174 Trailer towing
Trailer towing
Driving with a trailer
General information
Your Audi was designed primarily for passen-
ger transportation .
If you plan to tow a tra iler, please remember
that the addit ional load will affect durab ility,
economy and performance.
Trailer towing not on ly places more stress on
the vehicle, it also calls for more concentra-
tion from the driver.
For this reasons, always follow the operating
and driving instr uctions provided and use
common sense.
Technical requirements
Trailer hitch
Use a weight-carrying hitch conforming to the
gross trailer we ight. The hitch must be suita-
ble for your vehicle and trailer and must be
mounted securely on the vehicle's chassis at a
technically sound location. Use only a trailer
hitch with removable ball mount. Always
check with the tr ailer hitch manufac tu rer to
make sure tha t you are using t he correct
hitch.
Do not use a bumper hitch.
The hitc h must be installed in such a way that
it does not interfere with the impact-absorb-
ing bumper syst em. No modifications should
be made to the vehicle exhaust and brake sys-
tems. From ti me to time, check th at all hitch
mo unt ing bolts remain securely fastened.
When you are not towing a trailer, remove the
tra iler hitch ball mount. This prevents the
hitch from causing damage sho uld your vehi-
cle be str uck from behind
¢ A .
Tire pressure
When tow ing a traile r, inflate the t ires of your
vehicle to the cold tire pressure listed under
"Full load"on the st icker on t he right doo r-
jamb. Inflate trailer tires to trailer and tire
manufacturers' specifications.
Lights
The headlight set tings sho uld be checked with
t he trai ler attached before driving off. Have
the headlights adjusted as necessary so tha t
you can see t he road ahead but not blind on-
coming traffic .
Check to make sure both vehicle and tr ailer
lights are working properly .
Engine cooling system
Towing a t railer makes the engine work hard-
er.
It is impo rtant that the cooling system's
performance stands up to t he additional
stra in. Make sure tha t the cooling syst em has
enough fluid.
Trailer brakes
If your trailer is equipped with a brak ing sys-
tem, check to be sure t hat it conforms to all
regula tions.
The trailer hydraulic brake system must not be
directly connected to the vehicle's hydraulic
brake system.
Safety chains
Be sure trailer safety chains are proper ly con-
nected from the trai ler to the hitch on the ve-
hicle. Leave enough slack in the cha ins to per-
mit turning corne rs. When you install safety
chains, ma ke sure they will not drag on the
road when you are driving.
The chains should cross under the t railer
tong ue to prevent it from dropping in case of
separation from the hitch.
Trailer lights
Trailer lights must meet all reg ulations. Be
sure to check with your authorized Audi dealer
for correct wiring, switches and relays.
Mirrors
If you are unable to see the traffic behind you
using the regular outside mirrors, then you
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