2015 SKODA RAPID SPACEBACK tow bar

Save tyre pressure values by pressing a buttonFig. 136
Key for storing the pressure val-
ues
Read and observe on page 120 first.
›
Inflate all the tyres to the specified pressure.
›
Switch on the ignition.
›
Press the symbol key 
» Fig. 136 and hold it down.
The warning light  in the instrument cluster illuminates.
An acoustic signal and the control indicator provide information about the
storage of the tyre pressure values.
›
Release the symbol key  .
Hitch and trailer
Hitch

Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Description
122
Adjusting the ready position
122
A correctly set ready position
123
Assembling the tow bar – Step 1
123
Assembling the tow bar – Step 2
124
Check proper fitting
124
Removing the tow bar – Step 1
125
Removing the tow bar – Step 2
125
Mount accessories
126
The maximum trailer draw-bar load is 50 kg.
The draw bar load information on the type plate of the towing device is merely
a test value for the towing device. The vehicle-specific information is detailed
in the vehicle documents.
WARNING■ Check that the tow bar is seated correctly and is secured in the mounting
recess before the start of every journey.■
Do not use the ball head, if it is not correctly inserted into the mounting
recess and secured.
■
Do not use the towing equipment if it is damaged or incomplete.
■
Do not modify or adapt the towing device in any way.
■
Keep the mounting recess of the towing equipment clean at all times.
Such dirt prevents the ball head from being attached securely.
CAUTION
■ Take care with the ball bar - there is a risk of paint damage to the bumper.■When the tow bar is removed always place the cover onto the mounting re-
cess - there is a danger of soiling the mounting recess.
Note
■ Operation and maintenance of hitch » page 137.■Tow the vehicle by means of the detachable ball rod » page 171.121Hitch and trailer

DescriptionFig. 137
Carrier for the towing device / tow bar
Read and observe
and on page 121 first.
The ball head can be removed and is kept in the spare wheel well or in a com-
partment for the spare wheel in the luggage compartment.
Support for the towing hitch and tow bar » Fig. 137
Cap
Mounting recess
Protective cap
Locking ball
Centering
Hand wheel
Key
Lock cap
Red marking on the hand wheel
Tow bar
Green marking on the hand wheel
White marking on tow bar
Note
On the bottom of the key is a code number. We advise you to take a not of this
number. If you lose a key, please contact a specialist garage which will be able
to use this code number to provide you with a new one.123456789101112Adjusting the ready positionFig. 138
Remove cap from the lock / insert key into the lock
Fig. 139
Setting the ready position
Read and observe
and on page 121 first.
The tow bar must be set prior to installation to the standby position
» page 123 , A correctly set ready position .
If this is not in the ready position, then this must be set to the standby posi- tion as follows.
›
Grip the tow bar below the protective cap.
›
Remove the cover
A
from the lock in the direction of the arrow
1
» Fig. 138 .
›
Insert the key into the lock
B
in the direction of arrow
2,
so that the arrow
on the key symbol 
shows.
›
Turn the key
B
to the stop in the direction of arrow
3,
so that the arrow on
the key symbol 
» Fig. 139 shows.
›
Pull the hand wheel
C
in the direction of the arrow
4
and turn in the direc-
tion of the arrow
5
to the stop. 
122Driving

The hand wheel C remains locked in this position.WARNINGIf the tow bar cannot be correctly placed in the ready position, then it must
not be used.
A correctly set ready position
Fig. 140
Ready position
Read and observe
and on page 121 first.
Correctly adjusted standby position » Fig. 140
The key
A
is in the unlocked position - the arrow on the key points to the
symbol 
.
The locking ball
B
can be pushed fully into the tow bar.
The red marking
C
on the hand wheel points to the white marking on the
ball bar.
There is a clear gap of approx. 4 mm
D
between the hand wheel and the
tow bar.
The ball bar is thus set ready for installation.
CAUTION
When in the ready position, the key cannot be removed from the lock.Assembling the tow bar – Step 1Fig. 141
Remove cap for receiving shaft / use ball bar
Read and observe
and on page 121 first.
Preliminary work
Before installing the tow bar the following work must be carried out.
›
Remove the end cap for receiving shaft
A
in the direction of arrow
1
» Fig. 141 .
The tow bar must be set to the standby position » page 123, A correctly set
ready position . If this is not in the standby position, then it must be set to the
standby position » page 122, Adjusting the ready position .
Fitting
›
Grip the tow bar from underneath » Fig. 141 and insert into the mounting re-
cess in arrow direction
2
until you hear it click into place » .
The hand wheel
B
rotates back automatically and rests on the ball rod » .
WARNINGDo not hold the hand wheel with your hand when attaching the ball bar -
there is a risk of finger injury.
CAUTION
If the tow bar is not in the ready position, it cannot be fitted in the mounting
recess.
Note
Store the cover of the mounting recess in a suitable place in the luggage com-
partment store after removal.123Hitch and trailer

