Make sure you are aware of the weight of the roof carrier system and the load to be transported.
Weigh the load if necessary.
However, you will not be able to carry the maximum roof load if you are using a roof carrier with a
lower weight rating. In this case, do not exceed the maximum weight limit for the load carrier
system which is specified in the manufacturer's installation instructions.
Distributing the load
Distribute the load evenly and secure it correctly ⇒.
Notes on use
First read and observe the introductoryinformation and safety warnings⇒
Introduction
Remove the roof carrier in the following situations
•When the roof carrier is no longer being used.
•Before entering a car wash.
•When the vehicle height exceeds the required clearance height, e.g. in a garage.
Driving with a fitted roof carrier will increase air resistance and thus increase fuel
consumption.
Trailer towing
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the followingsubjects:
⇒ Technical requirements
⇒ Electrically adjustable ball coupling
⇒ Fitting a bicycle carrier on the swivelling ball head
⇒ Notes on towing a trailer
⇒ Loading the trailer
⇒ Trailer towing
⇒ Trailer stabilisation
⇒ Retrofitting a towing bracket
⇒ Troubleshooting
The vehicle can be used to tow a trailer if it has the required technical equipment for this. The
additional trailer load will affect the amount of wear, fuel consumption and performance of the
vehicle and, in certain circumstances, could shorten the service intervals.
Accidents and vehicle damage can occur if the maximum permitted roof load is exceeded.
•Never exceed the quoted roof load, the maximum permissible axle loads, and the
permissible gross vehicle weight for the vehicle.
•Do not exceed the weight rating of the roof carrier, even if the maximum roof load has
not been reached.
WARNING
Loose and incorrectly secured loads can fall off the roof carrier and cause accidents and
injuries.
•Always use suitable and undamaged securing straps.
WARNING
When opening the boot lid take care not to let it hit the roof load.
NOTICE
•Always remove the roof carrier before driving through an automatic car wash.
•The height of the vehicle is changed by the installation of a carrier system and the load
secured to it. Check and compare the height of the vehicle with clearance heights, e.g.
for underpasses and garage doors.
•The roof carrier and its load must not obstruct you from opening and closing the tilting
and sliding panoramic sunroof and the boot lid. The roof aerial must also remain
unaffected.
NOTICE
Driving with a trailer not only places an extra load on the vehicle, but also requires increased
concentration on the part of the driver.
Vehicles with start/stop system
If the connected trailer is not recognised, or when using towing brackets that were not retrofitted by
Volkswagen, the start/stop system must be deactivated manually using the button in the
centre console before starting to tow a trailer, and must remain switched off for as long as the trailer
is being towed ⇒.
Always switch off the anti-theft alarm before a trailer is hitched or unhitched or a bicycle
carrier is loaded or unloaded ⇒ Central and manual locking. The tilt sensor could otherwise trigger
an alarm unintentionally.
With a new engine, do not tow a trailer during the first 1,000 km ⇒ Running in the engine.
Some retro-fitted towing brackets may cover the aperture for fitting the towing eye. If so, the
towing eye cannot be used for towing or tow-starting other vehicles. For this reason, the retro-fitted
towing bracket ball head should be stored in the vehicle at all times.
It is dangerous to transport people in a trailer and it may also be illegal.
DANGER
Improper use of the towing bracket can lead to a loss of vehicle control, accidents and
serious injuries.
•Only use the towing bracket if it is fitted properly and is not damaged.
•Do not carry out any alterations or repairs to the towing bracket.
•Wherever possible, swivel in or remove the ball head when a trailer is not being used in
order to reduce the risk of injury in rear-end collisions, and the risk of injury to
pedestrians and cyclists when the vehicle is parked.
•Never install a weight-distributing or load-balancing towing bracket to the vehicle. The
vehicle is not constructed for these kinds of towing brackets. The towing bracket can
fail, causing the trailer to tear loose from the vehicle.
