~
Do not drive at the maximum permissible
speed.
~
Always apply brakes early.
~
Monitor the temperature gauge.
Weight distribution
Towing a loaded tra iler with an empty ca r re-
sults in a high ly unstable distribution of
weight. If this cannot be avoided, drive at very
low speeds only to avoid the risk of losing
steering control.
A "balanced" rig is easier to operate and con-
trol. This means that the tow vehicle should
be loaded to the extent possible and permiss i-
ble, while keeping the trailer as light as possi-
ble under the circumstances. Whenever possi-
ble, transfer some cargo to the luggage com -
partment of the tow vehicle wh ile observing
tongue load requirements and vehicle loading
considerations .
Speed
The higher the speed, t he more difficult it be-
comes for the driver to control the rig . Do not
drive at the maximum permissible speed . Re-
duce your speed even more if load, weathe r or
wind conditions a re unfavorable - part icularly
when going downhill.
Reduce vehicle speed
immediately if the trail-
er shows the slightest sign of swaying.
Do not
try to stop the swaying by acce lerating.
Observe speed limits . In some areas, speeds
for veh icles towing trailers are lower than for
regular vehicles.
Always apply brakes early. When driving
downhill, shift into a lower gear to use the en -
g ine braking effect to slow the vehicle . Use of
the brakes alone can cause them to ove rheat
and fail.
Coolant temperature
The coolant temperature gauge c:> page 10
must be observed carefully. If the needle
moves close to the upper end of the scale, re-
duce speed immed iate ly and/or turn off the
air conditioner.
Trailertowing 215
If the coolant temperature warning light in
the instr ument cluster starts flashing . , pu ll
off the road, stop and let the engine
idle for
about two minutes to prevent heat build -up.
A WARNING
Anyone not properly restrained in a mov-
ing vehicle is at a much greater risk in an
accident. Never let anyone ride in your car
who is not properly wearing the restraints
provided by Audi.
Trailer towing tips
Important to know
Your vehicle handles differently when towing
-
a trailer because of the additional weight and
different weight distr ibut ion. Safety, perform-
ance and economy will greatly depend on how
carefully you load your trailer and operate
your rig.
Before you actually tow your tra iler, practice
turning, stopping and backing up in an area
away from traffic. Keep practicing until you
have become completely familiar w ith the way
your vehicle-tra ile r combination behaves and
responds.
Backing up is difficult and requires practice .
Backing up with a t railer generally requires
steering action opposite to that when backing
up you r vehicle without a trailer.
Maintain a greater d ista nce between your ve-
hicle and the one in front of you. You w ill need
more room to stop. To compensate fo r the
trailer, you will need a larger than normal
turning radius.
When passing, remember that you cannot ac-
celerate as fast as you normally would be-
cause of the added load. Make sure you have
enough room to pass. After passing, a llow
plenty of room for your trailer before chang-
ing lanes again.
Avoid jerky starts , sharp turns or rapid lane
changes.
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