Get Towing a trailer Guide for Audi Q5 SUV Third Generation (2024-2026)

Towing a trailer

The maximum trailer weights listed are only ap-

plicable for altitudes up to 1000 m above sea lev-

el. With increasing altitude the engine power and

therefore the car's climbing ability are impaired

because of the reduced air density, so the maxi-

mum trailer weight has to be reduced according-

ly. The weight of the car and trailer must be re-

duced by about 10 % for every further 1000 m

(or part thereof). The actual trailer weight is the

combined weight of the (loaded) vehicle and (loa-

ded) trailer.

Towing a trailer

Driving the vehicle with a

trailer or caravan

Introduction

If the car is supplied with a factory-fitted towing

bracket it will already have the necessary techni-

cal modifications and meet the statutory require-

ments. When towing a trailer or caravan, always

observe the statutory requirements and follow

the manufacturer’s instructions for operation

and driving.

Draw bar weight

The vertical load exerted by the trailer draw bar

on the ball joint of the towing bracket must not

exceed the maximum weight specification.

Towing a trailer or caravan affects the energy

consumption, performance and wear of the vehi-

cle. It also requires greater concentration.

In the interests of road safety, Audi recommends

that you always use the maximum draw bar

weight without exceeding it. If the draw bar

weight is too low, the trailer’s handling will be af-

fected.

If a towing bracket is to be fitted after the car is

purchased, this must be done according to the in-

structions of the towing bracket manufacturer.

If a non-detachable towing bracket is retrofitted

to the vehicle, it must not block the number

plate or the rear lights. Observe the relevant lo-

cal regulations for the use of a towing bracket.

You can determine the draw bar weight e.g. using

a weighing machine, bathroom scales or a public

weighing station. Audi recommends checking the

draw bar weight, particularly when using twin-

axle trailers. If the draw bar weight does not

meet the specification, you can adjust it by dis-

tributing the load in the trailer correctly. If the

draw bar weight meets the specifications, you

should not change the load in the trailer.

Observe the relevant local regulations when tow-

ing.

WARNING

– Never carry passengers in a trailer – danger

to life!

If the maximum permitted draw bar weight can-

not be obtained, the trailer should be loaded so

that the draw bar weight is at least 4 % of the ac-

tual trailer weight. However, the draw bar weight

must not be less than 25 kg. This applies to sin-

gle-axle and twin-axle trailers with a wheelbase

of less than 1.0 m.

– Use only ball joints of the correct type ap-

proved for your vehicle. The use of unap-

proved ball joints can cause the trailer to be

unstable or to become detached during a

journey – risk of accident! Please contact a

qualified workshop if you have any ques-

tions.

You can find the maximum draw bar weight for

your vehicle in the registration documents or in

the technical data in the Owner’s Manual.

Points to check before towing

Trailer weight

Distributing the load

Never exceed the maximum permitted trailer

weight.

The vehicle’s handling can be impaired if the load

is poorly distributed. Load the trailer according

to the following criteria as far as possible:

If you do not load the trailer up to the maximum

permitted trailer weight, you can corresponding-

ly climb steeper gradients.



119

Towing a trailer

Exterior mirrors

– Objects should preferably be stowed in the lug-

gage compartment. The vehicle load should be

as heavy as possible and the trailer load as light

as possible.

Make sure that you are able to monitor the road

behind the trailer with the exterior mirrors. Use

additional mirrors if necessary. Adjust the addi-

tional mirrors to give sufficient vision to the rear.

Please observe the relevant local regulations for

attaching additional exterior mirrors.

– Distribute loads in the trailer so that heavy ob-

jects are as near to the axle as possible.

– Objects must be secured to prevent them from

sliding about.

Engine cooling system

– Where possible, operate the trailer with the

maximum permitted draw bar weight.

Towing a trailer or caravan places a heavier load

on the engine and cooling system. Please make

sure that there is enough coolant in the cooling

system.

Speed

Do not drive faster than 80 km/h. If the trailer

has a stabiliser, you can drive up to 100 km/h. Al-

ways adhere to the locally applicable laws and

regulations.

Coolant temperature

Keep an eye on the coolant temperature gauge,

especially in hot weather and when climbing long

hills. Remember to shift to a higher gear in good

time.

