2013 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG tow

x Lift out of mounting and move toward the doors ⇒ fig. 86 (1).
x Rotate the sun visor toward the door.
Vanity mirror and lighting
A vanity mirror is behind a cover in the sun visor. When the cover is slid open (2), the light comes on.
The light goes out when you shut the cover or if you flip the sun visor up again.
The vanity mirror light goes out after several minutes. This helps to prevent unnecessary drain on
the vehicle battery.
Rear side window sun shade

Fig. 88 Sun shade in the rear right window.

.WARNING
Heavy loads will influence the way your vehicle handles and increase stopping distances.
Heavy loads that are not properly stowed or secured can cause loss of control and serious
injury.
x Secure the load properly to keep it from shifting.
x Always remember when transporting heavy objects that a change in the center of gravity
also changes the way your vehicle handles:
– Always distribute the load as evenly as possible.
– Secure heavy objects properly as far forward in the luggage compartment as possible.
– Always tie down heavy items securely with suitable straps using the tie-downs in the
luggage compartment.
x Securely latch the rear seat backrest in the upright position.
x Never exceed the Gross Axle Weight Rating or the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating on the
safety compliance sticker on the left door jamb. Exceeding permissible weight can cause the
vehicle to skid and handle differently.
x Always adapt your speed and driving to the heavier load and the weight distribution in the
vehicle. Take road, weather, traffic, and visibility conditions into account as well.
x Drive especially carefully and accelerate gently.
x Always accelerate and avoid sudden braking and driving maneuvers.
x Always brake earlier than you would if you were not driving a loaded vehicle.
Stowing luggage

Driving with an open rear hatch can lead to serious personal injury. If you have to drive with an open
rear hatch, make sure that all objects and the lid itself are properly secured and take appropriate
measures to keep toxic exhaust fumes from entering the vehicle.
.WARNING
Driving with an unlatched or open rear hatch can lead to serious personal injuries.
x Never transport objects larger than those fitting completely into the luggage compartment,
because the rear hatch cannot be closed properly.
x After closing the lid, always pull up on it to make sure that it is properly closed and cannot
open suddenly when the vehicle is moving.
x Always stow all objects securely in the luggage compartment. Loose objects can fall out
of the luggage compartment and injure others on the road behind you.
x Drive CARefully; anticipate what other drivers will do.
x Avoid abrupt or sudden driving or braking maneuvers, because the unlatched rear hatch
can move suddenly.
x Always mark objects sticking out from the luggage compartment clearly for others to see.
Obey all applicable legal requirements.
x Never use the rear hatch to “clamp” or “hold” objects protruding from the luggage
compartment.
x Always remove any luggage rack or other rack mounted on the rear hatch (along with any
luggage on the rack) before driving with an open rear hatch.
.WARNING
Driving with an open rear hatch can cause poisonous CARbon monoxide in the engine
exhaust to get into the passenger compartment.
x CARbon monoxide causes drowsiness, inattentiveness, poisoning, and loss of
consciousness. It can lead to accidents and severe personal injuries.
x Always keep the rear hatch closed while driving to help keep poisonous exhaust fumes
from being drawn into the vehicle.
x Never transport objects that are too large to fit completely into the luggage area, because
then the rear hatch cannot be fully closed.
x If you absolutely must drive with an open rear hatch, do the following to reduce the risk of
CARbon monoxide poisoning:
– Close all windows and the power sunroof.
– Switch off the climate control system's air recirculation feature.
– Open all air vents in the instrument panel.
– Set the fresh air fan to the highest speed.
.NOTICE
The open rear hatch changes the vehicle's length and height.
Driving a loaded vehicle

x Securely stow all luggage .
x Drive especially carefully and accelerate gently.
x Avoid sudden braking and driving maneuvers.
x Brake earlier than you would if you were not driving a loaded vehicle.
x If applicable, observe information about driving with a trailer .
x If applicable, observe information about driving with a roof rack .
.WARNING
Heavy loads can change the way your vehicle handles and increase stopping distances.
Heavy loads that are not properly stowed or secured can shift suddenly, causing loss of
control and serious injury.
x Secure the load properly to keep it from shifting.
x Always remember when transporting heavy objects that they change the vehicle's center
of gravity and also the way it handles
– Always distribute the load as evenly as possible.
– Secure heavy objects properly as far forward in the luggage compartment as possible.
– Use your vehicle's luggage compartment tie-downs with suitable straps.
x Always tie down heavy items securely with suitable straps.
x Securely latch the rear seat backrest in the upright position.
x Never exceed the Gross Axle Weight Rating or the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating on the
safety compliance sticker on the left door jamb. Exceeding permissible weight can cause the
vehicle to skid and handle differently.
x Always adapt speed and driving to the heavier load and the weight distribution in the
vehicle. Take road, weather, traffic, and visibility conditions into account as well.
x Always accelerate gently and avoid sudden braking and driving maneuvers.
x Always brake earlier than you would if you were not driving a loaded vehicle.
Weights and axle weights

