Recommended Weight Distribution and Brake Controller for a 2014 Airstream Sport 16

Question:

Hi, I am looking to tow a 2014 Airstream Sport 16. Looking at the forum, the hitch height on the 2014 Airstream Sport 16 is roughly 18. What exactly will I need? Hitch, Ball and sway bar Which extended mirror would you recommend? Which break controller? Tekonsha P3 or P2. I see you have a P2 installation video for the Touareg, is the P3 installation parts and procedure exactly the same? Thanks,

asked by: Jonathan W

Helpful Expert Reply:

The hitch weight of the 2014 Airstream Sport 16 is 350 lbs while dry. This will likely increase to around 500ish while loaded. While towing the 2014 Airstream Sport 16 with your 2016 Volkswagen Touareg, a weight distribution system will be a good ideal as it will help with braking and trailer sway which can be a bigger issue on these smaller trailers. I recommend the Fastway e2 Weight Distribution System part # FA92-00-0600 with the 2" Hitch Ball part # EQ91-00-6080. This is a great system in regards to both build quality and performance.

For a set of towing mirrors, I recommend the CIPA Universal Towing Mirrors part # CM11980-2 because they are easy to take on and off and are more ascetically pleasing than most other universal towing mirrors of its kind. They do not offer any custom fit options for your vehicle unfortunately which is why you will want to go with a universal option like the above.

For a brake controller, the tides have changed and there are more/better options than just the Tekonsha P2 and P3. I really like the Curt Echo Mobile Trailer Brake Controller part # C51180 because you don't have to drill into your dash to mount it and it is the easiest to install of all other options. The Curt Echo also uses a device you are already comfortable with (your phone) so you don't need to spend time learning about a new one with unique codes and setup procedure.

expert reply by: Conner L