Fifth Gear: VW Touareg Tows A 747

[@MooperSC]

That touareg is actually gorgeous, with the optional wheels, and that gorgeous exterior blue... I'm in love!

[@christopherhnat]

the tugs i am used to driving and towing planes like these were running off chevy engines. But they had 6 tons of metal plates over the axle. This engine pulling this plane is more expected than impressive. What is impressive is the chassis and drivetrain of this vehicle holding up.

[@fixedgearjerk]

a true testiment to german engineering there. what a truck! And the thing is damn sharp lookin to boot!

[@Stilini03]

the touareg is amazing! it is a work horse yet it drives like a sports car. trust me, i have a sports car and the touareg handels just as well. i friggen love my touareg!!!!!

[@luchoagarcia]

Best suv I ever owned... never took it to the mechanic... ready for the next 2010

[@Jeff77P]

from first hand driving a v10 toureg it is very impresive and if put in 4low It can pull just about any thing.

[@mastacheifa1182]

Next time try pulling an UNMODIFIED Boring 747-8 intercontinental... and ask some people from nearby neighborhoods to ride the 747, making it seem like the car has turned into a 55-ton airport tug.

[@AugustKamppur]

i get u about the shocks. shocks arent the only parts to a suspension tho. and the transmission? its questionable whether it was permanently damaged and to what degree.

[@heelers547]

this b747 is the same one used by top gear when it is shown in the power laps, it was also used as an British Airways fleet

[@g00b3r7]

Considering a man named David Huxley pulled a 747 with no more than a harness, it's not something unachievable with a automobile. But for it to withstand the huge ballasts in the back of it, and to have a engine/transmission able to withstand pulling something like that is a great feat.

[@L3MILICA90]

this is great! and its real...i watch full show... just because ballast its harder....its PLUS weight ,think a little bit car is strong!

[@Snoo1809]

I was in the cafeteria at college and at one point when the Touareg was towing the Boeing like everybody in the cafeteria was looking and some of us had our mouths open :))

[@mayssm]

Am I supposed to be impressed that with all that effort that VW could haul 4 tons of little bags in it's cab? I could buy a Earthmover and move 100x more!

[@jdmlifesweden]

the fun part of this is that the track is the Top Gear track. You can se the 747 in most of Top Gears powerlaps.

[@hardcoretam]

A standard production vehicle is out able to pull something that heavy aswell as the payload it is carrying is impressive, no matter what anyone says. I expected the wheels to spin, or the suspesion to collapse or some part of the transmission to fail. But nope. Although i'm from the UK, i'd like to see a Hummer H1 give it a try. It's a powerfull truck all the same. I'm more impressed though because the one in the video just looks like most other SUVs.

[@Shaymin82]

This was filmed at Dunsfold Park. That's where the Top Gear test track is!

[@mikahl757]

Just bought my wife one last night and saw this top gear clip, I wonder if they'll let us try this at Norfolk International lol

[@lesaujg]

This is decommissioned 747-200 the was specially modifed for the use in the latest james Bond movie Casino Royale. The two outer engines were replaced with outboard wing tanks, while the inner engines were replaced with mocked-up dual pylon-mounted engine pods under each wing near similar to those initially on the Boeing B-47 Stratojet.

[@michaelgulak]

This could be the perfect Carfax commercial. "Used to tow 747s" gets crossed out/erased and replaced with "trailer hitch!"

[@zelibober]

Did i ever said some thing about fully loaded plains? I was talking about plains (regular plains) Its big but its light also. Its made from light metals. So it will tow any plain for sure.

[@NIGHTMARE5008]

4:50 o.0 he pulls the 747:D very nice engine(the most powerful engine that has been made for car)very nice suv

[@HunterMann]

This reminds me of the basic physics of a man pulling a locomotive train. Once you get anything rolling, you can tow it. I'm not saying it can go uphill. I'm told it's actually easier to push something than to tow it.

[@amerikanzero]

yeah i would hope so for a vehicle that is over 70k (the H1). the touareg is still an amazing off-roader and the only SUV I would ever even consider getting aside from the Q7.