WARNING
Towing a trailer and transporting heavy or bulky items can change the vehicle handling,
increase the braking distance and lead to accidents.
•Always secure loads properly using suitable and undamaged securing straps.
•Always adapt your speed and driving style to suit visibility, weather, road and traffic
conditions. Reduce your speed, particularly when going downhill.
•Trailers with a high centre of gravity are more likely to tip over than trailers with a low
centre of gravity.
•Always drive carefully and think ahead. Accelerate carefully and gently. Avoid abrupt
and sudden driving and braking manoeuvres.
•Take special care when overtaking. Reduce your speed immediately if the trailer shows
even the slightest sign of snaking.
•Never drive faster than 80 km/h (50 mphyf Z K H Q W R Z L Q J D W U D L O H U D O V R N P K P S K \f
in exceptional cases. This also applies to countries where higher speeds are permitted.
Keep to country-specific speed limits which may be lower for vehicles with trailers than
for vehicles without trailers.
•Never try to stop a trailer from snaking by increasing your speed.
•Never install a weight-distributing or load-balancing towing bracket on the vehicle.
WARNING
The start/stop system must always be switched off manually when towing a trailer using
towing brackets that have not been retrofitted by Volkswagen. Otherwise faults can occur
in the brake system, possibly resulting in accidents and serious injuries.
WARNING
Observe the instructions and information relating to vehicles with N1 approval
⇒ Information about vehicles with N1 approval (light commercial vehicleyf.
NOTICE
If there is a fault in the vehicle or trailer electrical systems or in the anti-theft alarm or if there
is a fault in the anti-theft alarm, have the vehicle checked by a qualified workshop.
If the engine is not running and electrical equipment is switched on in the trailer via the trailer
socket, the 12-volt vehicle battery will discharge.
If the 12-volt vehicle battery charge level is low, the electrical connection to the trailer will be
interrupted automatically.
Loading the trailer
First read and observe the introductoryinformation and safety warnings⇒
Introduction
Trailer weight and drawbar load
The trailer weight is the weight that the vehicle can pull ⇒. The drawbar load is the load that is
exerted vertically from above onto the ball head of the towing bracket ⇒ Information on technical
data.
The figures for trailer weights and draw bar weights that are given on the data plate of the towing
bracket are for certification purposes only. The correct values for your specific model, which may be
lower than these figures, are given in the vehicle registration documents. All data in the official
vehicle documents take precedence over these data.
The maximum permitted drawbar load exerted by the trailer drawbar on the ball head of the towing
bracket must not exceed 100 kg.
In the interest of driving safety, Volkswagen recommends that you always use the maximum
drawbar load. The response of the trailer on the road will be poor if the drawbar load is too small.
The drawbar load increases the weight on the rear axle and reduces the maximum load level as a
result.
Gross combination weight rating
The combination weight is made up of the actual weight of the loaded vehicle and of the loaded
trailer.
In some countries, trailers are divided into different classes. Volkswagen recommends that you
contact a qualified workshop to find out about suitable trailers.
Loading the trailer
The weight of the load should be distributed evenly. The maximum permitted drawbar load should
be utilised. Do not place the load only at the front or the rear of the trailer:
•Distribute the load in the trailer so that heavy objects are either over or as near to the axle as
possible.
•Secure all loads on the trailer properly.
Tyre pressure
Follow the trailer manufacturer's recommendations concerning the tyre pressure for the trailer tyres.
When towing a trailer, inflate the tyres on the towing vehicle with the maximum permitted tyre
pressure ⇒ Tyre pressure.
Accidents and serious injuries can occur if you exceed the vehicle's maximum permitted
gross axle weight rating, drawbar load, gross vehicle weight rating or gross combination
weight rating.
•Never exceed the specified values.
•Never let the actual weights at the front and rear axles exceed the gross axle weight
ratings. Never exceed the permissible gross vehicle weight for the vehicle with weight
at the front and rear of the vehicle.