.WARNING
Unsecured or incorrectly stowed items can fly through the vehicle, causing serious personal
injury during hard braking or sharp steering or in an accident. Loose items can also be struck
and thrown through the passenger compartment by the front airbags if they inflate. To help
reduce the risk of serious personal injury:
x Always stow all objects securely in the vehicle. Always put luggage and heavy items in the
luggage compartment.
x Always secure objects in the passenger compartment properly with suitable straps so that
they cannot move into the deployment zone of a side or front airbag during a sudden braking,
in a sudden maneuver, or in a collision.
x Always keep storage compartments closed while driving.
x Never stow hard, heavy, or sharp objects in the vehicle's open storage compartments, on
the shelf behind the rear seat bench, or on the top of the instrument panel.
x Always remove hard, heavy, or sharp objects from clothing and bags in the vehicle
interior and stow them securely in the luggage compartment.
.WARNING
Transporting heavy objects causes the handling characteristics of the vehicle to change and
increases braking distances. Heavy loads which are not properly stowed or secured in the
vehicle can lead to a loss of vehicle control and cause serious personal injury.
x Transporting heavy items causes the handling characteristics of the vehicle to change by
shifting the vehicle's center of gravity.
x Always distribute luggage evenly and as low as possible within the vehicle. The vehicle
capacity weight figures apply when the load is distributed evenly in the vehicle (passengers
and luggage).
x Always stow luggage and heavy items in the luggage compartment as far forward of the
rear axle as possible and secure them with appropriate straps to the tie-downs provided.
x Never exceed the vehicle's Gross Vehicle Weight Rating or Gross Axle Weight Ratings,
which are printed on the Safety Compliance Certification Label located on the door jamb of
the driver door. Exceeding the permissible weight can cause the vehicle to skid and behave
differently.
x Always adapt your speed and driving style to accommodate your payload and its weight
distribution within your vehicle.
x Be especially cautious and gentle when stepping on the accelerator pedal and avoid
sudden braking and other maneuvers.
x Brake earlier than you would if you were not driving a loaded vehicle.
.NOTICE
x The defroster heating wires or antenna in the rear window can be damaged by objects that
rub against them.
x The antenna wiring in the side windows can be damaged by items rubbing against it.
.The ventilation slots between the rear window and the luggage compartment cover must not be
blocked so that stale air can escape from the vehicle.

Removing the luggage compartment cover
x If there is a gap cover (2), unhook it from the fastening eyes on the rear seat backrests ⇒ fig. 101
(1).
x Push down release button (2) and push in the end parts of the luggage compartment cover (3).
x Lift the luggage compartment cover up and out.
Reinstalling the luggage compartment cover
x First fit the luggage compartment cover ⇒ fig. 100 (1) into the left-hand slot.
x Then fit the other end into the right-hand slot.
x Push down release button ⇒ fig. 101 (2) and push in the end parts of the luggage compartment
cover (3).
x Push the luggage compartment cover down into the right-hand slot so that it locks into place.
x Make sure that the luggage compartment cover is properly locked into place.
x If there is a gap cover ⇒ fig. 100 (2), hook it back into the fastening eyes on the rear seat backrests
⇒ fig. 101 (1).
.WARNING
In a sudden braking or other maneuver, or in a collision, unsecured or improperly secured
objects or animals on the luggage compartment cover could cause serious personal injury.
x Never leave hard, heavy or sharp objects in bags or loose on the luggage compartment
cover.
x Never let animals ride on the luggage compartment cover.
.WARNING
The view towards the rear is greatly limited when the luggage compartment cover is in the
convenience position.
x Before driving, ensure that the luggage compartment cover is not in the convenience
position.
.NOTICE
To help prevent damage to the luggage compartment cover, the luggage compartment may
only be loaded to a height at which the luggage compartment cover will not press on the
CARgo when the rear hatch is closed.
x The defroster heating wires or antenna in the rear window can be damaged by objects that
rub against them.
Do not cover the ventilation slots in the side consoles. Otherwise, stale air cannot escape from
the vehicle.

.WARNING
Elastic straps have to be stretched when being attached to the tie-downs in the luggage
compartment Hooks on elastic straps can cause serious personal injury if not handled
properly and attached securely.
x Always protect eyes and face from injury from the hooks when attaching them to the
vehicle and do not let them snap back and hit you.
x Always hold the hooks on elastic straps firmly when attaching to the vehicle and do not let
them snap back and hit you.
x First attach the hooks on the straps to the tie-downs at the rear seat backrest in the
luggage compartment and then to the tie-downs near the loading edge of the luggage
compartment. This way, if one of the hooks on the elastic straps snaps back, it will move
away from you, decreasing the risk of personal injury.
.The maximum weight force for the tie-downs is about 785 lbs (356 kg).
.For suitable straps and luggage stowage systems, please see an authorized Volkswagen dealer
or an authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.
Shopping bag hooks

Fig. 104 In the luggage compartment: Shopping bag hook.

Trailer towing