Get Towing a trailer Guide for Audi Rs Q8 SUV First Generation (2020-2026)

Towing a trailer

If you do not load the trailer up to the maximum

permitted trailer weight, you can corresponding-

ly climb steeper gradients.

Towing a trailer

Driving the vehicle with a

trailer or caravan

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.

General information

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.

Towing a trailer or caravan affects the energy

consumption, performance and wear of the vehi-

cle. It also requires greater concentration.

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.

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

ðpage 164 / ðpage 166.

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.

WARNING

– Never carry passengers in a trailer – danger

to life!

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.

– 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.

Note

If a non-detachable towing bracket is retrofit-

ted to the vehicle, it must not block the num-

ber plate or the rear lights. Observe the rele-

vant local regulations for the use of a towing

bracket.

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.

Points to check before towing

Trailer weight

You can find the maximum draw bar weight for

your vehicle in the registration documents or on

ðpage 378.

Never exceed the maximum permitted trailer

weights ðpage 378.



158

Towing a trailer

Distributing the load

Before starting a journey, check all the trailer

lights with the trailer hitched up.

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:

The headlight range control automatically ad-

justs the range of the headlight beam.

– 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.

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.

– 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.

Exterior mirrors

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.

– Where possible, operate the trailer with the

maximum permitted draw bar weight.

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.

Engine cooling system

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.

The stability of the car and trailer is reduced with

increasing speed. For this reason it is advisable

not to drive at the maximum permissible top

speed in unfavourable road, weather or wind con-

ditions. This applies especially on a downhill gra-

dient.

Coolant temperature

Keep an eye on the coolant temperature gauge

ðpage 19, especially in hot weather and when

climbing long hills. Remember to shift to a high-

er gear in good time.

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.

Tyres

Check the tyre pressures on your car, and adjust

for “full load” conditions (refer to the sticker list-

ing the tyre pressures) ðpage 338. It may also

be necessary to adjust the tyre pressures on the

trailer according to the recommendations of the

trailer manufacturer.

Conventional power unit: Shift to a lower gear

before the gradient in order to take advantage of

the engine braking effect ð

.

Plug-in hybrid drive: Reduce your speed and use

the recuperation braking effect ðpage 118 to

At low outside temperatures, both the towing ve-

hicle and the trailer should be fitted with winter

tyres.

take the load off the brakes ð

.

Exterior lighting

Driver assist systems

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.

The alignment of the sensors/cameras may be al-

tered when a trailer/rear carrier system is hitched

up or unhitched.

To ensure that the driver assist systems are fully

functional, you should switch the ignition off and 

159

Towing a trailer

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

rier system.

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 socket.

Overrun brake

If your trailer has an overrun brake, it must be

correctly adjusted and function correctly. 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 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.

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. To

do so, select offroad or allroad mode in Audi

drive select ðpage 131 or select Raise to set the

maximum ground clearance ðpage 132.

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.

CAUTION

– If you have hitched up a trailer, never switch

off trailer mode while the vehicle is moving

as the restrictions on the ride height regu-

lating system would then no longer be

present.

CAUTION

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.

– 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.

– If you have raised the vehicle manually, note

that the vehicle lowers itself automatically

above a certain speed.

Note

– Use wheel chocks when parking on a gradi-

ent if the trailer is carrying a load.

– Make sure you adhere to the draw bar

weight required for your vehicle

– Audi recommends having the car serviced

between the normal inspection intervals if it

is used frequently for towing a trailer.

– Avoid towing a trailer or caravan while run-

ning the vehicle in.

ðpage 158. Before hitching up the trailer,

select comfort mode in Audi drive select.

This will ensure that the draw bar weight

and the height of the vehicle are coordina-

ted.

Air suspension

Applies to: vehicles with air suspension

Note

When lowering the vehicle manually you also

should not lower it past the level set in com-

fort mode in Audi drive select.

Important: All doors on the vehicle must be

closed. comfort mode must be selected in Audi

drive select ðpage 131 before you hitch up the

trailer ð

.

Setting trailer mode

►

Applies to MMI: On the home screen, select

CAR > Settings & service > Air suspension:

trailer.

►

You should deactivate towing mode again when

the trailer is unhitched.

