waninae39

We are getting an airtream sport 22BF camper Trailer. it has a GVW 4000 lbs

https://www.airstream.com/travel-trailers/sport/

We are told that we need to a transmission cooler on the Q5. if not, then the transmission may over heat during some loads and other conditions.

what is the best transmission cooler that can added to the 2016 Q5 3.0l

thank you

MP4.2+6.0

See other response you posted into, and just did again. As I responded many days ago now, AFAIK Q5 has one stock. Integrated into radiator but trans fluid specific. Have you looked for it?

Yoshimura

According tho specifications, GVW for the 22BF is 4500 lbs.

Greystoke

Rule of thumb for towing is to not exceed 3/4 of GVWR. As such the max you should tow is 3300 lbs. That said the Q5 is also limited in not allowing the use of a weight distributing hitch per the manual. Lack of weight distribution will overload the rear axle and (since air suspension is not available in a Q5) you have no ability to change rear ride height.

Additionally, the short wheel base makes it susceptible to trailer sway and low overall weight compared to load is not good for braking.

For your desired trailer the correct vehicle for you is a Q7 if you insist on towing with an Audi. Otherwise you need to make a serious reduction in trailer weight and size to make it safe.

Grey

Redd

When a factory hitch (actually, the entire bumper cross-member is replaced) is installed on a Q5, the car is supposed to be reprogrammed to accommodate it. And that is supposed to include different shift patterns for the transmission, and some accommodation for different cooling as well. You might want to confirm with AoA if an extra cooler really is needed, or of any use. Or whether the factory programming is all it needs. (And that yours was actually done.)

MP4.2+6.0

Factory programming importantly modifies the ESP settings when it detects a trailer is connected. To...reduce issues and better deal with...sway. It's basically programming to tell car a module is there, allow ESP mod, put the selection choice into MMI screen, and disable rear parking sensors so they don't go bonkers reversing with trailer always there.

waninae39

does the dealer need to be involved?
i had to add a digital module that talks to the brake system and converts that digital signal into an analog signal for the trailer
does the base car system know about the module automatically?

Yoshimura

Selection about what?

MP4.2+6.0

Trailer mode or not, at least IIRC. Need trailer (or actually trailer side harness) hooked to car to "see" it. I haven't towed for a season and a half now, so been a while and look and feel overlaps D3 A8 I used too.

But if not a factory set up--or again actually the factory/port wiring--you won't ever realize it is missing. Gets enabled behind scenes with some check the box car configuration stuff you can access w/ VCDS, and at least in Audi system car "sees" a trailer connection and then kicks in the revised ESP programming, defeats rear parking sensors, etc. MMI switching is then to countermand that even though seems like no reason to do so (if I remember it right for Q5). Big picture, a hidden reason why on Q5 a non factory set up is sub par, or at least the wiring part. Definitely want the ESP modification logic and keeping it simple/automatic with plug in or undo of wiring harness.

waninae39

this is what the stock looks like. do I need to add a larger cooler to pull a trailer