The stability of the car and trailer is reduced with

increasing speed. Adjust your speed in the event

of unfavourable road, weather or wind condi-

tions. This applies especially on a downhill gradi-

ent.

Tyres

Check the tyre pressures on the vehicle, and ad-

just for the “full load” conditions specified on the

tyre pressure sticker. It may also be necessary to

adjust the tyre pressures on the trailer according

to the recommendations of the trailer manufac-

turer.

Gradient

When driving down the start of a gradient, the

trailer may begin to sway sooner than it would on

a level road. Reduce your speed if the trailer

starts to sway even slightly. Never try to stop the

swaying by accelerating further.

At low outside temperatures, fit both the vehicle

and the trailer with winter tyres.

Shift to a lower gear before the gradient in order

to take advantage of the engine braking effect

Driver assist systems

ð

.

The alignment of the sensors/cameras may be al-

tered when a trailer/rear carrier system is hitched

up or unhitched.

Exterior lighting

Observe all locally applicable laws and regula-

tions on the lighting systems for your trailer/

caravan. If necessary, please seek advice from a

qualified workshop.

To ensure that the driver assist systems are fully

functional, you should switch the vehicle off and

on after you hitch up or unhitch a trailer/rear car-

rier system.

Before starting a journey, check all the trailer

lights with the trailer hitched up.

Overrun brake

The headlight range control automatically ad-

justs the range of the headlight beam.

If your trailer is equipped with an overrun brake,

it must be correctly adjusted and function cor-

rectly. When using a trailer with 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.

If the indicator lamp  flashes, the turn signals

are on in towing mode. If a turn signal bulb on

the trailer or vehicle fails in towing mode, the in-

dicator lamp does not flash twice as fast to indi-

cate the bulb failure.



120

Towing a trailer

Parking on an incline while towing

If you have to drive on a rough surface, you can

raise the vehicle again after hitching up the trail-

er and ensuring the draw bar weight is correct.

Select offroad or offroad plus mode in Audi drive

select or press  to set the maximum ground

clearance.

Use wheel chocks when parking on a gradient if

the trailer is carrying a load. Always adhere to the

locally applicable laws and regulations.

Running the vehicle in

Avoid towing a trailer or caravan while running

the vehicle in.

Driver messages about towing mode

The following driver messages may appear, de-

pending on the equipment installed in your vehi-

cle:

Inspection intervals

Audi recommends having the car serviced be-

tween the normal inspection intervals if it is used

frequently for towing a trailer.

Air suspension: currently restricted. Towing

mode. See owner's manual

Air suspension towing mode is switched on in

your vehicle. The air suspension can only be ad-

justed to a limited extent. You should deactivate

air suspension towing mode again when the trail-

er is unhitched. The air suspension can be adjus-

ted again.

WARNING

Constant braking will cause the brakes to

overheat and will considerably reduce the ef-

fectiveness of the brakes. It will increase the

braking distance and could cause the brake

system to fail.

The driver message can be hidden by pressing the

OK

button on the multi-function steering wheel.

CAUTION

It will appear again the next time the vehicle is

switched on.

Retrofitted parts, in particular attachments

fitted to the ball joint of the towing bracket,

can cause damage. If any damage occurs, you

should have the equipment checked by a

qualified workshop.

Information on lowering the vehicle

manually

When lowering the vehicle manually you also

should not lower it past the level set in balanced

mode in Audi drive select.

Switching air suspension towing mode on

Important: All doors on the vehicle must be

closed. The balanced mode must be selected in

Audi drive select before you hitch up the trailer

CAUTION

– If you have hitched up a trailer, never switch

towing mode off while the vehicle is mov-

ing. Otherwise, the restrictions on the ride

height regulating system would then no

longer be present.

ð

.

►

Select:  > Car > More > Air suspension: trail-

er.

►

You should deactivate towing mode again when

the trailer is unhitched.

– The vehicle’s handling may change if you are

driving with a trailer on loose surfaces with

the vehicle raised. Adjust your speed accord-

ingly.

On vehicles with a factory-fitted towing bracket,

the air suspension is automatically set to trailer

mode when you plug the trailer connector into

the vehicle’s trailer socket.

– If you have raised the vehicle manually, note

that the vehicle lowers itself automatically

above a certain speed.