Assembling the tow bar – Step 2Fig. 142
Secure the lock and remove key / place cap on lock
Read and observe
and on page 121 first.
›
First perform step 1 of the tow bar assembly » page 123.
›
Turn the key
A
in the direction of arrow
1,
so that the arrow on the key
symbol 
» Fig. 142 shows.
›
Remove the key in the direction of the arrow
2
.
›
Fit the cap
B
on the lock in the direction of the arrow
3
.
›
Check that the tow bar is securely attached » page 124.
WARNING■
After fitting the tow bar, always secure the lock and remove the key.■The tow bar must not be operated with the key inserted.
CAUTION
After removing the key, always replace the cover on the lock – there is a risk of
the lock getting dirty.Check proper fittingFig. 143
Correctly secured ball head
Read and observe and on page 121 first.
Check that the tow bar is fitted properly before each use.
Correctly secured tow bar » Fig. 143
The tow bar does not come out of the mounting recess even after heavy
“shaking”.
The green marking
A
on the hand wheel points to the white marking on
the tow bar.
The hand wheel lies flush with the tow bar - there is no gap.
The lock is locked and the key is removed.
The cap
B
is on the lock.
WARNINGDo not use the towing hitch unless the tow ball has been properly locked –
risk of accident.124Driving

Removing the tow bar – Step 1Fig. 144
Remove cap from the lock / insert key into the lock
Fig. 145
Unlock lock
Read and observe and on page 121 first.
›
Remove the cover
A
from the lock in the direction of the arrow
1
» Fig. 144 .
›
Insert the key into the lock
B
in the direction of arrow
2,
so that the arrow
on the key symbol  shows.
›
Turn the key
B
in the direction of arrow
3,
so that the arrow on the key
symbol 
» Fig. 145 shows.
WARNINGNever remove the tow bar while the trailer is still coupled.
Note
We recommend putting the protective cover onto the ball head before remov-
ing the tow bar.Removing the tow bar – Step 2Fig. 146
Release tow bar
Read and observe and on page 121 first.
Removing
›
To begin with, follow the first step for the ball rod assembly » page 125.
›
Grasp the ball bar from below » Fig. 146 .
›
Pull the hand wheel
A
in the direction of the arrow
1
.
›
Turn the hand wheel in the direction of the arrow
2
to the stop, and hold in
this position.
›
Remove the tow bar from the mounting recess downwards and in the direc-
tion of the arrow
3
.
At the same time, the ball head latches into the ready position and is thus
ready to be re-inserted into the mounting recess »
.
Subsequent steps
After removing the tow bar the following work must be carried out.
›
Fit the cover for the mounting recess
A
in the opposite direction to arrow
1
» Fig. 141 on page 123 .
WARNINGNever allow the tow bar to remain unsecured in the boot. This could cause
damage on sudden braking and could put the safety of the occupants at
risk! 125Hitch and trailer

CAUTION■If the hand wheel A is not turned all the way to the stop, then it will return
to its initial position when the tow bar is removed and will rest on the tow bar
and not engage into the ready position. The ball head then needs to be
brought into this position before the next time it is fitted » page 122, Adjusting
the ready position .■
The mounting recess must be closed with the cover following removal. This
prevents foreign bodies from getting into the mounting recess.
Note
Clean any dirt from the tow bar before stowing it away in the box with the ve-
hicle tool kit.
Mount accessories
Fig. 147
Representation of the maximum
permissible level of the ball head
of the towing hitch and the per-
missible total weight of the ac-
cessories including the load de-
pending on the load centre of
gravity
Read and observe and on page 121 first.
An accessory can be mounted on the ball head of the towing hitch (e.g. bicycle carrier).
If this accessory is used, the maximum permissible overhang of the ball head
of the towing hitch and the permissible gross vehicle weight of the accesso-
ries including load are to be checked.
The maximum permissible overhang of the ball head of the towing hitch is 70
cm » Fig. 147 .
The total permitted weight of the accessory including load changes with in-
creasing distance of the centre of gravity of the load from the ball head of the
towing hitch.
Distance of the centre of gravity of the load from the ball headPermissible total weight of the ac- cessory, including load0 cm50 kg30 cm50 kg60 cm25 kg70 cm0 kgWARNING■Never exceed the permissible gross weight of the accessory including
load - there is a risk of damaging the towing device.■
Never exceed the permissible protrusion of the ball head including towing
device - there is a risk of damaging the towing device.
Note
We recommend that you use accessories from ŠKODA Original Accessories.
Trailer
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Attaching and detaching trailers
127
Loading a trailer
127
Trailer load
128
Towing a trailer
128
Anti-theft alarm system
128
The trailer can be hitched to the ball head of the towing device.
126Driving

