Audi Q5: Towing with a tow truck

General hints

Your Audi requires special handling for towing.

The following information is to be used by commercial tow truck operators who know how to operate their equipment safely.

• Never tow your Audi, towing will cause damage to the engine and transmission.
• Never wrap the safety chains or winch cables around the brake lines.
• To prevent unnecessary damage, your Audi must be transported with a flat bed truck.
• To load the vehicle on to the flat bed, use the towing loop found in the vehicle tools and attach to the front or rear anchorage.

WARNING

A vehicle being towed is not safe for passengers.

Never allow anyone to ride in a vehicle being towed, for any reason.

Front towing loop

Do not install the front towing loop until it is needed.

Fig. 229 Front bumper: removing the cover cap

Fig. 230 Front bumper: screwing in the towing loop

The towing loop fits into the threaded hole located on the right side of the front bumper and covered by a cover when not in use.

• Remove the towing loop from the vehicle toolkit.
• Carefully remove the cover > fig. 229.
• Screw the towing loop tightly into the threaded hole as far as it will go > fig. 230.

When it is no longer needed, unscrew the towing loop and put it back into the vehicle toolkit. Be sure to have the towing loop stored in the vehicle at ah times.

When re-installing the cover be sure to first insert the tabs on the cover into the retainers near the radiator grille. Then install the other side of the cover and push it into the retainers > fig. 229.

The appearance of the cover varies from the illustration for some model versions.

WARNING

If the towing loop is not screwed in as far as it will go, the thread can pull out when the vehicle is towed - potential risk of an accident.

Note

The cover is attached to the bumper with several hooks. Do not use excessive force when removing the cover to avoid damaging it.

Rear towing loop

On vehicles without a factory-installed trailer hitch, the threaded hole for the towing loop is on the right side of the rear bumper.

Fig. 231 Rear bumper: Cover

Fig. 232 Rear bumper: Screwing in towing loop

Vehicles with a towing loop

• Remove the towing loop from the vehicle toolkit.
• Press the cover in by applying short strong pressure to the bottom part to release it from the bumper > fig. 231.
• Screw the towing loop tightly into the threaded hole as far as it will go > fig. 232.

Vehicles with a trailer hitch

• Install the trailer hitch.
• Attach the towing bar or the towing cable to the trailer hitch.

Unscrew the towing loop again after use and install the cover in the bumper. Return the towing loop to the vehicle toolkit. Be sure to have the towing loop stored in the vehicle at all times.

WARNING

• If the towing loop is not screwed in as far as it will go, the thread can pull out when the vehicle is towed - potential risk of an accident.
• If your vehicle has a trailer hitch only use a special towing bar to prevent damaging the ball hitch. These towing bars have been specially designed for trailer towing hitches.
• If your vehicle has a trailer hitch use only special towing cables.

Loading the vehicle onto a flat bed truck

Fig. 233 Vehicle on flat bed truck

Front hook up

• Align the vehicle with the centerline of the car carrier ramp.
• Attach the winch hook to the front towline eye previously installed.

Rear hook up

• Align the vehicle with the centerline of the car carrier ramp.
• Attach the winch hook to the rear towline eye previously installed.

Tips

Check carefully to make sure the hook-up is secure before moving the car up the flatbed truck ramp.

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