If you use rear carrier systems which are mounted

directly on the ball joint of the towing bracket,

you can also switch trailer mode off manually.

– Make sure you adhere to the draw bar

weight required for your vehicle. Before

hitching up the trailer, select balanced

mode in Audi drive select. This will ensure



121

Towing a trailer

Extending towing bracket

that the draw bar weight and the height of

the vehicle are coordinated.

►

Apply the parking brake.

►

Open the boot lid.

Swivelling towing

bracket

►

Press button 1 ð

be released. The LED will flash.

. The towing bracket will

►

Swivel the towing bracket out manually until it

engages audibly in the operating position. The

LED in the button 1 will light up permanently.

Hitch up the trailer or the rear carrier system to

the towing bracket. Please read the informa-

tion on the air suspension towing mode

ðpage 121 and on lowering the load sill.

Plug the connector of the trailer or rear carrier

system into the trailer socket 2 . Use an adapt-

er if necessary.

Extending / retracting towing bracket

►

When you hitch a trailer up to your vehicle,

hook the breakaway cable into the eye 3 on

the towing bracket.

Fig. 66 Luggage compartment: Button for releasing tow-

ing bracket

When you switch the vehicle on, make sure that

the instrument cluster does not display the indi-

cator lamp  or the message Please check tow-

ing bracket. Swivel the towing bracket in and out

again, if necessary.

Retracting towing bracket

►

Unhook the breakaway cable of the trailer from

the eye 3 .

►

Unplug the electrical connector between the

Fig. 67 Rear bumper: Connecting socket and eye for break-

vehicle and the trailer/rear carrier system ð

.

away cable

►

Remove any adapters from the trailer socket

The towing bracket is located on the rear bump-

er. It is released electrically and extended/retrac-

ted manually.

ð

.

►

Unhitch the trailer or the rear carrier system.

Press button 1 ð . The towing bracket will

be released. The LED will flash.

If you have not used the towing bracket for a rela-

tively long time or have used it constantly with-

out retracting or extending it, the swivelling

movement may be stiff or the towing bracket

may no longer swivel downwards automatically

when the handle is operated. In this case Audi

recommends that you extend and retract the

towing bracket several times or loosen it by jog-

ging it up and down repeatedly.

►

Swivel the towing bracket in manually until it

engages audibly in the rest position. The LED in

the button 1 will light up permanently.

When you switch the vehicle on, make sure that

the instrument cluster does not display the indi-

cator lamp  or the message Please check tow-

ing bracket. Swivel the towing bracket out and in

again, if necessary.

The button 1 is not active when the vehicle is in

motion or if the boot lid is closed.

Retract the towing bracket or detach it when

there are no trailers, bicycles or similar loads at-

tached to it. This applies especially if the number 

The eye 3 must only be used for securing the

breakaway cable of the trailer.

122

Towing a trailer

plate or rear vehicle lighting is masked by the un-

used towing bracket. Observe the relevant local

regulations for the use of a towing bracket.

Information on the swivelling towing

bracket

Towing bracket

Check that the ball coupling meets the relevant

country-specific regulations and is not worn.

WARNING

– Make sure that no people, animals or ob-

jects of any kind are in the path of the tow-

ing bracket – risk of injury!

Electronic stabilisation control (ESC)

The ESC – in particular in conjunction with the

trailer stabilisation system – makes it easier to

stabilise a trailer if it starts to skid or sway. You

should therefore keep the ESC switched on at all

times.

– The towing bracket must NOT be used if it

does not engage properly or if the LED flash-

es as this means that it is not in its end posi-

tion – risk of accident and injury. Only use

the towing bracket when it has swivelled out

fully and engaged securely. The LED lights

up to indicate this.

Stabiliser

Swaying and pitching can be reduced by attach-

ing an extra stabiliser to the trailer. Degrease and

clean the ball joint before using a stabiliser. The

stabiliser can be purchased and installed at a

qualified workshop.

– Never press the button 1 if a trailer is

hitched up or if a luggage rack or other ac-

cessories are mounted on the towing brack-

et – risk of accident!

– If any faults occur in the electrical system or

in the towing bracket, safe use of the towing

bracket is no longer guaranteed. Have the

towing bracket inspected by a qualified

workshop – risk of accident!