WARNING
Loads that may slide can severely impair stability and driving safety, which can cause
accidents and severe injuries.
•Always load trailers correctly.
•Always secure loads properly using suitable and undamaged securing straps.
WARNING
Trailer towing
First read and observe the introductoryinformation and safety warnings⇒
Introduction
Headlight adjustment
Towing a trailer can raise the front end of the vehicle enough for the dipped beam to blind other
road users. Use the headlight range control to lower the light cone as required. Vehicles with
automatic headlight range adjustment are adjusted automatically.
Things to note when driving with a trailer
•If the trailer has an overrun brake, apply the brakes gently at first and then firmly. This will
prevent the jerking that can be caused by the trailer wheels locking.
•The combination weight causes the braking distance to increase.
•Engage a lower gear prior to inclines (manual gearbox or Tiptronic mode of the automatic
gearboxyf W R D G G L W L R Q D O O \ P D N H X V H R I H Q J L Q H E U D N L Q J 7 K H E U D N H V \ V W H P F R X O G R W K H U Z L V H
overheat and fail.
•The vehicle's centre of gravity and, in turn, the vehicle's handling, will change because of the
trailer load and the increased combined towing weight of the vehicle and trailer.
•The weight distribution of a loaded trailer with an unladen towing vehicle is very unfavourable.
When driving in this situation, drive particularly carefully and slowly.
Pulling off on slopes when towing a trailer
A vehicle towing a trailer is liable to roll back a short distance when moving off on a slope,
depending on the angle of the slope and the total weight of the trailer and vehicle.
When towing a trailer, pull off on slopes as follows:
•Depress and hold the brake pedal.
•Press button once to switch off the electronic parking brake ⇒ Electronic parking
brake.
•Manual gearbox: depress the clutch fully.
•Select first gear ⇒ Manual gearbox: selecting a gear or selector lever position D/S⇒ DSG dual
clutch gearbox.
•Pull on the button and hold it in this position to hold the vehicle and trailer with the
electronic parking brake.
•Release the brake pedal.
•Pull away slowly. To do this, slowly release the clutch pedal for a manual gearbox.
•Only let go of the button when the engine has sufficient power to move off.
Trailer stabilisation
First read and observe the introductoryinformation and safety warnings⇒
Introduction
The trailer stabilisation function can detect if an attached trailer is starting to lurch from side to side
and can provide countersteer.
Trailer stabilisation is a subsidiary function of the Electronic Stability Control (ESCyf .
®
Incorrect trailer towing can cause loss of vehicle control and serious personal injury.
•Towing a trailer and transporting heavy or bulky items can change the way the vehicle
handles and increase the braking distance.
•Always drive carefully and think ahead. Brake earlier than in normal driving.
•Always adapt your speed and driving style to suit visibility, weather, road and traffic
conditions. Reduce your speed, particularly when going downhill.
•Accelerate carefully and gently. Avoid abrupt and sudden driving and braking
manoeuvres.
•Take special care when overtaking. Reduce your speed immediately if the trailer shows
even the slightest sign of snaking.
•Never try to stop a trailer from snaking by increasing your speed.
•Keep to speed limits which may be lower for vehicles with trailers than for vehicles
without trailers.
WARNING
Information in accordance with the EU Chemicals Regulation
REACH
In accordance with the European regulations on chemicals, known as REACH, Volkswagen would
like to inform you about the substances that may be found in your vehicle.
You can access this information online using your vehicle identification number ⇒ Technical data:
https://reachinfo.volkswagen.com
Declaration of conformity
The individual manufacturer declares herewith that the following products conform, at the time of
vehicle production, with the basic requirements and other relevant laws and regulations, including
FCC Part 15.19, FCC Part 15.21 and RSS-Gen Issue 1:
Radio-based equipment
•Electronic immobiliser.
•Vehicle key.
•Keyless Access locking and starting system.
•Adaptive Cruise Control (ACCyf .
•Area monitoring system (Front Assistyf L Q F O X G L Q J &