160

Towing a trailer

the indicator lamp  or the message Please

check towing bracket.

Swivelling towing

bracket

Retracting towing bracket

Extending / retracting towing bracket

Applies to: vehicles with swivelling towing bracket

►

Unhook the breakaway cable of the trailer from

the eye 4 .

►

Unplug the electrical connector between the

vehicle and the trailer/rear carrier system ð

.

►

Remove any adapters from the trailer socket

ð

.

►

Unhitch the trailer or the rear carrier system.

Briefly press the button 2 . The towing bracket

will swivel back to the retracted position.

Wait for a moment until the LED in the button

lights up and check that it stays on permanent-

ly. The ball joint has now reached the retracted

position.

►

Fig. 109 Luggage compartment: Button

When you switch on the ignition make sure that

the instrument cluster display does not display

the indicator lamp  or the message Please

check towing bracket.

The button 1 / 2 is not active when the vehicle is

in motion or if the boot lid is closed.

A safety cut-out stops the swivelling motion im-

mediately if there is resistance. If this happens,

the LED in the button will flash.

Fig. 110 Rear bumper: Connecting socket and eye for

breakaway cable

Extending towing bracket

Remove the object that caused the safety cut-out

to trigger. Then press the button briefly until the

towing bracket reaches its final position (operat-

ing position or retracted position).

►

Apply the parking brake.

►

Open the boot lid.

►

Briefly press the button 1 ð

. The towing

bracket will move to the operating position.

Wait for a moment until the LED in the button

lights up and check that it stays on permanent-

ly. The ball joint has now reached the operating

position.

Please read the information on the air suspen-

sion ðpage 160. Hitch up the trailer or the rear

carrier system to the towing bracket.

Plug the connector of the trailer or rear carrier

system into the trailer socket 3 . Use an adapt-

er if necessary.

Meaning of the LED in the button 1 / 2

►

– When the LED is flashing, the towing bracket is

between the two end positions.

– When the LED is permanently lit, the towing

bracket is in its final position (operating posi-

tion or retracted position).

►

WARNING

– Make sure that no people, animals or ob-

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

ing bracket.

When you hitch a trailer up to your vehicle,

hook the breakaway cable into the eye 4 on

the towing bracket.

– If the towing bracket is not correctly engag-

ed or the LED is flashing, the towing bracket

is not in its end position. It must NOT be

used – risk of accident and injury!

When you switch on the ignition make sure that

the instrument cluster display does not display



161

Towing a trailer

– Never press the button 1 / 2 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!

Note

– The eye 4 on the towing bracket is inten-

ded only for securing the breakaway cable of

the trailer.

– Never attempt to interfere with the move-

ment of the towing bracket, for example

with tools, while it is swivelling. This can

cause damage, in which case the trailer can

no longer be towed safely.

– Malfunctions may occur when extending

and retracting the towing bracket in very

cold weather. If this should happen, press

and hold the button until the towing brack-

et reaches its final position (the operating

position or fully retracted position). In such

cases, it is often sufficient to leave the vehi-

cle in a warmer room (e.g. garage).

– Any noises which may be heard when the

button is pressed are quite normal and no

cause for concern.

– Only use the towing bracket when it has

swivelled out fully and engaged securely.

– You should have the towing bracket checked

by a qualified dealership if any faults occur

in the electrical system or in the towing

bracket itself.

CAUTION

Driving with a trailer or caravan

Applies to: vehicles with swivelling towing bracket

– 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.

Towing bracket

Check that the coupling meets the relevant coun-

try-specific regulations and is not worn.

– The swivelling unit, accessories and parts of

the vehicle could be damaged if you press

the button 1 / 2 while a trailer is hitched

up or if a luggage rack or other accessories

are fitted to the towing bracket.

Electronic stabilisation control (ESC)

The ESC – in particular in conjunction with the

trailer stabilisation system ðpage 163 – makes

it easier to stabilise a trailer if it starts to skid or

sway. You should therefore keep the ESC switch-

ed on at all times.

– 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.

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.

Note

Retract the towing bracket or detach it when

there are no trailers, bicycles or similar loads

attached to it. This applies especially if the

number plate or rear vehicle lighting is

masked by the unused towing bracket. Ob-

serve the relevant local regulations for the

use of a towing bracket.

