Operation Manual

Driving and o peration 163
Picture no: s0013522.tif
Dismounting the coupling b all ba r
Unlock coupling ball b ar and remove key.
Push lever to the left, towards the coupling
ball bar and turn it downwards. Pull
coupling ball bar out of coupling housing.
Remove any rust or dirt from area around
the coupling housing and coupling ball bar
connection before inserting sealing plug in
the hole.
Place the coupling ball bar in the bag
supplied, fasten it with the strap and stow
it below the floor cover in the luggage
compartment.
Do not use steam-jet cleaners or other
high-pressure cleaners to clean the
coupling ball bar.
Towing
Cara van / trai ler loads
1)
The permissible caravan / trailer loads are
vehicle-dependent and engine-dependent
maximum values which must not be
exc ee ded.
The actual caravan / trailer load is the
diffe ren ce be twee n the actual gr os s we igh t
of the caravan / trailer and the actual
coupling socket load with the caravan /
trailer coupled.
When the caravan / trailer load is being
checked, therefore, only the caravan /
tra ile r whee ls - and not the jock ey wheel -
must b e standing on the weighing
apparatus.
The permissible caravan / trailer loads for
your vehicle a re given in the vehicle papers.
Unless otherwise stated, they are valid for
gradients up to max. 12%.
The permissible caravan / trailer load
should be fully utilized only by drivers who
are adequately experienced in towing
large caravans / trailers.
The permitted caravan / trailer load
applies up to the specified incline and up to
an altitude of 1000 m etres above sea-level.
Since engine power decreases as altitud e
increa ses b ecause of the air becoming
thinner, therefore reducing climb ing ability,
it may not be possible for permissible trailer
loads to be fully utilized in mountainous
territory.
The permitted towing weight decreases by
10% for every 1000 metres of additional
altitude.
The towing weight does not have to be
reduced w hen driving on roads with slight
inclines (less tha n 8%, e.g. on motorways).
The actual caravan / trailer loa d plus the
actual Gross Vehicle Weight m ust not
exceed the maximum permitted towing
weight. For exam ple, if the permitted Gross
Vehicle Weight is utilised, the caravan /
trailer load must only be used until the
maximum permitted tow ing weight is
reached.
The maximum permitted towing weight is
shown on the vehicle identification plate -
see page 206.
1)
Obs erve na tiona l reg ulatio ns.