Get Driving -> Trailer towing Guide for Seat Leon 4 Door Third Generation (2012-2020)

Towing bracket device

duced by 10% for every further 1000 m (or

part thereof). The gross combination weight

is the actual weight of the laden vehicle plus

the actual weight of the laden trailer. When

possible, operate the trailer with the maxi-

mum permitted drawbar load on the ball

joint of the towing bracket, but do not exceed

the specified limit.

Exterior mirrors

Trailer towing

Check whether you can see enough of the

road behind the trailer with the standard rear

vision mirrors. If this is not the case, you

should have additional exterior mirrors fitted.

Both exterior mirrors should be mounted on

hinged extension brackets. Adjust the mirrors

to give sufficient vision to the rear.

What do you need to bear in mind

when towing a trailer?

Your vehicle may be used to tow a trailer

when fitted with the correct equipment.

If you wish to retrofit a towing bracket, con-

The figures for trailer weights and drawbar

loads that are given on the data plate of the

towing bracket are for certification purposes

only. The correct towing bracket figures for

your specific model, which may be lower

than these figures, are given in the vehicle

sult page 311.

›››

Tow rope

Always use a cable between the vehicle and

Connectors

the trailer page 308.

›››

Your vehicle is fitted with a 13-pin connector

for the electrical connection between the

trailer and the vehicle.

Trailer rear lights

documentation or on page 355, Techni-

›››

The trailer's rear lights should comply with

the statutory safety regulations page 308.

cal specifications.

If the trailer has a 7-pin plug you will need to

use an adapter cable. It is available at any

Technical Service.

›››

Distributing the load

WARNING

Never transport people in a trailer. This

could result in fatal accidents.

Distribute loads in the trailer so that heavy

objects are as near to the axle as possible.

Loads carried in the trailer must be secured

to prevent them moving.

Trailer weight/drawbar load

Never exceed the authorised trailer weight. If

you do not load the trailer up to the maximum

permitted trailer weight, you can then climb

correspondingly steeper slopes.

Note

Tyre pressure

●

Towing a trailer places additional de-

mands on the vehicle. We recommend ad-

ditional services between the normal in-

spection intervals if the vehicle is used fre-

quently for towing a trailer.

The maximum permissible tyre pressure val-

ues are shown on the sticker on the back of

the left front door frame. Set the tyre pressure

of the trailer tyres in accordance with the

trailer manufacturer's recommendations.

The maximum trailer weights listed are only

applicable for altitudes up to 1000 m above

sea level. With increasing altitude the engine

power and therefore the vehicle climbing

ability are impaired because of the reduced

air density. The maximum trailer weight has to

be reduced accordingly. The weight of the

vehicle and trailer combination must be re-

●

Find out whether special regulations ap-

ply to towing a trailer in your country.

307

Driving

Key of the Schematic diagram Fig. 302:

Trailer maximum electricity consumption

Hitching and connecting the trailer

›››

Brake lights (total)

Turn signal, on each side

Side lights (total)

Rear lights (total)

Rear fog light

84 Watts

42 Watts

100 Watts

42 Watts

11

Meaning

Earth, pin 10

Unassigned

Earth, pin 9

12

13

Electrical socket for trailer

Never exceed the values indicated!

The vehicle is fitted with a 13-pole power

socket for the electrical connection between

the trailer and the vehicle. If the system de-

tects that a trailer has been connected elec-

trically, the electrical equipment on the trailer

will receive voltage through this connection.

Note

Fig. 302 Diagram: assignment of the pins of

the trailer's electrical socket.

●

If the rear lights of the trailer are not cor-

rectly connected, the vehicle electronics

may be damaged.

Key of the Schematic diagram Fig. 302:

›››

●

If the trailer absorbs excessive electric

current, the vehicle electronics may be

damaged.

1

Meaning

Pin 9 has a permanent live. This powers, for

example, the trailer's interior lighting. Pin 10 is

only powered when the engine is running. The

charge wire (pin 10) charges, for example, a

caravan battery.

Left turn signal

Rear fog light

●

Never connect the trailer's electric sys-

2

tem directly to the electrical connections

of the tail lights or any other power sour-

ces. Only use the connections intended for

providing electric current to the trailer.

3

Earth, pins 1, 2, 4 to 8

Right turn signal

Rear light, right

Brake lights

Pin 9 and 10 should not be connected to

each other to avoid discharging or damaging

the vehicle's battery.