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

When you switch off the ignition, the power sup-

ply to the trailer is not interrupted as long as the

energy management system does not intervene.

162

Towing a trailer

1)

Trailer stabilisation system

may be activated automatically in extreme

driving conditions.

Applies to: vehicles with swivelling towing bracket and trailer

stabilisation system

– 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.

Important: The trailer connector must be plug-

ged into the vehicle socket.

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 136 for informa-

tion on how the system works. Please also refer

to the notes on ðpage 158 and ðpage 162 to

ensure that the trailer stabilisation system is

functional.

– 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.

Note

The system’s functions may not be available if

the ESC is restricted or deactivated or if a

fault has occurred.

WARNING

– The ESC and trailer stabilisation system can-

not defy the laws of physics. Always bear

this in mind, especially when the trailer is

light.

Rear carrier systems

Applies to: vehicles with swivelling towing bracket

– 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. In this case,

apply the vehicle’s brakes and avoid unnec-

essary steering input.

Fig. 111 Rear carrier: Maximum overhang

– 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.

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.

– Trailers with a high centre of gravity may

even tip over before they start to sway side-

ways.

Degrease and clean the ball joint before using a

rear carrier system.

– Try to avoid towing a loaded trailer with an

unladen vehicle. Should you need to drive

with this combination, drive particularly

slowly to allow for the unbalanced weight

distribution.

Note the instructions provided by the manufac-

turer of the rear carrier system.

Rear carrier system load

– 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

The carrying load consists of the rear carrier sys-

tem and the load transported on it. The maxi-

mum recommended carrying load may differ



1)

Not available on vehicles for some markets.

163

Towing a trailer

from the vehicle’s maximum draw bar weight.

The maximum draw bar weight and the maxi-

mum axle weight must not be exceeded.

Driver messages

Applies to: vehicles with swivelling towing bracket

The following driver messages may appear, de-

pending on the equipment installed in your vehi-

cle:

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.

 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.

Determining the maximum carrying load

Look up the draw bar weight for your vehicle in

the technical data. You can then find the carrying

load in the table below. In accordance with Regu-

lation UN-R 55, Audi recommends that you ad-

here to the maximum number of bicycles on the

rear carrier system as follows:

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. 112 Towing bracket: Installation dimensions and

points

The towing bracket is bolted to the body at the

securing points 7 .

WARNING

Installation dimensions (mm)

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.

1 1122

4 338

2 Q8 SUV, SQ8 SUV:

1108

5 65 (min.)

2 RS Q8 SUV: 1107

3 338

6 350 – 420

The values given for the distance between the

centre of the wheel on the rear axle and the



164

Towing a trailer

centre of the ball on the towing bracket 2 are

nominal values of the base vehicle. The dimen-

sions may vary depending on the type of suspen-

sion in conjunction with the vehicle’s equipment

and the load the vehicle is carrying.

Towing bracket with

square tube

Introduction

Applies to: vehicles with towing bracket with square tube

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.

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.

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 exhaust or brake systems.

Please contact a qualified workshop to find out

whether your vehicle can be retrofitted with a

towing bracket.

Qualified workshops are familiar with the meth-

od of installation and any modifications which

may be required for the cooling system.

Check regularly that the towing bracket is secure.

Always follow the instructions provided by the

manufacturer of the towing bracket.

WARNING

– If a towing bracket is retrofitted, the instal-

lation should be carried out by a qualified

workshop.

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!

– A towing bracket that is not fitted properly

constitutes an accident risk.

– For your own safety, please observe the in-

structions provided by the manufacturer of

the towing bracket.

Using the towing bracket

Applies to: vehicles with towing bracket with square tube

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. 113 Rear bumper: Towing bracket

The towing bracket on your vehicle comprises the

1)

tube 3 , the trailer socket 1 or trailer socket

holder, two loops 2 for the safety chains and the

tube cover 4 .



1)

Depending on country

165

Towing a trailer

The tube 3 is suitable for attaching a removable

Driving with a trailer or caravan

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

Applies to: vehicles with towing bracket with square tube

towing a trailer ð

.

