I have two "tow rigs". My Dodge truck and the CTT.

I recently went to pick up a Eurovan out of state to build a camper project out of.

I debated which vehicle to take to tow it home and decided on the CTT. It was as long 1,800 mile tow. (The eurovan was a hell of a deal) Then when I got home I wanted to put the CTT back in the garage, so I hooked the trailer up to the Dodge to secure it, etc. I have now towed the Eurovan around for about half a day with the Dodge.


Here are the basic specs.

Trailer + Eurovan = about 7,500 lbs. Add my 210 lbs of driver and its right about the max tow weight for the CTT.

Trailer has trailer brakes and both the CTT and the Dodge have the exact same trailer brake controller in them. (Makes adjustment easier to remember)


2004 CTT chipped (totally drawing a blank on which one right now), APR R1 bpvs, CTTS control arms, everything else stock. Factory tow package. (Est. for the chip company should put it about 530hp/550tq or something like that at the crank)

1998 Dodge 2500 quad cab short box 4x4, V10 (stock 300hp/450tq) but with a dual fuel propane set up, headers, dual exhaust all the way back, MSD plug wires, etc) NV4500 5 speed, Dana 80 LSD rear, Dana 60 front.

So which tows better?


The CTT pulls the load MUCH MUCH better. I could hold 80mph long mountain passes with just a toe on the pedal. The dodge will slow to about 60 "all in" on a steep climb.

The CTT stops FAR better!! Obviously the trailer brakes are only controlling part of the load since the Dodge had more of an issue coming to a stop then the CTT with the same load behind it, same trailer brakes and same controller.

The CTT feels much more stable in a corner. The much lower center of gravity and much more advanced suspension obviously controls the weight better.

CTT has air bags to auto level the load, Dodge does not, but you can see that the Dodge was not exactly squatting with it on there

Every once in a while I forgot to shift the CTT down to first to get the load moving and it doesn't complain one bit, it just starts in second like normal and it moves right along. The Dodge really only wanted to get moving in first.

The CTT is MUCH MUCH FASTER when merging or passing!

The CTT also turns the load around in a much tighter space. Which made uturns a no brainer. You usually have to "take another lap" in the Dodge.

Pulling the mountain passes at 75-80 I got anywhere from 10-13mpg in the CTT. I averaged 17mpg without the Eurovan on the trailer when going to pick it up.

The Dodge gets 10mpg unloaded and anywhere from 4-8 pulling.

The Dodge does "feel" more natural with a trailer behind it. Even though the CTT kicks its but in the task.

Obviously if my truck were a modified diesel (the V10 was more powerful stock than the diesel of the same year) it would probably get better mileage and hold speed better. But it would still handle and brake the same.






7,500 lbs behind it, cruise control set, it doesn't like my led trailer lights.

 

Funny you post this today. I was just thinking about contacting you to discuss brake controllers in the CTT. I'm curious, how hard is it to wire it in or are the wires are already in the harness? I'm likely to have to put one in as we move to Houston. I'm looking at getting a smaller enclosed trailer with brakes to haul the motocross bikes around.

I have a very modified diesel but it is staying here in Colorado as I don't want to pay that fuel bill or buy the new rear duals to move it to Houston.

 

It's insanely simple to install the controller. 4 wires and the harness is already there right above the parking brake. I just used spade connectors to slide the controller wires into the harness plug and then taped them in. There is a VW harness with plug available to order. for about $25. (But then of course you still have to splice that into the controller so it's actually more work and more junk in the way)

 

I'll have to dig around under there the next time I get a chance. Are the location mounting possibilities clean and tucked away or did you have to get pretty creative?

 

Ignore the dirt, I just towed 3,600 miles through hurricane country and haven't cleaned it yet

 

Thanks for sharing - I love seeing Cayenne's used as the swiss-army knife of vehicles! How can you not be passionate about something that can do everything so well? City driving - check . Highway passing - check . Shopping space - check. A night out on the town- check. Drag strip - check. Road course - check. Towing - check.

I do not think anything can beat a CTT as a daily driver in both function and fun factor; Gas usage not withstanding