Driving and operating129Trailer hitch
General information
Only use towing equipment that has
been approved for your vehicle.
Entrust fitting of towing equipment at
a later date to a workshop. It may be
necessary to make changes that
affect the cooling system, heat
shields or other equipment.
Driving characteristics and
towing tips In the case of trailers with brakes,
attach the breakaway stopping cable.
Before attaching a trailer, lubricate
the coupling ball. However, do not do
so if a stabiliser, which acts on the
coupling ball, is being used to reduce snaking movements. For trailers with
low driving stability the use of a
stabiliser is recommended.
A maximum speed of 50 mph must
not be exceeded, even in countries
where higher speeds are permitted.If the trailer starts snaking, drive more
slowly, do not attempt to correct the
steering and brake sharply if
necessary.
When driving downhill, drive in the
same gear as if driving uphill and
drive at a similar speed.
Adjust tyre pressure to the value
specified for full load 3 189.
Trailer towing Trailer loads
The permissible trailer loads are
vehicle-dependent and engine-
dependent maximum values which
must not be exceeded. The actual trailer load is the difference between
the actual gross weight of the trailer
and the actual coupling socket load
with the trailer coupled.
The permissible trailer loads are
specified in the vehicle documents. In general, they are valid for gradients
up to max. 12 %.
The permitted trailer load applies up to the specified incline and up to an
altitude of 1000 metres above sealevel. Since engine power decreases
as altitude increases due to the air
becoming thinner, therefore reducing
climbing ability, the permissible gross
train weight also decreases by 10 %
for every 1000 metres of additional
altitude. The gross train weight does
not have to be reduced when driving
on roads with slight inclines (less than
8 %, e.g. motorways).
The permissible gross train weight
must not be exceeded. This weight is
specified on the identification plate
3 171.
Vertical coupling load
The vertical coupling load is the load
exerted by the trailer on the coupling
ball. It can be varied by changing the
weight distribution when loading the
trailer.
The maximum permissible vertical
coupling load is specified on the
towing equipment identification plate
and in the vehicle documents. Always aim for the maximum load, especially
in the case of heavy trailers. The
vertical coupling load should never
fall below 25 kg.
197
Pollen filter ................................. 104
Power door locks ..........................22
Power outlets ............................... 71
Power side step ............................ 24
Power sliding door ........................24
Power steering fluid ....................136
Power take-off ........................... 130
Power windows ............................ 32
Preheating ................................... 81
Puncture ............................. 154, 157
R Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) ..................................... 192
Radio remote control ...................18
Reading lights .............................. 91
Rear air conditioning system .......99
Rear doors ................................... 26
Rear fog light ............................... 82
Rear fog lights ............................. 90
Rear heating system .................... 97
Rear seats .................................... 41
Rear view camera ...................... 126
Rear windows .............................. 32
Recommended fluids and lubricants ........................ 168, 173
Refuelling ................................... 127 Remote control ............................. 18
Reversing lights ........................... 90
Ride control systems ..................119Roof.............................................. 34
Roof load ...................................... 66
Roof rack ..................................... 66
S Safety belts ................................... 43
Safety net .................................... 65
Seat adjustment ....................... 7, 37
Seat belt ........................................ 8
Seat belt reminder .......................78
Seat belts ..................................... 43
Seat heating ................................. 40
Seat position ................................ 36
Selector lever ............................. 114
Service ............................... 105, 167
Service display ............................ 75
Service information ....................167
Service vehicle soon .................... 79
Side airbag system ......................49
Sidelights ...................................... 87
Side turn signal lights ................145
Sliding door .................................. 24
Spare wheel ............................... 159
Speedometer ............................... 73
Speed regulator ............................ 73
Starting and operating ................106
Starting off ................................... 16
Starting the engine ............107, 114
Steering column controls ..............69
Steering wheel adjustment ......9, 68Steering wheel controls ...............68
Stop engine .................................. 79
Stop-start system.................. 82, 108
Storage ......................................... 60
Storage compartments .................60
Sunglasses storage .....................61
Sun visors .................................... 34
Suspension seat ........................... 37
Symbols ......................................... 4
T
Tachograph ............................ 82, 86
Tachometer ................................. 73
Tail lights ................................... 144
Technical data ............................ 174
Three-point seat belt .................... 44
Tools .......................................... 150
Top-tether fastening eyes ............59
Tow bar....................................... 129
Towing ........................................ 129
Towing another vehicle .............163
Towing a trailer ........................... 129
Towing equipment .....................130
Towing eye ................................. 162
Towing the vehicle .....................162
Traction Control system ............. 119
Trailer coupling ........................... 129
Trailer towing ............................. 129
Transmission ............................... 15
Transmission display ...........75, 114
