trailer VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT CC 2015 1.G User Guide

Trailer taillights
Trailer lights must meet all regulations ⇒ Hitching up and connecting
a trailer.
Never connect the trailer lights directly to the electrical system of your
vehicle.
Outside mirrors
If you cannot see the traffic behind you using the regular outside mir-
rors, then you must install extended mirrors. Extended mirrors may
also be required by law in some countries/states/provinces. Always
adjust the outside mirrors before driving. It's vital that you always
have a clear view to the rear of the vehicle.
Maximum power consumption for the trailer
Do not exceed the power ratings listed in the chart below.

Electrical load Maximum power
Brake lights total 108 watts
Turn signals per side 54 watts
Side marker lights total 100 watts
Taillights total 54 watts

WARNING
An improperly installed or incorrect trailer hitch can cause a
trailer to separate from the tow vehicle and cause serious per-
sonal injuries.
If you don't have to tow a trailer any more, remove the entire
trailer hitch. Always seal all bolt holes to prevent water and
deadly exhaust fumes from getting into the vehicle.
NOTICE
If the trailer lights are not connected properly, the vehicle's
electronics may be damaged.

If the trailer uses too much electricity, the vehicle's electronics
may be damaged.
Never connect the electrical system for the trailer directly to
the electrical connections for the rear lights or to any other un-
suitable power sources. Use only a suitable connector to pro-
vide power to the trailer.
If you tow a trailer frequently, Volkswagen recommends having
the vehicle serviced between the regular maintenance and inspection
intervals because of the extra load it has to pull.
Hitching up and connecting a trailer

NOTICE
Never attach a trailer to the vehicle or leave it attached to the
vehicle when the trailer is supported by a trailer jack or blocks.
Various things (such as a change in trailer or vehicle load or a
flat tire) can lower or raise the vehicle. This subjects the trailer
hitch and the trailer to strong forces that can damage the vehicle
or the trailer.
If the engine is switched off and accessories in the trailer are on
and use electricity from the vehicle, the vehicle battery will be drained
as long as the electrical systems of the vehicle and the trailer are
connected.
Loading the trailer

Combined towing weight
Combined towing weight is the weight of the loaded towing vehicle
plus the weight of the loaded trailer.
This vehicle has not been designed to tow a Class II trailer and must
never be retrofitted to tow a Class II trailer. Always make sure that
your vehicle has been designed to tow the trailer you want to use and
that it is legal to tow the trailer where you will be driving.
Loading the trailer
The weight distribution in the vehicle and trailer must be balanced.
Use the maximum permissible tongue weight and make sure that the
load in the trailer is evenly distributed and that it is not front-heavy or
tail-heavy:
Distribute the load in the trailer so that heavy objects are directly
above the axle or as close as possible to the axle.
Secure loads properly on the trailer.
Tire pressure
Always follow the trailer manufacturer's tire pressure recommenda-
tions for the trailer tires.
When towing, inflate the towing vehicle's tires to the maximum per-
missible pressure listed on the tire pressure label ⇒ Tire inflation
pressure.
WARNING
Exceeding the gross weight ratings for axle, tongue, vehicle,
trailer or combined weight can cause accidents and serious
personal injury.
Never exceed the specified values.
Never let the actual weights at the front and rear axles exceed
the Gross Axle Weight Rating. Never let the combined front and
rear weights exceed the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating.

WARNING
Trailer loads that are not properly secured can shift when the
vehicle is moving or braking and suddenly change the way the
vehicle handles, causing accidents and severe injuries.
Always load the trailer properly.
Always secure the load properly with suitable, undamaged
straps that can be tightened so that the load cannot shift.
Driving with a trailer

