6 years. Was her daily driver. Nice vehicle, well built with most everything that was a standard option on the Touareg wash an optional item on the Porsche saving you THOUSANDS of Dollars on the purchase.
Only real problem we ever had with the Touareg was the ignition switch had a nasty habit of falling into the dash when the PLASTIC retainer ring would break.
We had the full package with air suspension.
My wife owned the Touareg for 6 years. Was her daily driver. Nice vehicle, well built with most everything that was a standard option on the Touareg wash an optional item on the Porsche saving you THOUSANDS of Dollars on the purchase.
Only real problem we ever had with the Touareg was the ignition switch had a nasty habit of falling into the dash when the PLASTIC retainer ring would break.
We had the full package with air suspension.
pappawheely
Autonomous4X4
I'm getting such a pirate 4x4 vibe from this thread.Ooooh, you mean the 1of3 Russki prototype Tregs w/ front lockers, where the option never made it into production.
<kissy face with double middle fingers while doing a handstand>