Operation Manual

Roof racks, caravan and trailer towing156
Picture no: s0013522.tif
Dismounting the coupling b all ba r
Unlock coupling ball bar 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.
Stow the coupling ball bar in the
compartment in the spare wheel well of the
luggage compartment, fastening it with
the strap.
Do not use steam-jet cleaners or other
high-pressure cleaners to clean the
coupling ball ba r.
Caravan / trailer loads
1)
The permissible caravan / trailer load s are
vehicle-dependent and engine-dependent
maximum values which must not be
exc eeded.
The actual caravan / trailer load is the
diffe rence be twee n th e actual gross we ight
of the caravan / trailer and the actua l
coupling socket load with the caravan /
tra iler coupled.
When the caravan / trailer load is being
checked, therefore, only the caravan /
tra iler wheels - and not the jock ey wheel -
must b e standing on the weighing
apparatus.
The permissible caravan / trailer loads for
your vehicle are 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 altitude
increases because 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 when driving on roads with slight
inclines (less tha n 8%, e.g. on motorways).
The actual caravan / trailer load plus the
actual Gross Vehicle Weight must not
exceed the maximum permitted towing
weight. For exam ple, if the permitted Gross
Vehicle Weight is utilised, the caravan /
trailer loa d must only be used until the
maximum permitted towing weight is
reached.
The maximum permitted towing weight is
shown on the identification plate -
see page 198.
1)
Obs erv e na tiona l reg ula t io ns.