[@robnob2]

Its the plane that they modified for the James Bond film "Casino Royale". This was filmed at Dunsfold Park airfield which is also where they filmed the bit with the new skyfleet prototype or whatever it was called...

[@Threxx]

It's also worth mentioning nobody ever said the Humvee is the pinnacle of SUV towing. The Humvee is specifically intended for military use and its primary design specification is to let nothing stop it, be it ammunition or challenging terrain. The US would have more impressive full sized diesel SUVs to choose from if people in this country actually bought diesel SUVs. But for the most part they don't tend to sell well here.

[@Threxx]

I understand the rear suspension is intended to be loaded with a portion of the weight from the tongue of the trailer when carrying a load, but not the full freaking weight. I can lift the tongue on a 2000 pound trailer EASILY but I sure as hell can't lift anything close to 2000 pounds. Likewise, the 7700lb tow rating doesn't mean it's meant to support 7700lbs of downward force on the rear suspension.

[@nbkillan1982]

Damn it, Germans can build really nice cars which can hold together for a long period of time!!! I really respect you guys!!

[@ztunelover]

@smrad85 Its empty nacelles. Ya the front turbofan compressor blade is there, but theres no gas turbine behind it. This is the same plane they used in Top gear when jeremy towed it with the tractor. And it is the same plane they used in casino royale, its a prop set really, the plane was originally a 200 series, at this stage it's more or less scrap, just survived because it is a fantastic prop unit.

[@portikszilard]

To my mind of course vw is the best. They made the best and biggest thinks in the worlds of engines. srry for english:)

[@randy25rhoads]

Top Gear has perfected the use of ND grad filters. Fifth Gear uses the hell out of them. Top Gear > Fifth Gear.

[@aminman15]

thats so impressive! Claps for Volkswagen.

[@zelibober]

It will easily tow two Antonovs. Did you ever look at the car that tows plains in airport? Its small as hell, looks like a forklift. Plain was made to fly so its big but not heavy.

[@Mokhas45]

This is not an ordinary 747. The four engines are coupled and it has two extra fuel tanks. Anyway it's empty, no passangers or cargo; still it's a remarkable achieve...V10 is very powerful.

[@FTSinclair]

I once watched a man on Guinness world records do this without the car, that impressed me.

[@TheCottonTop]

No the cayenne doesnt offer the V10 turbo diesel. But Audi now offers a V12 tubro diesel in their version that has even more power. I want to know what kind of crazy engine set up was that on the 747???

[@suprafrase]

this looks like the 747 that can normally be seen sitting in the background on the top gear test track. not 100% certain but i believe that the plane is actually the same on that was used in casino royale.

[@fidesdefensor]

If the engines were pushing, there would be noticeable refraction when they show the back of the engines, due to the heat of the exhaust gasses.

[@Avantime]

This is a retired BA 747-200 modified for the film Casino Royale, only the engines are fake. Older 747-100/200s are being scrapped across the world because no one can make money with these old gas guzzlers when jet fuel prices have more than tripled in the last few years. The newer 747 Classics are still being used because carriers (usually cargo) can't find anything to replace them with, supplies are tight for 747-400Fs and BCFs.

[@scoop2004]

a)the jet is a modified 747 ive never seen before, probably a trialed version that never went into production b)the vid isnt BS as quite a lot of cars could pull a jumbo, think about it 1.the car has more torque than the tugs at airports have 2.the car weighs as much as the tugs 3.The tyres on the car are almost as big as the tugs tyres So why wouldnt it work. Fifth gear done this and VW also done the same thing on the same day. However,isnt that the top gear test track?

[@Threxx]

Well if you noticed my initial wording was "likely" - there's no telling if the transmission was damaged, but it likely was. And yes there are more components to the suspension than just the struts/shocks, however the suspension, much like an engine, is a complete 'system' of components, and if one is badly out of spec, it affects the whole system, much like you might say your motor is shot even if it's only the rod bearings that failed (one small component).

[@rayamanelly]

so true ,so true! I've seen a guy on worlds strongest man pull one of these. anything with wheels and bearings can be pulled with a relatively small amount of forces...... what they didnt show us was the vw over heating And transmission brea down.

