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.
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