4

5

The earth wires, pin 3, pin 11 and pin 13, should

never be connected to each other to avoid

overloading the electrical system.

6

Ball coupling of towing bracket de-

vice*

7

Rear light, left

8

Reverse lights

If the trailer has a 7-contact connector, you

will need to use an adapter cable. In this case

the function corresponding to pin 10 will not

be available.

The ball coupling is provided with instructions

on fitting and removing the ball coupling of

the towing bracket.

9

Permanent live

Cable without positive charge

10

308

Towing bracket device

Before driving

Adapt the height of the headlights using the

WARNING

headlight range adjuster page 149¹⁾.

›››

●

A

Grip the 13-pin connector at area

and

The towing bracket ball coupling must be

stored securely in the luggage compart-

ment to prevent them being flung through

the vehicle and causing injury.

remove it in the direction of the arrow

WARNING

Fig. 303.

›››

●

Never use the safety lug to tow!

●

5

Remove the protective cover

upwards.

Fig. 291

›››

●

Adjust your speed to suit the road and

traffic conditions.

Note

After driving

●

All work on the electrical system must be

●

By law, the ball coupling must be re-

moved if a trailer is not being towed if it ob-

scures the number plate.

carried out only by specialised workshops.

●

A

Grip the 13-pin connector at area

and

●

Never connect the trailer's electric sys-

insert it in the opposite direction to the arrow

tem to the electrical connections of the

rear lights or any other power sources.

Fig. 303.

›››

●

5

Fit the protective cover

the ball coupling.

Fig. 291 on

›››

●

After hooking up the trailer and connect-

Driving with a trailer

ing the socket, check that all the trailer's

rear lights are working properly.

Safety lug

B

The safety lug

Fig. 303 is used to hook

›››

Note

up the trailer's retainer cable.

●

If there is any fault in the trailer's lighting,

On hooking it up to the safety lug, the retainer

cable should have slack in all the trailer po-

sitions with respect to the vehicle (sharp

bends, reverse gear, etc.).

check the fuses in the instrument panel

fuse box

^››› ^{page 51.}

●

The contact between the retainer cable

and the safety lug may give rise to me-

chanical wear in the lug's surface protec-

tion. This wear will not prevent the safety

lug from operating properly or cause any

fault and is excluded from the warranty.

Headlights

The front part of the vehicle may be raised

when the trailer is connected and the light

may dazzle the rest of the traffic.

Fig. 303 Turn the 13-pin connector.

●

When connecting and disconnecting the

trailer, the towing vehicle's handbrake

should be applied.

»

1)

This does not apply for vehicles with Full LED

xenon headlights.

309

Driving

Reheating

Driving tips

●

When the tow hitch ball has not been fit-

ted, the socket should remain concealed in

its housing on the bumper.

At very high temperatures and during pro-

longed slopes, driving in a low gear and high

engine speed, always monitor the coolant

Driving with a trailer always requires extra

care.

temperature gauge page 118.

›››

Weight distribution

Anti-theft alarm

The weight distribution of a loaded trailer with

an unladen vehicle is very unfavourable.

However, if this cannot be avoided, drive extra

slowly to allow for the unbalanced weight

distribution.

When the vehicle is locked, the alarm is trig-

gered when the electrical connection be-

tween vehicle and trailer is interrupted.

Stabilisation of the towing vehicle

and trailer

The stabilisation of the towing vehicle and

trailer together is an additional function of the

electronic stability control (ESC).

Always turn off the anti-theft alarm system

before connecting or disconnecting a trailer

›››

Speed

page 135.

The stability of the vehicle and trailer is re-

duced with increasing speed. For this reason,

it is advisable not to drive at the maximum

permissible speed in an unfavourable road,

weather or wind conditions. This applies es-

pecially when driving downhill.

If the system detects that the trailer is sway-

ing, it intervenes automatically with the driver

steering recommendation to reduce the

swaying of the trailer.

Conditions for the integration of a trailer in

the anti-theft alarm system.

●

The vehicle is factory-equipped with an an-

ti-theft alarm system and a towing bracket

device.

The trailer is connected electrically to the

towing vehicle by the trailer connector.

The electrical system of the vehicle and the

trailer are prepared for operation.

The vehicle is locked with the ignition key

and the anti-theft alarm system is activated.

