Volkswagen Tiguan Owners Manual: Ball mount

Fig. 107 Dimensions of the ball mount support.

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

If you must tow a trailer, you must have the necessary electrical wiring and socket together with a suitable trailer hitch installed. Because towing a trailer places a great deal of stress on the vehicle, the attachment of a trailer to the vehicle and the dimensions of the receiver and ball mount are very important so that the extra forces the vehicle has to withstand can be properly handled.

Depending on its equipment, certain parts required for the installation of a trailer hitch may already have been installed at the factory. If your vehicle does not already have the preparation package installed, your authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service facility can install the necessary parts and equipment including the proper trailer hitch for you.

The receiver used requires both a ball mount and a ball that meet special requirements regarding geometry and size. This applies to both the height of the ball above the surface where it attaches ⇒ Fig. 107Ⓐ , and the pin-to-ball distance ⇒ Fig. 107Ⓑ .

These dimensions are important because they help determine the way that the forces that arise during towing are applied to the receiver and its attachments to the vehicle. If you buy a ball mount and ball, make sure that they meet the following specifications.

Ball mount dimensions

• The drop height Ⓐ from the center of the ball to the center of the hole for the securing pin on the ball mount must be at least 1 inch (25.4 mm) and at most 2⁷ /₈  inches (73 mm).

• The pin-to-ball distance Ⓑ from the center of the ball to the center of the hole for the securing pin on the ball mount must be no more than 7 inches (178 mm).

• The ball diameter must be no more than 2 inches (51 mm).

Volkswagen recommends that you have an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility install the hitch receiver, electrical system and socket.

A ball mount and ball combination that does not meet these specifications can damage your vehicle and may even fail in use ⇒ .

Never install a weight distributing or load equalizing trailer hitch on your vehicle. The vehicle is not designed for this kind of trailer hitch ⇒ .

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.

• Have any trailer hitch retrofit or other work on a trailer hitch done by a qualified workshop.

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.

Note

• Never use a hitch ball larger than 2 inches in diameter on your vehicle. The vehicle was not designed to tow heavier trailers with a receivers 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 2 inches to a larger size 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 manufacturer for your vehicle and model.