Get Towing a trailer -> Swivelling towing bracket (towbar) Guide for Audi Q5 SUV Third Generation (2024-2026)

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.

►

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.

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.



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 -> Swivelling towing bracket (towbar) for Your Audi Q5 SUV Third Generation (2024-2026)

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