[@bcatz454]

I'm almost sure a 6.7L Dodge Ram Heavy Duty would be able to do that. 350hp, 650lbs ft tq. Although 4.3 tons of ballast in that VW was impressive

[@tbmavengerstuka]

was modified for casino royal film. Never flew, just looks cool that way. i actually saw this plane in real life on approach to EGLL

[@Flabernat]

hahaha! That's friggin awesome! I love 5th Gear!

[@AlternativeUses]

a clip of this should be a commercial for vw just like audi uses the olympic skijump

[@huntawpn]

I am quite impressed!

[@Threxx]

They didn't say a lot of things that are obvious. Considering the TDI Touareg's Max payload capacity is rated at 963 pounds, they exceeded this by over 900% with their 4.3 added tons of weight + driver. ANY suspension engineer could tell you the shocks will have seen permanent damage from that kind of overload, if not outright failure. They'll need replacing after that.

[@ba3cool]

I was about to point that out, that's certainly an odd looking Jumbo.

[@wpw2k]

why are the 2 engines right next to each other on this 747? with external fuel tanks?

[@AugustKamppur]

when did they say the suspension and transmission were destroyed?

[@teije3101]

Cool...Whats with the weird engine setup on the 747?? There is two engines on a single engine mount. Look at 3'52"

[@Stewards3]

This was an old 747 that got modified so as to be used in the film Casino Royale.

[@BJWTF]

Which model 747 is this? ive never seen one with engine mount like that.

[@MrMisterMonsieur]

Everything can tow that thing, what do you think they use in aeroports?

[@nakazatoGTR]

yes i saw it.. but does it still fly?

[@MaistroDavid]

european quality

[@KimmurielBaenre]

@KartKing4ever Ive seen pictures of this frame transporting other engines underwing and Im sure there were other reasons for podding both engines together like that, only 747 ive seen that way

[@sos10]

Good! What did you get? a Lada Niva?

[@wildstyle999]

its the modified 747 used for the casino royale bond film... its at the dunsfold air museum..

[@experimentjon]

Wow, how did he push it in the end? Inertia?

[@cuckoo1121]

A question for everyone which Dieasel-engine is efficient one & which D-engine is enviromental friendly??

[@AmarJakupovic]

which is better -tuareg or audi q7?

[@Boudreau605]

How much torque does a standard tug have?

[@suprakilzz26]

i want one lol, but seriously we may get one second hand haha. Our old ML is starting to get well a bit old......

[@djape1977]

you could do that with pretty much any car. it's just the rolling resistance, not the weight that matters. you don't need massive torque or horsepower. just good clutch, or in this case, a good automatic tranny

[@ultramarine13]

Why wouldn't they? Most twin engine fighters, the Lockheed Jetstar, the B-47, later model B-36 and the B-52 all had/have engines mounted that close together.

[@ziliev]

yeah dere are a lot of those in Bulgaria

[@StewMM]

According to SeriousWheels.com. It was done at the Top Gear Track O.o

[@eviltwin777]

How is that possible wouldn't engine overheat or die and the chassis crumble?

[@arno199412]

@pym480 I think it isn't, because, the plane on the top gear track, as far as i could see has his engines on 1 wing not against each other, so therefore I think it's a different one, i could be wrong, but I think I'm not :p

[@friesngravy]

@BuhundredReturns I haven't heard much about the 6.7 cummins yet..but they've got a great track record..cummins that is..yea the 6.4 does more than suck fuel...it' costs ya in maintenance too..but the 7.3 was a reliable powerstroke..you're right though..the ONLY good powerstroke

[@soccermomd00d]

@11myedu Probably. Things that don't exist tend to be fairly light weight.

[@yamahonkawazuki]

@TopGunMan on flat ground to boot. but still this will sell these things to those whom are not sure yet

[@krazybrian]

Will it fly?

[@mini4x]

Didn't toyota tow the space shuittle?

[@KernelBeans]

They did, it weighed 146 tons and Toyota did it in a 5.7 liter V8 Tundra over a bridge.

