2013 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG Owners Manual

x Weight distribution is especially bad if the towing vehicle is empty and the trailer is loaded. If you
absolutely must drive with this combination, drive with extra CARe and at a reduced speed.
Starting off with a trailer on hills
Depending on how steep the hill is and the combined towing weight, a parked vehicle with trailer can
roll backwards when you first start moving.
When starting off with a trailer on a hill:
x Depress and hold the brake pedal.
x Pull and hold the G button to use the electronic parking brake to keep the vehicle and trailer from
rolling backwards.
x Put the transmission in Drive (D).
x Release the brake pedal.
x Drive ahead slowly at first.
x Do not release the G button until the engine has enough driving power for the vehicle to start
moving.
x Drive ahead slowly
.WARNING
Improper trailer towing can cause loss of vehicle control and serious personal injury.
x Driving with a trailer and CARrying heavy or bulky items changes the way the vehicle
handles and increases the distance it needs to stop safely.
x Always watch what is happening up ahead and around you. Brake earlier than you would
if you were not towing a trailer.
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 Reduce your speed even more than you otherwise would when going downhill and under
unfavorable load, weather, or wind conditions.
x Drive especially CARefully and accelerate gently. Always avoid sudden maneuvers and
hard braking.
x Be especially CAReful when passing other vehicles.
x Reduce speed immediately if the trailer shows even the slightest sign of swaying.
x Never try to stop the swaying by accelerating.
x Always obey speed limits. In some areas speed limits for vehicles towing trailers are lower
than for vehicles without trailers.

Ball mount

Fig. 107 Dimensions of the ball mount support.

.CAUTION
The ball mount sticks out behind the rear bumper and can cause injury to pedestrians and
cyclists.
x 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
x Never use a ball larger than 2 inches (51 mm) on your vehicle. 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.
x Never use an adapter to increase the size of the trailer hitch receiver to more than 2 inches
(50.8 mm) to tow a trailer that is heavier than the maximum permissible trailer weight that your
vehicle can tow.
x 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.
x Only use trailer hitches that are approved by the hitch manufacturer for your vehicle and
model.

Retrofitting a trailer hitch

Fig. 108 Dimensions and attachment points for retrofitting a trailer hitch.

(G) 1315 /16 .inches (354.5 mm)
(H) 415 /16 .inches (1050 mm)
(I) 467 /16 .inches (1180 mm)
.WARNING
Improper or incorrect connections to the vehicle electrical system can cause malfunctions
that affect the entire vehicle electrical system and cause accidents and serious personal
injury.
x Never connect the electrical system of the trailer directly to the electrical connections of
the rear lights or other unsuitable power sources. Use only a suitable connector to provide
power to the trailer. Use only a suitable connector to provide power to the trailer.
x Have any trailer hitch retrofit or other work on a trailer hitch done by a qualified workshop.
.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.
.Only use trailer hitches that are approved by Volkswagen for your vehicle and model.
Maximum permissible trailer weight

.NOTICE
Exceeding the gross weight ratings can cause extensive vehicle damage that is not covered by
any Volkswagen Limited Warranty.
.NOTICE
Towing a trailer of any kind with a vehicle that has a diesel engine and automatic transmission
will cause overheating and expensive engine as well as other damage to your vehicle that will
not be covered by any Volkswagen Limited Warranty. Never install a trailer hitch on one of
these vehicles.

Storage areas

x Do not keep any food, medicine, or other items sensitive to heat or cold in the vehicle. They
can be damaged or made unusable by heat or cold.
x Things that are made of transparent materials (such as eyeglasses, magnifying glasses, or
transparent suction cups on the windows) can magnify sunlight and damage the vehicle.
.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.
Storage compartment in the driver door

Fig. 109 In the driver door: Storage compartment.