Trailer brake

►

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.

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.

►

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 .

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.

WARNING

– For your own safety, please observe the in-

structions provided by the manufacturer of

the ball coupling bracket.

WARNING

– A ball coupling bracket that is not fitted

properly constitutes an accident risk. The

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.

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!

Retrofitting

– To prevent the risk of injury, always remove

the ball coupling bracket when a trailer is

not attached.

Please contact a qualified workshop to find out

whether your vehicle can be retrofitted with a

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!

Your qualified workshop will be experienced in

retrofitting towing brackets and will be familiar

with the corresponding technical requirements.

WARNING

Note

– If a towing bracket is retrofitted, the instal-

lation should be carried out by a qualified

workshop.

– A ball coupling/ball coupling bracket is not

supplied with the towing bracket. These are

available from specialist retailers.

– The loops on the towing bracket are inten-

ded only for securing the safety chains of

the trailer.

– A towing bracket that is not fitted properly

constitutes an accident risk.

– For your own safety, please observe the in-

structions provided by the manufacturer of

the towing bracket.



1)

Depending on country

166

Towing a trailer

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.

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.

– 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. It is the driver's responsibility

to judge whether the trailer can be man-

oeuvred safely.

Trailer assist

General information

Applies to: vehicles with trailer assist

The trailer assist helps you to reverse and park

the vehicle when a trailer is hitched up. The re-

versing camera detects the trailer angle. The sys-

tem automatically learns the properties of the

trailer while driving.

– Always watch the area surrounding the vehi-

cle. Please note that the front end of the ve-

hicle swings out further than the rear.

– Do not allow the MMI display to distract you

from watching the traffic.

The trailer assist automatically steers the trailer

in the desired direction when reversing. You oper-

ate the accelerator and brake pedal. The system

is inactive when driving forwards and you must

steer manually. When reversing, the trailer assist

limits the speed to between approx. 3 and

8 km/h, depending on the situation. The speed

cannot be increased even by pressing the acceler-

ator further.

– 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.

CAUTION

Before every trip

– The trailer assist cannot plan the move-

ments necessary to manoeuvre the trailer. It

merely steers the trailer in the desired di-

rection.

– 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.

– 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.

– Whenever necessary, clean the reversing cam-

era either manually, or by operating the rear

window washer ðpage 66, or by selecting the

cleaning function on the MMI ðpage 223.

Please observe the notes on cleaning and care

ðpage 347.

– 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.

WARNING

– Please note the safety precautions and sys-

tem limitations of the supporting systems,

sensors and cameras ðpage 171 to

ðpage 174.

– The distance from the trailer 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.

– The technology in the trailer assist cannot

defy the laws of physics and works only



167

Towing a trailer

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.

Note

– Audi recommends that you practise ma-

noeuvring with the trailer assist in a quiet

location (car park or low traffic area) in or-

der to become familiar with the system and

its functions.

When you switch on the system, the upper dis-

play shows the picture from the reversing camera

with a blue sector 1 and a blue indicator 3 . The

blue indicator shows the current orientation of

the trailer; the blue sector indicates the possible

adjustment range of the articulation angle.

When reverse gear is engaged, the current articu-

lation angle setting is indicated by an orange in-

dicator 4 .

– The trailer assist cannot be used for trailers

with steering axles.

– The trailer assist may be unavailable for a

short period after the ignition is switched

on.

– The trailer assist is not available if the trail-

er brake lights are defective.

Operating the trailer assist

– For technical reasons, trailers with LED rear

lights may not always be detected by the

trailer assist.

►

Press the  button 6 .

Take your hands off the steering wheel.

Engage reverse gear.

Press the  button 5 if you want to switch the

controls from the lower display to the upper

display.

Drag your finger to the left or right across the

upper display to adjust the trailer’s direction of

travel within the possible setting range.

Double tap the upper display to reduce the ar-

►

– The trailer assist may not be available on

gradients of 12 % or steeper.

►

– The trailer assist cannot be used if a rear

carrier (e.g. bicycle rack) is attached.

– The system’s functions may not be available

if the ESC is restricted or deactivated or if a

fault has occurred.

