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

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

►

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

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



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

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

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 -> Swivelling towing bracket for Your Audi Rs Q8 SUV First Generation (2020-2026)

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