Requirements for the stabilisation of the

towing vehicle and trailer

You should always reduce speed immediately

if the trailer shows the slightest sign of snak-

ing. Never try to stop the “snaking” by in-

creasing speed.

●

The vehicle is factory-equipped with a tow-

ing bracket or has been retro-fitted with a

compatible towing bracket.

●

Always brake in due course. If the trailer has

an overrun brake, apply the brakes gently at

first and then, firmly. This will prevent the jerk-

ing that can be caused by locking of trailer

wheels. Select a low gear in due course be-

fore going down a steep downhill. This ena-

bles you to use the engine braking to slow

down the vehicle.

●

The ESC and ASR are active. The control

●

lamp  or  is not lit up on the instrument

cluster.

●

CAUTION

The trailer is electrically connected to the

towing vehicle through the trailer power sock-

et.

For technical reasons, trailers fitted with

rear LED lights are not integrated in the an-

ti-theft alarm system.

●

The vehicle is travelling at over 60 km/h

(approx. 37 mph).

310

Towing bracket device

●

The maximum vertical load technically per-

Retrofitting a towing bracket*

●

When driving on slippery surfaces with

missible is being utilised on the coupling de-

vice.

poor grip, the trailer can even interfere with

the stability system.

●

The trailer has a rigid draw bar.

If the trailer has brakes, it must be equipped

●

Trailers with a high centre of gravity can

tip even without having previously swayed.

●

with a mechanical overrun brake.

If a trailer is not attached, but the trailer

power socket is connected (e.g. installation

of a bicycle rack with lights), repeated au-

tomatic braking may occur in extreme driv-

ing conditions.

WARNING

The enhanced security provided by the

electric stability control of the towing vehi-

cle and trailer should not lead you to take

any risks that could compromise your safe-

ty.

●

Adapt your speed and driving style at all

times to suit visibility, weather, road and

traffic conditions.

●

Accelerate with caution when the road is

slippery.

●

When adjusting any settings, stop accel-

erating.

WARNING

The electric stability control for the towing

vehicle and trailer may not correctly de-

tect all driving conditions.

Fig. 304 Attachment points for towing bracket.

●

When the ESC is switched off, the stabili-

sation of the towing vehicle and trailer is al-

so switched off.

If a towing bracket is to be fitted after the ve-

hicle is purchased, this must be completed

according to the instructions of the towing

bracket manufacturer.

●

The stability system does not always de-

tect light and unstable trailers, so it may

not stabilise these correctly.

»

311

Driving

The attachment points for the towing bracket

tightened using a torque wrench, and a pow-

er socket must be connected to the vehicle

electrical system. This requires specialised

knowledge and tools.

sions. Please consult your Technical Serv-

ice.

A

are on the lower part of the vehicle.

The distance between the centre of the ball

coupling and the ground should never be

lower than the indicated value, even with a

fully loaded vehicle and including the maxi-

mum drawbar load.

●

Figures in the illustration show the elevation

value and the attachment points which must

be considered if you are retrofitting a towing

bracket.

Elevation values for securing the towing

bracket:

WARNING

The towing brackets should be fitted at a

specialised workshop.

B

C

D

E

65 mm (minimum)

350 mm to 420 mm (fully laden vehicle)

1040 mm

●

If the towing bracket is incorrectly instal-

led, there is a serious danger of accident.

●

For your own safety, please observe the

317 mm

tow bracket manufacturer's instructions.

LEON

LEON ST

596 mm

F

CAUTION

319 mm

●

If the power socket is incorrectly instal-

led, this could cause damage to the vehicle

electrical system.

Fitting a towing bracket

●

Driving with a trailer involves an extra effort

for the vehicle. Therefore, before fitting a tow-

ing bracket, please contact a Technical Serv-

ice to check whether your cooling system

needs modification.

Note

●

SEAT recommends that the towing hooks

be fitted at a specialised workshop. Con-

sult your SEAT dealer in case additional

modifications to your vehicle are necessa-

ry.

●

The legal requirements in your country

must be observed (e.g. the fitting of a sepa-

rate control lamp).

●

Due to the specific design of the exhaust,

●

Certain vehicle components, e.g. the rear

the fitting of a conventional towing hook is

not recommended for some sportier ver-

bumper, must be removed and reinstalled.

The towing bracket securing bolts must be

312

Driving -> Trailer towing for Your Seat Leon 4 Door Third Generation (2012-2020)

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