VW Touareg Mk3 (2018 on) - Standard Coil Springs

doesn't the Escape model has air suspension as standard? along with the locking diffs

No - it was an option for an additional £2500 when I bought mine - but that would have meant a 3 month wait for a built car as opposed to buying from stock and getting the £5k discount VW were offering at the time.

It does have the locking diffs - plus low ratio box, raised and stiffened suspension and under-body protection as standard.  Just a pity they discontinued it in 2016, or I would have swapped mine before now.

I did look at a couple last time I was after a towcar. Very impressed with the build and the low range off road gear. They are a rare model though.

Having only done 44k miles in 5 years, I think this one should last me a bit longer😀

As I interpret the OP's enquiry, the issue at stake is whether the coil spring version would result in a back end down attitude when the caravan, in this case a Lunar 586, is hitched up. For a Touareg a noseweight of 75 to 80kg, as mentioned in his post, is well within its capability without having to worry about any appreciable loss of rear suspension travel. That alone wouldn't justify the need for air suspension.

... That alone wouldn't justify the need for air suspension.

Nobody needs air suspension, but it's very nice to have whether you're towing or not. The self levelling function is just an added bonus.

I agree, but even if the car has coil springs it will still have self levelling suspension if it also has a high energy discharge or an adaptive headlamp system. The two go together.

I've no idea how VW self level their cars with steel springs. 

On my Vauxhall Omega the HID auto level & the car's self levelling suspension were definitely two completely separate systems. The HIDs were controlled by level sensors front & back which altered the internal reflector of the headlight. The suspension had its own level sensor & altered the level using the rear shockers.  The HIDs on my Merc do their own thing independently from the air suspension .... they do a dance when they first come on up/down left/right which makes it obvious they move independently from the actions of the ride height. I'd be surprised if levelling the car via its suspension would be fast enough to level out the beam of a HID headlamp to avoid dazzling on coming traffic. 🤔

I suspect a VW with steel or air springs would be the same or similar. 👍

I suspect a VW with steel or air springs would be the same or similar. 👍

Correct ED - my Escape definitely has steel springs, and as you say, the headlights do a little dance when they first come on.

Hi Lutz and thanks for bringing the discussion back OT.

There is no self levelling suspension on the standard coil suspension.

Any car with high output headlights, Xenon, LED etc will have a self levelling system. This is a legal requirement in the UK.

I currently load with a nose of 75 to 80kg as 75kg is the max for my current tow car, a 13 year old Saab 9-5 Aero estate! Which is actually a very competent tow car, regardless of but better for the uprated suspension I've fitted to it.

It's not easy to pack the van like this so I suspect 100kg is more likely when I have a toerag. Since when I first chuck stuff in the van without thinking to carefully, I usually find it's around 100kg.