rpslc

Has anyone put a receiver hitch on an S7? Any suggestions for how to go about getting one installed? I'm loving my 2016 S7, but I need the hitch to make it perfect.

501D22G

I love mine too, also had a need for a hitch to make it "the car of my dreams."

I went with this model from suspension connection:

Audi A7 2012-2015 Trailer Hitch Class 1 - Tow Receiver by Curt MFG #11197 - 2012 | SuspensionConnection.com

They assured me it would fit the 2016 S7 and it works like a dream!

CWK

I bought a Westphalia unit from EuroHitches.com, European Hitches for European Autos and had it installed at a repair shop. The mechanical installation went very well. The hitch is beautifully engineered, very solid, and is invisible when not in use. The tow ball is the European standard 50mm, but it will work with a 2" trailer coupler. However, I have been completely stymied by trying to connect the trailer lights to the S7 wiring harness. Apparently the US models are not programmed to accept the European trailer towing codes, so if you try to connect the hitch's wiring harness and enter the codes for the system to look for a trailer, all you do is cause fault indications in certain of the S7's systems (like adaptive cruise control) and you get no brake or blinker signals to the trailer. My dealer spent some time on this and was in communication with engineers in Germany, but no success. I was able to find a trailer light testing unit which accepts power from the rear boot 12V outlet and is remote controlled by a handheld switching unit. So someone in the car has to manually press the remote to activate the trailer blinkers or brake lights (running lights can be set to be on by default). I don't use the trailer a lot, so this kluge is acceptable, but again, Audi makes it very hard for US S7 drivers to connect a trailer, even though a towing option is available on the MMI system's suspension settings.

If anyone knows a way around this, I'm all ears...

Mcqueen

Do you have any pics of the rear? Assuming when not in use you pull that arm out of the receiver? Curious how that receiver box looks by itself.

tpitsti93

I ordered and installed a hitch from Curt Manufacturing on my 2016 S7. It was a bit harder than I expected and took 2-3 hours for me but I got it installed per the directions and the recommended torque settings. After installation, there’s now a creaking noise coming from the general area of the hitch when I’m driving. There is definitely metal to metal contact in the install but I’d hoped that with the stiffness of the car and the stiffness of the hitch things wouldn’t be trying to move around. Anyone else have this experience? Any ideas such as putting grease, rubber shins or get shims between the contact points. The spaces were really tight and it took forever to get to the torque settings by going 1/16th of a turn each time I had to set the cocker, so I’m loathe to take it apart again more than once...

tpitsti93

OK, following up on my previous post. I had my car in for a brake job at my local shop about a year ago and they confirmed that the exhaust pipes were sitting on the hitch frame so it wasn’t creaking, it was rattling depending on the RPMs of the engine. For another $350 they removed the hitch, cut out about 1” of metal on the hitch frame and reinstalled it. Problem solved. I’m sure Curt would not approve or warrant the hitch but I only use my hitch to hold a bike rack so I’m not worried. I’ve been using it this way for about a year using a 2 bike hitch rack without any issues.

Evilgrinface

Hi Guys ,
I'm just wondering if this same trailer hitch works with 2017 S7, I'm trying to get some information from internet but I can't find, just wondering if there is a big difference between 2016 s7 and 2017 s7?