Attaching and detaching trailersFig. 148
Swivel out the 13-pin power
socket, safety eyelet
Connect and disconnect
›
Install the tow bar.
›
Lift off protective cap
3
» Fig. 137 on page 122 towards the top.
›
Place the trailer onto the ball.
›
Grip the 13-pin socket on the handle
A
and swing out in the direction of the
arrow » Fig. 148 .
›
Insert the trailer cable into the 13-pin socket.
If the trailer that is to be towed has a 7-pin connector, you can use a suitable
adapter from ŠKODA Original Accessories to establish a connection to the elec-
tricity.
›
Hook the breakaway cable of the trailer to the security lock slot
B
.
The breakaway cable of the trailer must sag in all trailer positions relative to
the vehicle (sharp curves, reversing and the like).
Uncoupling takes place in reverse order.
Exterior mirrors
You should have additional exterior mirrors fitted if you are not able to see the
traffic behind the trailer with the standard rear-view mirrors.
Headlights
The front of the vehicle may lift up when a trailer is being towed and the head-
lights may dazzle other road users.
Adjust the headlights using the headlight beam control » page 59.
Power to the trailer power grid
For the electrical connection between the vehicle and trailer, the power for the
trailer power grid is supplied by the vehicle.
The power supply works with ignition on or off.
With the ignition off, the battery of the towing vehicle is discharged by activa- ted consumers.
At low charge state of the vehicle battery power to the trailer is interrupted.WARNING■ Improperly connected trailer electrical installations may cause accidents
or serious injury due to electric shock.■
Work on the electrical system must only be carried out by specialist ga-
rages.
■
Never directly connect the trailer's electrical system with the electrical
connections for the tail lights or other current sources.
■
After coupling the trailer and connecting up the power socket, check the
rear lights on the trailer to ensure they are working.
■
Never use the safety eyelet for towing!
CAUTION
Improperly connected trailer electrical installations may cause malfunction of
the entire vehicle electronics.
Note
■ The total power consumption of all the connected consumers on the trailer
must not exceed 350 watts.■
Coat the ball head of the towing device with a suitable grease whenever
necessary.
Loading a trailer
Distribution of the cargo
Distribute the cargo in the trailer in such a way that heavy items are located as
close to the trailer axle as possible. Secure the items from slipping.
The distribution of the weight is very poor if your vehicle is unladen and the
trailer is laden. Maintain a particularly low speed if you cannot avoid driving
with this combination.
Tyre pressure
Correct the tyre inflation pressure on your vehicle for a “full load” » page 155.
WARNINGA sliding cargo can significantly adversely affect stability and driving safety
- there is a risk of accident!127Hitch and trailer

Trailer loadThe permissible trailer load must not be exceeded under any circumstances.Permissible trailer loadEngineGearboxPermissible trailer load, braked (kg)Permissible trailer load, unbraked (kg)Gradients of up to 12 %Gradients of up to 8 %1.2 l/66 kW TSIMG9001000580DSG90010005901.2 l/81 kW TSIMG110012005901.4 l/92 kW TSIDSG12001200600DSG (Green tec)120012006101.6 l./81 kW MPIMG10001100580AG100011006001.4 l/66 kW TDI CRMG10001100610DSG100011006201.6 l/85 kW TDI CRMG12001200630WARNINGThe maximum permissible axle and draw-bar load and the permissible
weight of the trailer must not exceed - this could cause an accident!
Towing a trailer
Driving speed
For safety reasons, do not drive faster than 80 km/h when towing a trailer.
Immediately reduce your speed as soon as even the slightest swaying of the
trailer is detected. Never attempt to stop the trailer from “swaying” by acceler-
ating.
Brakes
Apply the brakes in good time! If the trailer is fitted with a trailer brake, apply
the brakes gently at first, then brake firmly. This will avoid brake jolts resulting
from the trailer wheels locking.
On downhill sections shift down a gear in good time to also use the engine as
a brake.
WARNINGAlways drive particularly carefully with the trailer.
CAUTION
If you tow a trailer frequently, you should also have your vehicle inspected be-
tween service intervals.
Anti-theft alarm system
When the vehicle is locked, the alarm is activated when the electrical connec-
tion to the trailer is interrupted.
Always switch off the anti-theft alarm system before a trailer is coupled or un-
coupled » page 54 .
Conditions for including a trailer in the anti-theft alarm system. The vehicle is factory-fitted with an anti-theft alarm system and towing
device.
The trailer is electrically connected to the towing vehicle by means of the
trailer socket. 
128Driving