[@wrixle]

Well, Mr Clarkson has been a motoring journalist for over 20 years, and has driven every car worth driving in that time...his show Top Gear is watched and respected around the world...so why shouldn't I take his comments at face value? You really think that his personal thoughts about your country as a whole would cloud his judgment and compromise his integrity as a journalist? That he would lie? Not buying it.

[@SoooOOOoooOOOoooT]

yea... but do u c those on public roads...

[@gentarion]

it is look in the backround it's the green topgear hangar

[@drewdude320i]

@sheikra10001 - not necessarily. It's all about gearing. Also, that towing rating keeps in mind reasonable acceleration, braking, and speed while towing on public roads - and while towing a 747 with a production SUV is impressive, it's not something that would be considered reasonable on public roads at average speed limits. You'd destroy your brakes trying to stop something with that much momentum, and destroy your torque converter trying to get it up to speed at any reasonable rate.

[@letmesnitch]

omg.. its still 155T + 4.2T in the back.. pretty impressiv.. and i dont think the average 4x4 could pull that!

[@criscros7]

I presume a 747 on the hitch will affect the 0-60 number?

[@janpmunk]

i checked a littlebit! this is a real 747. they use it to test new engines... if you take a look at behind the engines you see something called cevron muffles! this looks like the rear cowling is like a cracked egg shell... this is a new feature coming on new engines... its purpose is to complicated to write here, but it will make them more efficient and reduce noice!

[@donkeydong75402]

The plane is on wheels so once you get past the initial pull and getting it rolling even a little it is not hard to keep it going

[@catfish552]

well, the "magic" is not copletely the fact he pulls the plane (it is awesome in my opinion) but that you wouldn´t think that it could work

[@94Mates]

This special 747????

[@ABDULLAHfailkawy]

amazing suv , i thing ill get one , or perhaps 2 i guess :))))))))

[@rish134]

well can u see a 747 moving and a car moving at the same time or the engines spinning

[@Psycho9263]

Wait a minute! Since when are 747-200 engines coupled together like B-52 engines. I seen all the 747 variants but none were like that one.

[@PepegaPig]

Funny how so many people disagree with me. Shows what so many people "think" they know Lowering the tyre pressures increases contact patch. Larger contact patch = more grip, the only thing that needs to get a grip is that Touareg. =) For high speeds, a higher tyre pressure is a better thing, as it decreases contact patch, thus reducing grip and therefore friction And no, how can it be a 'production' car if it's got an extra 3 tons of weight onboard? Factory option on the new models I guess

[@vriis2]

Yes, but there is a car pulling the plane. that's why we not see the frontwheels on the plane x)

[@Sum4dood]

They Filmed That On The Top Gear Test Track

[@animeonperseest]

@Trainlover300 yes it could. easy. Antonov 225 weighs less only 1 ton more than the 747-200(the one that's on the video)

[@mike12585]

wats the hp and tq?

[@martincustomrides]

6.4 liter Powerstroke the 6.2 was a pos chevy diesel

[@gtg356y]

What the heck 747 variant is that? They moved the engines to a twin inboard pod and put fuel tanks on the outer pylon. Never seen this before. I know it's not car related, but are there any other aviation nuts here that can help me out?

[@Danny7930]

how much is it

[@brendan4355]

It's a 747-236B originally flown by BA.(Registration G-BDXJ) It was then sold to European Aviation Air Charter. They went bankrupt, and it was then sold to Aces High Aviation, which provies airplanes for movie props. The engine modifications were for James bond movie Casino Royale, and the engines are not real. The planes last flight was in 2005 and it will most likely never fly again

[@renescx]

u`re right bcs at min 2.52 the engines are stopped, and then not anymore....they should stop the music and let only teh the sound or noise be recorded

[@robert0joe]

remembers me of the short film : 405 Where a jeep is pinned by a dc-10

[@gentarion]

isnt that the 747 that is parked at dunsford aerodrome? (where topgear is filmed) If so, how did fifth gear get in to top gear land? The plane cant fly because the engines are dummy one's ;)