Operation Manual

Driving and o peration 163
Dismounting the coupling b all ba r
Unlock coupling ball b ar and remove key.
Push lev er to the left, towards the coupling
ball b ar 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 b ar in the ba g
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 ba r.
Towing
Cara van / trai ler loads
1)
The permissible caravan / trailer load s a re
vehicle-dependent and engine-dependent
maximum values which must not be
exc ee ded.
The actual carav an / tra iler load is the
diffe ren ce be twee n th e actu al gross we igh t
of the caravan / trailer and the actual
coupling socket load with the caravan /
tra iler coupled.
When the caravan / trailer load is being
checked, therefore, only the caravan /
tra ile r wheels - and not the jock ey wheel -
must b e standing on the we ighing
apparatus.
The permissible caravan / trailer load s for
your vehic le 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 ad equately experienced in towing
large c aravans / 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
increases b ecause of the air becoming
thinne r, 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 d ecreases by
10% for every 1000 metres of additional
altitude.
The towing weight does not have to be
reduc ed when driving on roads with slig ht
inclines (less tha n 8%, e.g. on motorways ).
The actual caravan / trailer loa d plus the
actual Gross Vehic le Weight m ust 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
ma ximum permitted tow ing weight is
reached.
The maximum permitted towing weight is
shown on the vehicle identification plate -
see page 208.
1)
O bs e rv e na ti ona l reg ula t io ns.