Get Trailer towing -> Ball mount Guide for Volkswagen Passat SUV Seventh Generation (2010-2014)

WARNING

Improper trailer towing can cause loss of vehicle control and

serious personal injury.

Driving with a trailer and carrying heavy or bulky items

changes the way the vehicle handles and increases the dis-

tance it needs to stop safely.

Always watch what is happening up ahead and around you.

Brake earlier than you would if you were not towing a trailer.

Always adapt your speed and driving to the heavier load and

the weight distribution in the vehicle. Take road, weather, traf-

fic, and visibility conditions into account as well.

Reduce your speed even more than you otherwise would

when going downhill and under unfavorable load, weather, or

wind conditions.

Drive especially carefully and accelerate gently. Always avoid

sudden maneuvers and hard braking.

Be especially careful when passing other vehicles.

Reduce speed immediately if the trailer shows even the

slightest sign of swaying.

Never try to stop the swaying by accelerating.

Always obey speed limits. In some areas speed limits for ve-

hicles towing trailers are lower than for vehicles without trail-

ers.

Ball mount

Fig. 108 Dimensions of the ball mount support.

¤ Please first read and note the introductory information and

heed the WARNINGS

Your vehicle is not equipped with a trailer hitch or preparations for the

installation of a trailer hitch. If you must tow a trailer, you must have

the necessary electrical wiring and socket together with a suitable

trailer hitch installed. Because towing a trailer places a great deal of

stress on the vehicle, the attachment of a trailer to the vehicle and the

dimensions of the receiver and ball mount are very important so that

the extra forces the vehicle has to withstand can be properly handled.

The receiver used requires both a ball mount and a ball that meet

special requirements regarding geometry and size. This applies to

both the height of the ball above the surface where it attaches

⇒ꢀfig. 108 (A), and the pin-to-ball distance (B).

These dimensions are important because they help determine the

way that the forces that arise during towing are applied to the receiver

and its attachments to the vehicle. If you buy a ball mount and ball,

make sure that they meet the following specifications.

Ball mount dimensions

The drop height (A) from the center of the ball to the center of the

hole for the securing pin on the ball mount must be at least 1 inch

(25.4 mm) and at most 2⁷/₈inches (73 mm).

The pin-to-ball distance (B) from the center of the ball to the center

of the hole for the securing pin on the ball mount must be no more

than 7 inches (178 mm).

The ball diameter must be no more than 1¹/₄inches (32 mm).

A ball mount and ball combination that does not meet these specifica-

tions can damage your vehicle and may even fail in use ⇒ꢀ

Never install a “weight distributing” or “load equalizing” trailer hitch on

your vehicle. The vehicle is not designed for this kind of trailer hitch ⇒ꢀ

WARNING

An improperly installed or unsuitable trailer hitch can cause the

trailer to separate from the towing vehicle and result in a major

accident with serious personal injuries.

Have any trailer hitch retrofit or other work on a trailer hitch

done by a qualified workshop.

CAUTION

The ball mount sticks out behind the rear bumper and can

cause injury to pedestrians and cyclists.

To reduce the risk of injury in rear-end collisions, and the risk

to pedestrians and cyclists when the vehicle is parked, always

remove the ball carrier when you are not towing a trailer.

NOTICE

Never use a ball larger than 1¹/₄inches (32 mm) on your vehi-

cle. The vehicle was not designed to tow heavier trailers with a

receiver larger than the specified ball. The increased loads can

damage the attachment points for the trailer hitch.

Never use an adapter to increase the size of the trailer hitch

receiver from 1¹/₄inches (32 mm) to 2 inches (50.8 mm) or more

to tow a trailer that is heavier than the maximum permissible

trailer weight that your vehicle can tow.

You can use an adapter if required for the proper installation

of a bicycle rack or other similar carrier as long as the maximum

weight limits are observed. When using bicycle racks or similar

carriers, make sure that the rear lights are not blocked.

Only use trailer hitches that are approved by the hitch manu-

facturer for your vehicle and model.

Trailer towing -> Ball mount for Your Volkswagen Passat SUV Seventh Generation (2010-2014)

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