Cargo transportation and trailer towing (Audi A4 B7)

Caution: Do not exceed the permitted load capacity of the tires or overload the vehicle, as this will make the tires more susceptible to overheating and internal damage to the tires, which may lead to sudden tire failure.

Note: Turn off the climate control cooling function when driving with a trailer or heavy load in mountainous areas with steep descents and ascents.

Place cargo in the luggage compartment as low and as close to the front of the vehicle as possible. Load the heaviest items of luggage first. Cover or wrap sharp edges and corners with protective material. More information about cargo compartment accessories see Section 14.

If you are transporting cargo in the passenger compartment, secure it securely, for example with seat belts.

Transportation of cargo on the roof

To transport cargo on the roof of a car, you can purchase a special device as an accessory, for which mounting points located in the doorways are used (see illustration 25.1). Detailed information on installing such a device can be found in the instructions supplied with it. Please observe the requirements for maximum roof rack load and maximum permissible vehicle weight as specified in the Specifications.





When transporting cargo on the roof rack, the car's behavior on the road and handling change due to the change in the center of gravity of the car. When loading the roof rack, arrange the cargo evenly and compactly, place heavy objects at the bottom. Also take care to securely fasten the cargo. Then make sure that the cargo on the roof rack does not interfere with the lid of the upper hatch and does not interfere with opening the trunk lid. Try to drive the car smoothly, check the fastening of the cargo before starting the trip, after the first 50 km of the trip, and then every 1000 km of the trip.

Towing a trailer

Note: Towing a trailer reduces the service life and fuel economy of the vehicle, as the load on the components involved in transmitting torque increases (from the engine to the tires).

Caution: Observe the requirements of the Specifications for the minimum and maximum permissible mass of the towed trailer and the load on the towing device. When driving in mountainous terrain, reduce the mass of the road train by 10% for every 1000 m of elevation gain.

The vehicle can be equipped with a removable trailer hitch at the factory (see subsection below). The standard trailer electrical socket has 13 contacts. If the trailer is equipped with a 7-pin socket, use an adapter. It is also possible to install a towing hitch after purchasing the vehicle. Installation must be performed by qualified specialists. The mounting points are shown in Illustrations 25.2a-b. The minimum distance (B) between the bumper and the hinge is 65 mm, and the distance (C) between the rear axle and the hinge is 1056 mm.







The vertical load on the towing hitch increases the weight of the vehicle as a whole. The maximum permitted weight of additional cargo is reduced by the weight of the towing hitch and the load on it. Pay attention to this and do not allow the maximum gross vehicle weight to be exceeded when driving with a trailer. Also avoid a situation where the vertical load on the towing hitch is less than 4% of the actual weight of the trailer.

Place the load on the trailer as far inside as possible and, if possible, close to the axle. A low trailer centre of gravity increases the safety level of the entire road train. The permitted values for the total mass of the trailer and the mass of the towed load must not be exceeded. The lower value should always be used as a guide.



The air pressure in the tyres of the vehicle and trailer should be given special attention. The values given for the maximum load of the vehicle are correct, see Specifications. After correcting the air pressure in the tyres, initialise the tyre rundown indicator (see Section 16). Initialization should also be performed each time the trailer is connected or disconnected. The correct tire inflation pressures for the trailer are those specified by the trailer manufacturer.

The rules require two outside rear-view mirrors to allow the driver to see both rear corners of the trailer.

When setting off on a trip, always check that the trailer's tail lights are working.

Driving with non-working tail lights is a threat to road safety.

When driving with a trailer, do not exceed 80 km/h, otherwise the trailer may start to sway. If the trailer starts to sway, the entire road train can only be stabilized by immediate strong braking. At the same time, try not to operate the steering wheel unless necessary. If such a need arises, act extremely carefully so as not to interfere with other road users.

For safety reasons and to avoid creating obstacles to traffic flow, the steepness of the slope to be overcome when driving with a trailer is limited to 12%. With the permitted increased mass of the towed load, this limitation is 8%.

On descents, the trailer's tendency to sway increases, so the driver's attention is required here. When approaching a descent, engage a lower gear, down to first, and slowly and carefully descend.

Using the standard towing hitch

The standard removable towing hitch must be located in the luggage compartment, in the spare wheel well, when driving without a trailer (see illustration 25.3).



To install the towing hitch, follow these steps:.

1. Open the lid completely (2 in illustration 25.4) mounting socket (1) under the rear bumper. The cover automatically locks into place. If the socket is dirty, clean it.



2. Make sure the retainer is clean and intact (And in the illustration 25.5), the release pin (B), the hinge body at the point of contact with the mounting pipe (C), and the handwheel (D).





3. Make sure that the following conditions are met to provide the preload required for installing the joint. Red mark (And in illustration 25.6) the flywheel is located in the area of the black mark of the hinge housing. The lock (B) is recessed into the opening of the hinge housing. The flywheel is visually located at a certain distance (C) from the hinge housing.



4. Create tension on the hinge. To do this, insert the key into the handwheel lock (1 in illustration 25.7) and turn it in the direction of the red mark. Pull the handwheel in the direction of the arrow (A) and then turn it in the extended position in the direction of the arrow (B) until the lock (2) is locked and the release pin (3) is noticeably extended.





5. Install the towbar with tension into the mounting socket (see illustration 25.8) and press upwards in the direction indicated by the arrow. The locking process is automatic and is accompanied by a click. Lock the hinge by turning the key towards the green mark and remove the key.

Caution: When installing, keep your hands away from the handwheel and socket cover area, otherwise injury may occur.

6. Make sure it is securely fastened. Green mark (And in illustration 25.9) should be in the area of the black mark of the hinge housing without a gap (arrow). The garnish should be locked and the key removed (the flywheel should not be pulled out). The hinge should sit securely in the socket and not move by hand.





7. To connect the trailer's electrical equipment, open the socket cover (see illustration 25.10).



To remove the towing hitch, follow these steps:.

1. Insert the key into the handwheel lock and turn it towards the red grid to unlock the hinge.

2. Holding the garnish body firmly, pull the flywheel away from it.

3. Turn the extended handwheel clockwise until it stops and release it - it will automatically lock into place with tension.

4. Pull the towing hitch out of the socket downwards - the mounting socket is automatically closed by a cover.

5. Put the towing hitch back in place and move the connector upward.