Get Towing a trailer -> Driving the vehicle with a trailer or caravan Guide for Audi A5 4 Door First Generation (2007-2013)

Towing a trailer208

Towing a trailer

Driving the vehicle with a trailer or

caravan

Technical requirements

The towing bracket must comply with certain technical

requirements.

Your car is intended mainly for transporting passengers and

luggage. However, if suitably equipped, it can also be used to tow a

trailer or caravan.

If the car is supplied with a factory-fitted towing bracket it will

already have the necessary technical modifications and meet the

statutory requirements.

A 13-pin socket is provided to make the electrical connection

between the car and the trailer. If the trailer has a 7-pin plug you can

use an adapter cable. This is available from Audi dealers.

WARNING

If a towing bracket is retrofitted, the installation should be carried

out by a qualified workshop.

• In particular in high outside temperatures it is not possible to

drive up long steep gradients without a suitable cooling system.

The engine would then overheat.

• Incorrect installation can result in a safety risk.

Points to check before towing

Trailer weights

Never exceed the maximum permitted trailer weights ⇒ page 295.

If you do not load the trailer up to the maximum permitted trailer

weight, you can then climb correspondingly steeper gradients.

The maximum trailer weights listed are only applicable for altitudes

up to 1000 m above sea level. With increasing altitude the engine

power and therefore the car's climbing ability are impaired because

of the reduced air density, so the maximum trailer weight has to be

reduced accordingly. The weight of the car and trailer must be

reduced by 10% for every further 1000 m (or part thereof). This

figure refers to the combined weight of the (loaded) vehicle and

(loaded) trailer.

The figures for the draw bar weight that appear on the identification

plate of the towing bracket are for certification purposes only. The

correct figures for your specific vehicle, which may be lower than

these figures for the towing bracket, are given in the registration

documents. Also refer to ⇒ page 295.

Distributing the load

Distribute loads in the trailer so that heavy objects are as near to the

axle as possible. Loads carried in the trailer must be secured to

prevent them slipping.

Where possible, operate the trailer with the maximum permitted

draw bar weight on the ball joint of the towing bracket, but do not

exceed the specified limit.

Tyre pressure

Check the tyre pressures on your car and adjust for “full load” condi-

tions (refer to the sticker listing the tyre pressures on the end face

of the driver's door). It may also be necessary to adjust the tyre pres-

sures on the trailer according to the recommendations of the trailer

manufacturer.

Exterior mirrors

Check whether you can see enough of the road behind the trailer

with the standard mirrors. If this is not the case you should have

document_0900452a8179700c.book Seite 208 Donnerstag, 22. März 2007 10:19 10

Towing a trailer 209

Controls Safety Driving tips General maintenance Self-help Technical data

additional mirrors fitted. Both exterior mirrors should be mounted

on hinged extension brackets. Adjust the mirrors to give sufficient

vision to the rear.

Headlights

Before starting a journey, check the headlight beam settings with

the trailer hitched up. If necessary, alter the height of the headlight

beams by means of the headlight range control ⇒ page 56.

Power supply

When you remove the ignition key the power supply to the trailer is

interrupted.

Removable ball joint coupling

Vehicles with a factory-fitted towing bracket are equipped with a

removable ball joint coupling. It is carried under the floor panel on

the left-hand side of the luggage compartment.

Note

We recommend having the car serviced between the normal inspec-

tion intervals if it used frequently for towing a trailer.

Applies to vehicles: with towing bracket

Trailer stabilisation system

Trailer stabilisation helps to reduce the risk of the vehicle

skidding when towing a trailer.

When is the trailer stabilisation system activated?

Trailer stabilisation is active when the following requirements are

met:

• The ESP must NOT be switched off ⇒ page 196,

• The trailer connector must be properly secured in the vehicle

socket.

• Vehicle speed must be higher than approx. 60 km/h.

How trailer stabilisation works:

In many cases, the driver can stabilise a swaying trailer by manually

braking the vehicle.

However, if the ESP detects that the trailer is swaying and this is

affecting the towing vehicle, it will automatically brake the vehicle

to stabilise the trailer by slowing it down. The warning lamp  will

light up in the instrument cluster. If possible, do not turn the

steering wheel at this stage.