Clean the ball coupling before using a trailer

without a stabiliser and apply multi-purpose

grease to it. Repeat this application regularly if

you tow a trailer frequently.

Power supply

CAUTION

When you switch the vehicle off, the power sup-

ply to the trailer is not interrupted as long as the

energy management system does not intervene.

– Do NOT hold a high-pressure cleaner direct-

ly at the seal of the towing bracket or the

trailer socket. This may cause damage to

the seal, with the result that moisture can

enter and damage the system.

1)

Information on trailer stabilisation

– Never press the button 1 when a trailer is

hitched up or if a luggage rack or other ac-

cessories are mounted on the towing brack-

et. The swivelling unit, accessories and

parts of the vehicle could be damaged.

– If you have plugged an adapter into the

trailer socket, this could damage the bump-

er and trailer socket when the towing brack-

et is retracted. Remove the adapter before

retracting the towing bracket.

The trailer stabilisation system, which is integra-

ted in the electronic stabilisation control (ESC),

helps to reduce the risk of the trailer skidding at

speeds over approx. 65 km/h. Please refer to the

description of the ESC ðpage 116 for informa-

tion on how the system works. Please also refer

to the notes on ðpage 119 and ðpage 123 to

ensure that the trailer stabilisation system is

functional.

The functions may not be available if the ESC is

restricted or deactivated or if a fault has occur-

red.



1)

Not available on vehicles for some markets.

123

Towing a trailer

Information on rear carrier systems

WARNING

– The ESC and trailer stabilisation system can-

not defy the laws of physics. Always bear

this in mind, especially when towing a trail-

er which is light in weight – risk of accident!

– 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

– risk of accident!

– The trailer stabilisation system is not always

able to detect if the trailer is swaying and

may therefore not intervene – risk of acci-

dent! In this case, apply the vehicle’s brakes

and avoid unnecessary steering input.

– A trailer can still “jack-knife” on slippery

roads with little grip, even if the towing ve-

hicle is equipped with the trailer stabilisa-

tion system – risk of accident! You should al-

ways drive at a speed which is suitable for

the road conditions.

Fig. 68 Rear carrier: Maximum overhang

Rear carrier systems are systems such as bicycle

racks which are mounted on the towing bracket.

Please make sure that the rear carrier system is

approved for use on your vehicle.

Degrease and clean the ball joint before using a

rear carrier system.

Note the instructions provided by the manufac-

turer of the rear carrier system.

– Trailers with a high centre of gravity may

even tip over before they start to sway side-

ways – risk of accident! Adjust your speed as

appropriate.

Rear carrier system load

The carrying load consists of the rear carrier sys-

tem and the load transported on it. The maxi-

mum recommended carrying load may differ

from the vehicle’s maximum draw bar weight.

The maximum draw bar weight must not be ex-

ceeded.

– Towing a loaded trailer with an unladen ve-

hicle may result in the trailer swaying even

at low speeds – risk of accident! Should you

need to drive with this combination, drive

particularly slowly to allow for the unbal-

anced weight distribution.

The greater the distance from the towing brack-

et, the smaller the carrying load. For this reason,

you should secure heavy objects as near as possi-

ble to the towing bracket.

– 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 automatically in extreme

driving conditions.

Determining the maximum carrying load

Look up the draw bar weight for your vehicle in

the technical data in the Owner's Manual. You

can then find the carrying load in the table be-

low. In accordance with Regulation UN-R 55, Audi

recommends that you adhere to the maximum

number of bicycles on the rear carrier system as

follows:

– If the vehicle is driven with two trailers at

once, the trailers may begin to sway in cer-

tain situations – risk of accident! The vehicle

must not be driven with more than one trail-

er.

– If the vehicle is driven with a trailer attached

off-centre, the trailer may begin to sway in

certain situations – risk of accident! Accesso-

ries which are designed to attach the trailer

off-centre must not be used.



124

Towing a trailer

Installation dimensions and retrofitting

Maximum

draw bar

Maximum car- Number of bi-

rying load (kg) cycles

weight (kg)

50 – 74

50

75

2

3

75 upwards

Maximum overhang of the rear carrier

system

The maximum overhang depends on the maxi-

mum carrying load and is as follows:

Maximum carrying

load (kg)

Maximum overhang

(mm)

50 – 74

75

500

700

For bicycle carrier systems with two bicycles, the

maximum overhang measured from the centre of

the ball coupling to the centre of the rail of the

last bicycle carrier is 500 mm 1 . For bicycle car-

rier systems with three bicycles, the maximum is

700 mm 2 .

