HOW TO TOW WITH AN AUDI Q8 / Q7 - ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 15 ต.ค. 2024
- Here's all the information you need to know about towing with an Audi Q8. Principles covered in here also would apply to Audi Q7 and some VW SUVs. Please do your own research as I don't accept liability for any of the tips or advice given here. I hope you find this information useful as it took me a lot of time to figure this out!
The vehicle I own is a 2019 Audi Q8 Technik Prestige with factory installed tow package
Here's a list of the parts used:
Curt Brake Control Harness 51522
www.curtmfg.co...
Curt Proportional Triflex Brake Controller 51140
www.curtmfg.co...
Curt Sway Control Kit
www.curtmfg.co...
audi Q8 Q7 VW Atlas Curt towing brake controller weight distribution hitch trailer tow
This is literally the perfect video. Very informative and super helpful. We have a 2023 Q7 and just bought are RV and this video is so detailed and helpful.
That’s great! I’m glad it helped. Happy camping!
You dont have to remove the lower dash. You could get to the plug by pulling the carpet back some. And squeeze/fish the extra cable up.
Thank you for the detailed video! Exactly what I needed to understand!
That’s great to hear! Thanks for watching and glad it helped!
Thanks for making the effort to share this information. Just started towing with my Q7 and found this video to be a concise summary of all of the requirements to consider. I am towing a 6,ooo lb airstream with an approximate tongue weight of 680 loaded for travel. . I was not aware that the payload number on the door was based on an empty fuel tank or a tank that was not full. If that is true. That eats up another 140 pounds or so. Overall experience has been fair to good. Had trailer sway at about 63 mph. Recently added a friction anti sway bar and will hopefully see some improvements. I also did not know to tow in Comfort mode. Missed that in the manual. I think the Q7 is an excellent vehicle and can handle a certain level of towing well. The learning continues. Good luck and safe journeys.
Hi Don. Pleased to hear this helped. There was lots of conflicting information when I was buying our Q8 so I figured this would help. A 6,000lbs seems quite heavy (is that dry weight?). We are towing at 23.5' Rockwood TT with a GVWR of 5000lbs and the Q8 tows like a dream. I have not encountered any sway issues, but as you've seen I installed the anti sway. Safe travels!
Thank you for taking the time to post. For my 2020 Q7 this was spot on.
That’s great to hear! Thanks for watching!
This is a great video. I have been towing for 5yrs my horses with a Q7; and I am considering in getting a Q8 and this was very helpful. My Q7 also toes like a dream! Good to know the Q8 will do the job as well. Thanks!
Good to hear! I love how the Q8 tows. So smooth! Enjoy
Hello, in case you see this can you tell me what kind if trailer you are using? I am looking at the Q7 as a tow vehicle for my 2 horses. Thank you!
Great video Simon! I’m also from the mainland and plan to tow my camper with my RSQ8. Already did a test run and it runs really well, just need to snag a brake controller.
Thanks for watching. The Curt brake controller I installed here has been great so far.
Thank you for this, I found some older videos for the previous models but this helped out so much on my 2022 model.
You’re welcome! Thanks for watching and glad it was useful. My Q8 has been off the road for 6 weeks due to faulty alternator. Waiting on parts..
@@simonblunden2151 bummer, I have almost 10K on my SQ7 and fortunately haven’t had any mechanical issues yet. 🤞
@@theschrom that’s good. Although I believe the SQ7 is included in the vehicles with this problem
@@simonblunden2151 good to know, thanks for the info. Btw, just installed my brake controller. I also see your super close to us in BC! We’re in the Seattle area.
Thanks for this video. It gave me the confidence to figure this out for my Q5 with factory hitch.
Awesome. Good to hear and thanks for watching
Thank you for this video just got my Q7 and will be using your helpful hints, big Hello from Sydney Australia.
Awesome! We travelled to Sydney Australia on March 13, 2020 and loved it. Unfortunately COVID cut our trip short so we we’re only there for 72 hours 😳. Want to go back!
@@simonblunden2151 wow 72hours, you will have to come back, lots to see.
Very well explained. I wanted to make sure if I am towing just the right capacity. After seeing this video, I have no doubts now. Thanks a ton Simon
My pleasure. Glad it could help!
Thank you so much for your awesome video. I followed your steps exactly on my own Q8 today. So much peace of mind knowing what I'm getting into before starting. I mounted the frame with 3M command strips instead of making holes. I'll see if it holds, but it feels secure.
That’s great to hear! Glad you found the video useful! I’ve been towing with the Q8 now for over a year and it’s a dream. The air suspension and fact that I no longer need a weight distribution hitch is a game changer. Safe towing!
Thanks for the video Simon! Michael, I'm curious if the 3M strips held. I don't want to drill holes in my Q7, and was thinking about getting velcro strips (or the 3M if they held?). Thanks
@OrbisDistribution I initially put it too close to my legs but once I moved it back enough that it's pretty level I haven't had an issue since.
@@michaelbarto543 Great, thanks for letting me know!
