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Tr a il e r t o wing
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W e ig ht d ist ri buti o n
Towing a loaded trailer with an empty car resu lts in a high ly
unstable distribution of weight . If this cannot be avoided drive at
very low speeds only to avoid the risk of los ing steering control.
A "ba lanced" rig is easier to operate and control. This means that
the tow vehicle should be loaded to the extent possible and permis -
sib le whi le keeping the trailer as light as possib le under the circum -
stances. Whenever possible, transfer some cargo to the luggage
compartment of the tow vehicle while observing tongue load
requirements and vehicle loading considerations .
Speed
The higher the speed, the more difficult it becomes for the driver to
contro l the rig . Do not drive at the maximum permissible speed.
Reduce your speed even more under unfavorable load, weather or
wind condi tions - particularly when going downhill.
Reduce vehicle speed
imm ediately if the trailer shows the slightest
sign of swaying.
Do not try to stop the swayi ng by accelerating .
Observe speed limits. In some areas speeds for vehic les towing
trai lers are lower than for regular vehicles.
Always app ly brakes early. When driving downhill, shift into lower
gear to use the engine braking effect to slow down the vehicle. Use
of the brakes alone can cause them to overheat and fail.
Co o lan t t e m pe rat ure
The coolant temperature gauge ~ page 73 must be observed care -
fully. If the needle moves close to the upper end of the scale, reduce
speed immediately and/or switch off the air conditioner.
If the coolant temperature warning light in the instrument cluster
starts flashing - ~- , pul l off the road, stop and let the engine
idle for
about two minutes to prevent heat build -up .
& WARNING
Anyone not properly restr ained in a moving vehicle is at a much
greater risk in an accident. Never let anyone ride in your car who
is not properl y we aring the restraint s provided by Audi.
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Trailer towing tips
Important to know
Your vehicle handles differently when towing a trai ler because of
the additional weight and weight distribution . Safety, performance
and economy will great ly depend on how carefu lly you load your
trai ler and operate your rig.
Before you actually tow your trailer, practice turn ing, stopping and
backing up in an area away from traffic. Keep practicing unti l you
have comp letely become familiar with the way your vehicle -trailer
combination behaves and responds .
Backing up is difficu lt and requires practice. Backing up with a
trailer genera lly requires steering action opposite of that when
backing up your vehic le without a trailer.
Maintain a greater distance between you r vehicle and the one in
front of you. You will need more room to stop.
To compensate for the trailer, you wi ll need a larger than normal
turning radius .
When passing, remember that you cannot accelerate as fast as you
nor mally wou ld because of the added load . Make sure yo u have
enough room to pass. After passing, allow plenty of room for your
trai ler before changing lanes again .
Avo id jerky starts, sharp turns or rapid lane changes.
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