Fig. 69 Towing bracket: Installation dimensions and points

The towing bracket is bolted to the body at the

securing points 7 .

WARNING

The use of an unsuitable rear carrier system

could cause severe damage to the towing

bracket. The towing bracket could then break

and cause an accident.

Installation dimensions (mm)

1 900

4 378

2 1037 – 1043

3 618

5 65 (min.)

6 350 – 420

Driver messages about the swivelling

towing bracket

The values given for the distance between the

centre of the wheel on the rear axle and the cen-

tre of the ball on the towing bracket 2 are nomi-

nal values of the base vehicle. The dimensions

may vary depending on the type of suspension in

conjunction with the vehicle’s equipment and the

load the vehicle is carrying.

The following driver messages may appear, de-

pending on the equipment installed in your vehi-

cle:

 Please check towing bracket

A malfunction has occurred. If the message ap-

pears while the vehicle is moving, stop at the

next opportunity. Swivel the towing bracket in

and out again. If the message remains displayed,

drive to a qualified workshop soon.

The distance between the road surface and the

centre of the ball on the towing bracket 6 ap-

plies to the loading condition in the type appro-

val according to UN-R55 (ECE). This dimension

must not be smaller or larger than the value

specified. The dimension may vary on vehicles

categorised as M1G in the type approval.

Please contact a qualified workshop to find out

whether your vehicle can be retrofitted with a

towing bracket.



125

Towing a trailer

Your qualified workshop will have all the details

on retrofitting a towing bracket.

WARNING

Never install a weight distribution or load-bal-

ancing towing bracket/hitch on the vehicle.

The vehicle is not designed for these kinds of

towing brackets. The towing bracket could

fail, causing the trailer to tear loose from the

vehicle – risk of accident!

WARNING

– Avoid improper installation of the towing

bracket – risk of accident! If a towing bracket

is retrofitted, the installation should be car-

ried out by a qualified workshop.

– For your own safety, please observe the in-

structions provided by the manufacturer of

the towing bracket.

Using the towing bracket

CAUTION

– If the connector socket is not fitted correct-

ly, this could cause damage to the vehicle's

electrical system.

– Particularly in high outside temperatures, it

is not possible to drive up long steep gradi-

ents without a suitable cooling system.

there is a risk of damaging the engine.

Fig. 70 Rear bumper: Towing bracket

The towing bracket on your vehicle comprises the

tube 3 , the trailer socket 1 or trailer socket

holder, two loops 2 for the safety chains and the

tube cover 4 .

Towing bracket with

square tube

1)

Introduction

The tube 3 is suitable for attaching a removable

ball coupling bracket with ball coupling, e.g. for

Use only a towing bracket with removable ball

coupling bracket and ball coupling. The towing

bracket must be officially approved for use with

the vehicle and trailer and for the maximum

gross weight of the trailer being towed. It must

be securely attached to the chassis of the vehicle.

towing a trailer ð

.

►

To use the towing bracket, pull the cover 4 off

the tube 3 in the direction of the arrow.

Check that the tube 3 is free of dirt and clean

if necessary.

►

Never attach a towing bracket to the bumper.

When fitted, the towing bracket must not impair

the effect of the bumper in any way. Never make

modifications to the brake system.

1)

Connect the trailer to the socket 1 and use

the loops 2 to attach the safety chains.

To protect the tube 3 from dirt after use, seal

it with the cover 4 .

Check regularly that the towing bracket is secure.

Always follow the instructions provided by the

manufacturer of the towing bracket.

WARNING

– For your own safety, please observe the in-

structions provided by the manufacturer of

the ball coupling bracket.

The loops on the towing bracket are intended on-

ly for securing the safety chains of the trailer.

– A ball coupling bracket that is not fitted

properly constitutes an accident risk. The

A ball coupling/ball coupling bracket is not sup-

plied with the towing bracket. These are available

from specialist retailers.



1)

Depending on country

126

Towing a trailer

ball coupling bracket must be properly se-

cured in the tube 3 . This same applies to

any other attachments secured in the tube.