Starting off with a trailer on hills
Depending on how steep the hill is and the combined towing weight, a
parked vehicle with trailer can roll backwards when you first start
moving.
When starting off with a trailer on a hill:
Depress and hold the brake pedal (and depress and hold the clutch
- manual transmission).
Press the G button once to deactivate the electronic parking brake
⇒  Braking and parking.
Press the G button again and hold it to use the electronic parking
brake to help prevent the vehicle and trailer from rolling backwards. If
applicable, follow the instructions for the Hill Hold feature ⇒ Starting
assistance systems.
Shift into first gear or Drive D ⇒  Shifting.
Release the brake pedal.
Drive ahead slowly at first. If your vehicle has manual transmission,
slowly let out the clutch.
Do not release the G button until the engine starts to move the
vehicle forward. If your vehicle has an automatic transmission, you
can also depress and hold the brake pedal for added braking and
then let up on the brake pedal when you feel that the vehicle “wants”
to move forward.
Drive ahead slowly.

WARNING
Improper trailer towing can cause loss of vehicle control and
serious personal injury.
Driving with a trailer and carrying heavy or bulky items
changes the way the vehicle handles and increases the dis-
tance it needs to stop safely.
Always watch what is happening up ahead and around you.
Brake earlier than you would if you were not towing a trailer.
Always adapt your speed and driving to the heavier load and
the weight distribution in the vehicle. Take road, weather, traf-
fic, and visibility conditions into account as well.
Reduce your speed even more than you otherwise would
when going downhill and under unfavorable load, weather, or
wind conditions.
Drive especially carefully and accelerate gently. Always avoid
sudden maneuvers and hard braking.
Be especially careful when passing other vehicles.
Reduce speed immediately if the trailer shows even the
slightest sign of swaying.
Never try to stop the swaying by accelerating.
Always obey speed limits. In some areas speed limits for ve-
hicles towing trailers are lower than for vehicles without trail-
ers.
Ball mount

Fig. 108 Dimensions of the ball mount support.

CAUTION
The ball mount sticks out behind the rear bumper and can
cause injury to pedestrians and cyclists.
To reduce the risk of injury in rear-end collisions, and the risk
to pedestrians and cyclists when the vehicle is parked, always
remove the ball carrier when you are not towing a trailer.
NOTICE
Never use a ball larger than 11/4 inches (32 mm) on your vehi-
cle. The vehicle was not designed to tow heavier trailers with a
receiver larger than the specified ball. The increased loads can
damage the attachment points for the trailer hitch.
Never use an adapter to increase the size of the trailer hitch
receiver from 11/4 inches (32 mm) to 2 inches (50.8 mm) or more
to tow a trailer that is heavier than the maximum permissible
trailer weight that your vehicle can tow.
You can use an adapter if required for the proper installation
of a bicycle rack or other similar carrier as long as the maximum
weight limits are observed. When using bicycle racks or similar
carriers, make sure that the rear lights are not blocked.
Only use trailer hitches that are approved by the hitch manu-
facturer for your vehicle and model.

Retrofitting a trailer hitch

Fig. 109 Dimensions and attachment points for retrofitting a trailer
hitch.

from the center of the hitch ball to the surface of the road ⇒ fig. 109
(D) be less than the specified minimum. This minimum height must be
present even when the vehicle is fully loaded and subject to the max-
imum tongue weight.
Distance dimensions ⇒ fig. 109:
(A) Attachment points.
(B) 46 inches (1170 mm)
(C) at least 3 inches (79 mm)
(D) 14–16 inches (350 – 420 mm)
(E) 10 inches (251 mm)
(F) 21 inches (546 mm)
(G) 41 inches (1031 mm)
(H) 41 inches (1036 mm)
WARNING
Improper or incorrect connections to the vehicle electrical sys-
tem can cause malfunctions that affect the entire vehicle elec-
trical system and cause accidents and serious personal injury.
Never connect the electrical system of the trailer directly to
the electrical connections of the rear lights or other unsuitable
power sources. Use only a suitable connector to provide power
to the trailer.
Have any trailer hitch retrofit or other work on a trailer hitch
done by a qualified workshop.
WARNING
An improperly installed or unsuitable trailer hitch can cause the
trailer to separate from the towing vehicle and result in a major
accident with serious personal injuries.
Maximum permissible trailer weight