Awesome video. About to install the Curt trailer hitch on my 2019 Q7. Owner's manually mentions changing air suspension to trailer mode, but air suspension is not an option on my vehicle's computer system. Don't know why it's in the owner's manual if it has nothing to do with my vehicle *smh*. Super confusing. Guess I'll just put it in comfort mode and turn off vehicle sense so I don't automatically abruptly brake when I try to back up. I'm not using a anti sway bar or trailer brakes as I'll only be towing a single axle trailer with a 15' powerboat weighing roughly 2,000 lbs.
Glad the video was helpful to you. Good luck with the towing
Great video, thanks for taking the time to put this together. I struggled with whether or not to use a WDH, and opted to go for it. Does it work better than just the sway control? Not sure, haven't tried. But I have had no issues with sway so far and even though the hitch is heavy, I feel that it's set up well for now. When I insert the WDH into the receiver, the air suspension immediately compensates by re-leveling the vehicle, only to do it again when I connect the trailer.
The owners manual in my Q7 (2017) makes no mention of setting the air suspension to Comfort. I have used Automatic (with no issues) but will try Comfort next time.
For others out there, I have been using the Curt wireless brake controller with no issues. I was afraid to remove the trim pieces from the vehicle, so this was a good compromise.
Hi Rob. thanks for watching and glad this helped. From all the reading I've done WDHs are a big "no no" on these vehicles and can void your warranty. I've towed for years with non-Audi vehicles and always used a WDH so to not use one was very foreign to me. However, after several thousand kms towing with just the ball mount and no WDH on my Q8, I have had zero problems at all and everything has been fine. Although I added the ball mount for the sway control, if I'm honest, not sure I even need that. Q8 tows like a dream with just the 2" ball mount. I head what you're saying about removing trim pieces. I was nervous, but took the leap of faith without breaking anything. I need to install a DashCam next, but nervous about that job
@@simonblunden2151 What are you using for towing mirrors? I haven't found any good ones for a Q7.
@@iamrobcrawford I use these ones and they work quite well Camco 25653 Universal Clamp-On Towing Mirror (Dual View) www.amazon.ca/dp/B01I6ODEDQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_YR3BX5QJ6AZSB32D32D9
@@simonblunden2151 Thanks! I took a look at those, but the reviews really aren't that great. Maybe I'll give them a go anyway.
Im lookimg at buyjng a q7 to tow occasionally with, so i really appreciate the video. My only question i have since i dont own one yet, does the q7 and q8 with a factory installed hitch, not come with a trailer brake? So we have to install it after market in all cases?
Thanks for watching! As far as I know, none of the Audis come with a trailer brake, and so yes, you would need to install one
Your video is so comprehensive. I'm curious what's the part number for your trailer mount and ball mount?
Glad you found it useful. I actually went to my local hitch store and they put it together for me. It looks like the Curt hitch and ball is part # is 45036, but I used it as a rise, not a drop, so the ball is the other way around on the mount (if that makes sense). The sway control tab is
Absolutely fantastic video Simon. Thank you for taking the time putting this together!
You’re very welcome. Glad you found it helpful
@@simonblunden2151 Forgot to ask, do you know If the harness (that the brake controller plugs into), has a 'blue electric brake wire' that runs to the rear 13 pin trailer plug? If so what pin that is?
Us aussies typically use a 7 pin flat plug over here, and need to be sure pin number 5 on our plug matches the electric brake wire pin on the back of the q8.
@@Hybrid3443 at 5:30 in the video, does that answer your question?
Extremely helpful, thank you!
That’s good to hear! Happy towing!
This is super great! I was looking quite a while for how to install the brake controller. Thank you!!\
Great! Glad it helped. The installation isn't that tricky once you know how :)
@@simonblunden2151 yes! I hesitated to pull the whole panel off previously.
Many thanks Simon - very comprehensive
Thanks for watching and glad you found the information useful
Great video!!!! If you don't mind me asking, what is the part # for that hitch extension at 12:38 in the vid?
Thanks for watching. Glad you liked it. If you mean the weld on sway tab, I’ve linked it below:
www.curtmfg.com/part/45822
@@simonblunden2151 sorry not the tab but the hitch that it got welded onto
@@Thelnferno sorry. Here it is:
www.curtmfg.com/part/45030
@@simonblunden2151 THANK YOU!!!
Just traded my 2017 with an aftermarket hitch for a 2021 without a hitch. Is an aftermarket okay for the newer models as well?
I would check with dealer. Depending on what you are towing there’s additional considerations like transmission cooling, brake controller and trailer wiring…
Has anyone towed without the air suspension? I have a 2019 Q7 without air suspension and not sure how 400-500lbs of tongue weight will work out.
That’s a tricky one. Have you tried some of the Audi owner forums?
can you provide the link for the hitch too?
This is the hitch and ball mount CURT Manufacturing 45036 Class III 2" Loaded Ball Mount with 2" Ball www.amazon.ca/dp/B001EOV492/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_WCBHRJ2C03CDD1QXJB7X?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1 but my ball is mounted the other way around