– Use only ball coupling brackets/ball cou-

plings which are approved for use with your

vehicle and trailer.

WARNING

– If a towing bracket is retrofitted, the instal-

lation should be carried out by a qualified

workshop.

– A towing bracket that is not fitted properly

constitutes an accident risk.

– To prevent the risk of injury, always remove

the ball coupling bracket when a trailer is

not attached.

– For your own safety, please observe the in-

structions provided by the manufacturer of

the towing bracket.

– It is essential to remove any dirt from the

towing bracket, as it may otherwise be im-

possible to attach the ball coupling bracket

securely in the tube – risk of accident!

CAUTION

If the vehicle’s trailer socket is not fitted cor-

rectly, this could cause damage to the vehi-

cle's electrical system.

Information on driving with a trailer

Trailer brake

Trailer assist

If the trailer is equipped with its own brake sys-

tem, please observe the instructions provided by

the manufacturer. The trailer's brake system

must never be connected to the vehicle brake sys-

tem.

Introduction

The trailer assist helps you with driving and ma-

noeuvring when a trailer is hitched to the vehicle.

The reversing camera detects the trailer angle.

The system automatically learns the properties

of the trailer while driving.

Safety chains

Ensure that the safety chains are correctly at-

tached before towing a trailer. There should be

sufficient slack in the chains to allow the trailer

to be towed around corners, but the chains must

not touch the road.

The trailer assist automatically steers the trailer

in the desired direction when reversing and,

where necessary, when making steering correc-

tions while driving forward. You operate the ac-

celerator and brake pedal. When reversing, the

trailer assist limits the speed to between approx.

3 km/h and 8 km/h, depending on the situation.

The speed cannot be increased even by pressing

the accelerator further.

WARNING

If the trailer is equipped with electric brakes,

these brakes cannot be controlled by the vehi-

cle’s onboard monitoring system – risk of acci-

dent!

Audi recommends that you practise manoeuvring

with the trailer assist in a quiet location (car park

or low traffic area) in order to become familiar

with the system and its functions.

Information on retrofitting a towing

bracket

Before every trip

Please contact a qualified workshop to find out

whether your vehicle can be retrofitted with a

towing bracket.

– Please make sure that the electrical connector

on the trailer is plugged into the socket on the

vehicle, as the trailer assist will otherwise not

be active.

Your qualified workshop will be experienced in

retrofitting towing brackets and will be familiar

with the corresponding technical requirements.

– Whenever necessary, clean the reversing cam-

era either manually, or by operating the rear

window washer ðpage 62, or by selecting the

cleaning function on the MMI ðpage 184.



127

Towing a trailer

Please observe the notes on cleaning and care

ðpage 261.

– Please note that the front end of the vehicle

swings out further than the rear – risk of ac-

cident! Always watch the area surrounding

the vehicle.

System limits

The functions of the trailer assist are limited or

unavailable under the following circumstances:

– Do not allow the centre display to distract

you from watching the traffic.

– The steering wheel turns by itself when you

use the trailer assist. Do not reach into the

path of the steering wheel – risk of injury!

– The trailer assist only controls the steering

movements. As the driver you are always re-

sponsible for braking and for operating the

accelerator and watching the traffic.

– The trailer assist will be deactivated if you drive

forwards faster than 10 km/h.

– The trailer assist may be unavailable for a short

period after the vehicle is switched on.

– The trailer assist is not available if the trailer

brake lights are defective.

– For technical reasons, trailers with LED rear

lights may not always be detected by the trailer

assist.

CAUTION

– The trailer assist may not be available on steep

gradients.

– The trailer assist cannot plan the move-

ments necessary to manoeuvre the trailer. It

merely steers the trailer in the desired di-

rection.

– A rear carrier system is fitted to the ball head

of the towing bracket.

– Always watch the trailer as it is moving and

be ready to stop the manoeuvre if necessary

to avoid damage. Even if the trailer assist is

used correctly, in rare cases the trailer may

still steer at an angle which deviates from

the specified setting.

– The functions may not be available if the ESC is

restricted or deactivated or if a fault has occur-

red.

– The trailer assist cannot be used for trailers

with steering axles.

WARNING

– Hitch up the trailer as straight as possible. If

the angle between the trailer and vehicle is

too large, there is a risk that the vehicle will

collide with the trailer.

