Volkswagen Tiguan Owners Manual: Driving with a trailer

Read and follow the introductory information and safety information first⇒Introduction to the subject 

Headlight settings

Towing a trailer can raise the front end of the vehicle enough for the low beams to blind other road users. If your vehicle does not have headlight range adjustment, have the headlights adjusted by an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility. Vehicles with Xenon headlights self-adjust to vehicle load and do not need manual adjustment.

Special towing considerations

• If the trailer has an overrun brake, apply the brakes gently at first and then firmly. This helps to prevent sudden brake shock and helps prevent trailer wheels from locking up.

• Due to the combined towing weight including the higher gross vehicle weight, the stopping distance is longer.

• Before driving downhill, especially on hills that are long or steep, shift into a lower gear (manual or automatic transmission) so that the engine helps to brake the vehicle. Otherwise, the brake system could overheat and might fail.

• The vehicle's center of gravity and, in turn, the vehicle's handling, will change because of the trailer load and the increased combined towing weight of the vehicle and trailer.

• Weight distribution is especially bad if the towing vehicle is empty and the trailer is loaded. If you absolutely must drive with this combination, drive with extra care and at a reduced speed.

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).

• Shift into first gear or drive position (D)⇒ Braking, stopping, and parking .

• Press the button once to deactivate the electronic parking brake ⇒ Braking, stopping, and parking .

• Pull and hold the button to hold the vehicle and trailer with the electronic parking brake ⇒ Braking, stopping, and parking .

• At the same time, release the brake pedal and gradually depress the accelerator and, for manual transmission, let out the clutch until you can feel the car moving forward. If applicable, follow the instructions for the Hill Hold feature.

• Do not release the 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

• Driving with a trailer and carrying heavy or bulky items changes the way the vehicle handles and increases the distance 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, traffic, 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 vehicles towing trailers are lower than for vehicles without trailers.