Hello,

I need to install a receiver on my Cayenne S
I was curious what everyone has used for a:
Receiver
7 Pin Connector
Brake controller

Thanks!

 

McDude -

You don't say what year your 958 CayS is, nor what you'll be towing - both of which will have a bearing on what you'll need to do.

First, all Cayennes should have their Xfer cases serviced/checked & fluids changed due to the known issue there, because you're adding stress & load with the trailer.
See here -
https://www.6speedonline.com/forums/...-replaced.html

Second, if you have a 2011-12 CayS (or any V8 Cay/Pano), then you should visually check for the cam adjuster part numer, & do the AH08 Recall is you have the early one (check all MY 2011 & 2012, because they're known in 2012 to late MY). Note that the risk is far more than the benign "stalling issue" which NHTSA let Porsche get away with on the recall, because if one or both sides fail, then you lose power steering/brakes on one side cam, &/or fuel pump on the other - resulting is serious loss of braking, steering &/or stopping dead in a serious traffic or road situation; plus you'll have debris running through the engine plus valves out of sync & slamming into pistons on an interference type engine - resulting in trashing a $30-35K motor. So you don't want to add the rolling mass of a trailer to that potential catastrophe.

See here -
https://www.6speedonline.com/forums/...s-failure.html
and see here -
https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=17V368#recalls360

If you're running the newer 2015> TT V6 CayS, then I'd love to get some feedback on how it works for you on long & steeper grades, & at highway speeds of long trips - both as to pulling power & engine noise.


Now to hitch receivers, electrical connectors, brake controllers, hitches, etc. -

Receivers - The factory hitch will not only install into the "frame rails" of your Cayenne's unibody for more strength (I'm not sure that the aftermarket hitches do so), plus the factory option hitch has the electronics to allow it to sense & adjust the Cayenne's engine, trans, braking, etc. metrics for tow mode, which aftermarket hitches lack.

You can get good pricing from the online parts stores for Sunset Porsche in OR & Suncoast Porsche in FL (google for them), & maybe your local P-dealer will price match them. IIRC they run about $800+/- from them for the 958 version (955/957 similarly), then you can have your local P-dealer install it & reset all of the electronic modules for tow mode, or install yourself & have them do the electronics. Our SoCal dealers were quoting $500-$1K to install, but have them show you the Porsche Service Manual's hours and their rates to keep them honest.


Electrical Connectors - Porsche doesn't make any 7-pins, so you can use any of the trusted US sellers (most/all are now made overseas), such as Curt, TowRite, etc. However, I'd recommend using a combo 4/7pin one in order to give you more flexibility for towing smaller non-braked trailers (e.g.: utility trailer for house project stuff, etc.). You can get them at your local Walmart, Camping World, or other RV/Trailer towing store, auto parts, etc.; or just order online from eTrailer.com.


Brake Controllers - Tekonsha makes both under dash & RF remote versions of their Prodigy controller, & if you're just towing one trailer like your boat, Airstream or other travel trailer - then you're probably best to mount their Prodigy RF on the trailer's A-frame, & then you just "pair" it to your car once, & use the pigtailed hand controller that you plug into your 12V/Lighter round socket, & keep it in your lap or on the mid-console handy - no reaching for the brake boost button in a panic. If you're towing multiple trailers, then you'll need the electrical pig-tail connector to mount the under dash Prodigy. You can read more on this at the AirForums link below. Do a google search for the best price on whichever controller works best for your situation, but eTrailer sells both 7 often runs sales - so they may show up as best price (they did we we got our Prodigy RF unit for our vintage 1960 Avion T20 which is similar to an Airstream).


WD Anti-sway Hitches - while not asked, if you're towing a large/heavy-ish car-hauler, boat or travel trailer (i.e.: 2000+ lbs as wet & loaded), then you probably need an anti-sway WD hitch - especially if your hitch wt. is maxing out the CayS specs (700 lbs). There are all sorts of opinions on them online & at AirForums link below, but what we got for our 3,000-3,500 lb wet/loaded Avion was the Hensley Cub, which is good for up to 6000 lb trailers & priced in the mid-teen-$1,000s, & it completely eliminates sway - for close to the same price as the Blue OX & other top end WD/AS hitches - but Hensley has a LIFETIME warranty, & are build close to you in MN. Hensley also has a larger capacity Arrow model in the mid-$2000s, as does ProPride good for up to 10,000 lbs trailers (your CayS is only 7716 lbs max, or less if a Hybrid) - which are a larger dollar step, but with all of the advantages. You may also need a WD hitch to use the max hitch wt. rating of the hitch & CayS at 700-770 lbs., since their dead weight rating is less than that max.

Read more on towing with Cayennes at this Cay/Taureg/Q7 (& other euro TVs) topic, & make your decision on the above. It also goes into hitch receiver reinforcement recommended by CanAm for the Euro SUVs when pulling heavier trailers weighing in at 5000 lbs up & closer to the max.

See here -
https://www.airforums.com/forums/f46...rs-134917.html

... and here at page 6 "Hitch Hints" which applies to all Cayennes for set-up & use -
http://rvlifemag.dgtlpub.com/?i=2546

Hope this helps.

Good Luck!
Tom
///////