►

ticulation angle to zero and drive straight

ahead with the trailer. If the blue indicator 3 is

within the white markings 2 , the trailer’s di-

rection of travel can be maintained. If the indi-

cator is outside the markings, the trailer will

not drive straight ahead again until a certain

distance has been travelled. In this case, it may

be necessary to correct the orientation.

Operation

Applies to: vehicles with trailer assist

►

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

fic situation allows you do so safely ð

General information on page 167, ð

eral information on page 167.

in

in Gen-

Fig. 114 Upper display: Operating trailer assist

►

You can use the upper display to change the de-

sired trailer orientation at any time while the

vehicle is moving.

Press  6 to switch off 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 an or-

ange semi-circle, which narrows into a smaller

Fig. 115 Upper display: Initialising trailer



168

Towing a trailer

sector 7 as soon as the trailer starts moving. In

addition, the MMI display shows the message

Drive carefully and operate brakes yourself to

initialise trailer.

– Please monitor the trailer orientation on the

upper display throughout the entire ma-

noeuvring procedure.

– Make sure that the blue indicator is correct-

ly aligned with the trailer orientation. It may

not be possible to detect the correct steer-

ing angle in poor visibility or on heavily

structured surfaces.

It is also necessary to initialise the trailer if the

blue indicator 3 does not point towards the

trailer correctly during use.

To do this, the vehicle must be driven forwards

for a short distance to reduce the articulation an-

gle. During the initialisation procedure, the sys-

tem is available with limited functionality.

Driver messages

Applies to: vehicles with trailer assist

The following driver messages may appear, de-

pending on the equipment installed in your vehi-

cle:

Selecting the view

►

Applies to vehicles with surround view cameras:

Press the corresponding button to switch be-

tween the standard and panoramic views

ðpage 225. The other views are not available

while the trailer assist is active.



Trailer assist: currently unavailable

Check whether the reversing camera needs to be

cleaned. Try switching the ignition off and on

again.

Automatic safety brake



Trailer assist: cancelled. Vehicle has been

The trailer assist can initiate an automatic safety

brake application in certain situations. In this

case, the parking brake will be applied. The park-

ing brake will be released automatically when

you drive forwards. To drive in reverse, you must

first release the parking brake manually and de-

activate the system using the  button 6 . The

trailer assist can initiate a safety brake applica-

tion in the following situations:

braked. Steering input detected. Continue

steering vehicle!

The trailer assist has been deactivated because

the driver has intervened in the steering. To con-

tinue using the trailer assist, press  6 again

ðpage 168, Fig. 114.



Trailer assist: cancelled. Vehicle has been

braked. Please take over steering.

– If the driver intervenes in the steering

– If the steering angle is too large

– If a malfunction is detected

The trailer assist has been deactivated, e.g. be-

cause the ESC has been switched off.

 Trailer assist: vehicle has been braked.

Straighten towing mechanism by driving for-

wards

– If a rear carrier is attached

Note

The trailer assist has initiated a safety brake ap-

plication to prevent a collision between the trail-

er and the vehicle. Drive forwards.

– The driver cannot override the safety brake

application.

– If you try to continue reversing by releasing

the parking brake manually after the first

safety brake application, the brakes will be

applied again.



Trailer assist: cancelled. No trailer detected



Trailer assist: cancelled. No trailer detected.

Please take over steering.

– The trailer assist will be deactivated if you

drive forwards faster than 10 km/h.

– The initialisation process can take longer,

depending on outside conditions such as

poor light conditions, etc.



Trailer assist: cancelled. Vehicle has been

braked. No trailer detected. Please take over

steering.



169

Towing a trailer

The trailer assist cannot be used. This may be be-

cause the trailer has been detected as a rear car-

rier or the reversing camera is dirty. Check that

the electrical connector on the trailer is plugged

into the socket on the vehicle and that the revers-

ing camera is clean.

 Trailer assist: vehicle has been braked. Not

stopped long enough

The brakes will be applied if you drive off too

quickly after activating the trailer assist.



Trailer assist: fault. Please brake immediate-

ly and take over steering.

The trailer assist can no longer apply the brakes.

170

Towing a trailer for Your Audi Rs Q8 SUV First Generation (2020-2026)

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