– Please note the safety precautions and sys-

tem limits of the supporting systems, sen-

sors and cameras ðpage 132 to

– The distance from the ball coupling to the

trailer axle must be between approximately

1 metre (min.) and 5 metres (max.). For

multi-axle trailers, this distance is meas-

ured from the centre of the axles.

ðpage 134.

– The technology in the trailer assist cannot

defy the laws of physics and works only

within the limits imposed by the system. Do

not let the extra convenience afforded by

the trailer assist function tempt you into

taking any safety risks – this can cause acci-

dents. The trailer assist cannot replace the

full concentration of the driver.

Operating the trailer assist

– Unintended vehicle manoeuvres can cause

serious injuries.

– Always adjust your driving style to suit the

vision, weather, road and traffic conditions.

– The trailer assist does not take the vehicle

surroundings into account and does not de-

tect obstacles – risk of accident! It is the

driver's responsibility to judge whether the

trailer can be manoeuvred safely.

Fig. 71 Centre display: Trailer assist display



128

Towing a trailer

►

Trailer assist display

Make sure that the dark indicator is correctly

aligned with the trailer orientation. It may not

be possible to detect the correct steering angle

in poor visibility or on heavily structured surfa-

ces.

It is only possible to switch the trailer assist

on/off when the vehicle is stationary or driving

forwards at no more than 10 km/h.

When you switch on the system, the display

shows the picture from the reversing camera

with a sector 1 and a dark indicator 4 . The dark

indicator shows the current orientation of the

trailer; the sector indicates the possible adjust-

ment range of the articulation angle. When re-

verse gear is engaged, the current articulation

angle setting is indicated by a light indicator 2 .

The white markings 3 indicate the area in which

the vehicle and trailer would be travelling in a

straight line.

►

Press  to switch off the trailer assist.

Long trailers with a large distance between the

trailer axle and the vehicle reach larger articula-

tion angles than short trailers while in motion.

They therefore react with a greater delay.

When reversing with a trailer, the articulation an-

gle gradually changes as more distance is cov-

ered. If you want to drive in a straight line again,

it is advisable to first make a forward movement

in order to straighten up the trailer.

Driving and manoeuvring with the trailer

assist

Initialising the trailer

If the trailer was hitched up with a large articula-

tion angle or if automatic initialisation has not

yet been performed, it will be necessary for the

system to initialise the trailer. When the vehicle

is reversing, this process is indicated by a smaller

sector as soon as the trailer starts moving. In ad-

dition, the centre display shows the message

Drive carefully and operate brakes yourself to

initialise trailer.

►

Press the  button 5 .

►

Take your hands off the steering wheel.

►

Engage reverse gear. A short animation ex-

plaining how to use the trailer assist will start

on the display.

►

Drag your finger to the right or left across the

display to adjust the trailer’s direction of travel

within the possible setting range.

►

Tap twice on the display to reduce the articula-

It is also necessary to initialise the trailer if the

dark indicator does not point towards the trailer

correctly during use.

tion angle to zero and drive straight ahead with

the trailer. If the articulation angle is wide, the

system first suggests making a corrective

movement forwards. In this case, the vehicle

will also steer when driving forwards. If the

dark indicator is within the white markings, the

trailer’s direction of travel can be maintained. If

the indicator is outside the markings, the trail-

er will not drive straight ahead again until a cer-

tain distance has been travelled. In this case, it

may be necessary to correct the orientation.

To initialise the trailer, the vehicle must be slowly

driven forwards in a straight line and through

several corners to reduce the articulation angle.

During the initialisation procedure, the system is

available with limited functionality.

The initialisation process can take longer, de-

pending on outside conditions such as poor light

conditions, etc.

►

Watch the road. Do not move off until the traf-

fic situation allows you do so safely ð

in In-

Selecting the view

troduction on page 128, ð

on page 128.

in Introduction

►

Press the corresponding button to switch be-

tween the standard and panoramic views. On

vehicles with surround view cameras, the other

views are not available while the trailer assist is

active.

►

You can use the display to change the desired

trailer orientation at any time while the vehicle

is moving.

Please monitor the trailer orientation on the

display throughout the entire manoeuvring pro-

cedure.



129

Towing a trailer for Your Audi Q5 SUV Third Generation (2024-2026)

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