In order to warn traffic behind you, the brake lights will come on

during this automatic braking operation.

A trailer weighing less than 70% of the kerb weight of the towing

vehicle may sway quite considerably without the trailer stabilisation

system intervening. This can happen when the swaying movements

of the light-weight trailer are not or hardly passed on to the towing

vehicle and are therefore not detected by the ESP.

If the system for activating the trailer brake lights is defective, this

will be indicated in the instrument cluster display ⇒ page 36, “Bulb

monitor ”.

Requirements for correct functioning of the trailer

stabilisation system

If these conditions are not met in full, the trailer stabilisation system

will only intervene to a limited extent or not at all ⇒ .

• The electrical connection between the towing vehicle and the

trailer must be functioning correctly, without any defects.

• The load on the trailer must be properly secured.

• The tyre pressures on both the vehicle and the trailer must be

adapted to the load that is being carried.

• Where possible, operate the trailer with the maximum permitted

draw bar weight.

• The trailer overrun brake must be set correctly. This is important

to ensure that the trailer can be braked correctly, to avoid the vehicle

and trailer “jack-knifing” and to prevent excess braking of the trailer.

document_0900452a8179700c.book Seite 209 Donnerstag, 22. März 2007 10:19 10

Towing a trailer210

• In low outside temperatures, both the towing vehicle and the

trailer should be fitted with winter tyres.

WARNING

It is essential that you adjust your speed to suit the weather, road

and traffic conditions. Do not let the trailer stabilisation system

tempt you into taking any risks when driving – this can cause acci-

dents.

• The ESP and trailer stabilisation system cannot defy the laws

of physics. This should be kept in mind, particularly on slippery

and wet roads and when towing a trailer with a light load.

• The trailer stabilisation system is functional, regardless of

whether the trailer has a mechanical overrun brake or not.

• The trailer stabilisation system is not always able to detect

swaying of trailers with a light load and will therefore not inter-

vene.

• A trailer can still “jack-knife” on slippery roads with little grip,

even if the towing vehicle is equipped with the trailer stabilisation

system.

• Trailers with a high centre of gravity may even tip over before

they start to sway sideways.

• If you are not towing a trailer, but the trailer socket is being

used (e.g. for an illuminated bicycle rack), the trailer stabilisation

system may be activated in extreme driving conditions.

• Please note the additional information and warnings

⇒ page 210.

Notes on towing

Driving with a trailer always requires extra care.

Weight distribution

Try to avoid towing a loaded trailer with an unladen vehicle. If this

cannot be avoided, drive extra slowly to allow for the unbalanced

weight distribution.

Speed

The stability of the car and trailer is reduced with increasing speed.

For this reason it is advisable not to drive at the maximum permis-

sible top speed in unfavourable road, weather or wind conditions.

This applies especially on a downhill gradient.

You should always reduce speed immediately if the trailer shows

the slightest sign of swaying. Never try to stop the swaying by accel-

erating further.

Always brake in good time. If the trailer has an overrun brake, apply

the brakes gently at first and then firmly. This will prevent the jerking

that can be caused by the trailer wheels locking. Change down in

good time before going down a steep hill so that you can use the

engine braking effect to slow down the vehicle.

Swaying and pitching can be reduced by stabiliser aids. We recom-

mend having stabiliser aids installed when towing trailers with a

high trailer weight. They can be purchased and installed at an Audi

dealer.

Overheating

When climbing long hills in hot weather with the engine running

fast in low gear, you should keep an eye on the coolant temperature

gauge ⇒ page 11. Reduce speed immediately if the needle moves to

the top end of the scale. If the temperature warning lamp  in the

instrument cluster should start flashing, stop the car and let the

engine cool down by running it at idling speed for a few minutes.

document_0900452a8179700c.book Seite 210 Donnerstag, 22. März 2007 10:19 10

Towing a trailer -> Driving the vehicle with a trailer or caravan for Your Audi A5 4 Door First Generation (2007-2013)

Related Topics

Popular Owner Manuals

Latest Owner Manuals