Get Towing a trailer -> Driving the vehicle with a trailer or caravan 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 -> Driving the vehicle with a trailer or caravan for Your Audi Rs Q8 SUV First Generation (2020-2026)

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