Quick question about towing and aftermarket hitches
Thread Starter
AudiWorld Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,959
Likes: 4
From: Boston
Quick question about towing and aftermarket hitches
I recently installed a Curt Class 3 aftermarket hitch so that I could use a Thule Revolver Bike Hitch Rack and free up the roof for my cargo box. For the purposes of hauling bikes, the savings over retrofitting an OEM hitch are worth it ($170 vs ~$700-$800).
The question is this:
If I were to need to be able to properly tow a boat - such as my parents 19' Grady White (~3500), what else would I need to complete the towing package?
Would I need to purchase the towing control unit (4E0-910-383c or 4L0-907-383)? My VAG-COM doesn't see it so it didn't come with the car and the Audi OEM hitch retrofit includes it in the price. (What exactly does "Trailer Hitch Pre-wiring" mean anyway?)
Pictures of the Curt Hitch and Audi Retrofit:
<img src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u55/mksap11/Q7/Picture2.png">
<img src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u55/mksap11/Q7/Picture1.png">
TIA!
The question is this:
If I were to need to be able to properly tow a boat - such as my parents 19' Grady White (~3500), what else would I need to complete the towing package?
Would I need to purchase the towing control unit (4E0-910-383c or 4L0-907-383)? My VAG-COM doesn't see it so it didn't come with the car and the Audi OEM hitch retrofit includes it in the price. (What exactly does "Trailer Hitch Pre-wiring" mean anyway?)
Pictures of the Curt Hitch and Audi Retrofit:
<img src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u55/mksap11/Q7/Picture2.png">
<img src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u55/mksap11/Q7/Picture1.png">
TIA!
AudiWorld Super User
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 7,319
Likes: 6
From: Ireland, Dublin
My guess apart from sensing bulbs
as it tests and reports any failures and automatically goes into towing mode once you plug in electrics.
Towing mode is like sport mode, it holds them longer and locks up gear changes quicker.
It cancels parking sensors but still uses them.
In other words no beeping but seems to sense the trailer proximity.
It has an active trailer sway stabliser.
It prevents the car from dropping to dynamic at speed although it allows suspension to stiffen.
Aside from all that it probably includes the loom and OEM socket
Towing mode is like sport mode, it holds them longer and locks up gear changes quicker.
It cancels parking sensors but still uses them.
In other words no beeping but seems to sense the trailer proximity.
It has an active trailer sway stabliser.
It prevents the car from dropping to dynamic at speed although it allows suspension to stiffen.
Aside from all that it probably includes the loom and OEM socket
Thread Starter
AudiWorld Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,959
Likes: 4
From: Boston
Thanks. I think I understand all that..but...
there isn't actually a towing control module pre-installed in the car, and I don't know where any pre-existing wiring might happen to be.
The issue isn't terribly urgent to me at the moment since I'm not planning on any real towing, but it'd be nice to know what else I need should the opportunity arise/present itself.
The issue isn't terribly urgent to me at the moment since I'm not planning on any real towing, but it'd be nice to know what else I need should the opportunity arise/present itself.
Thread Starter
AudiWorld Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,959
Likes: 4
From: Boston
Straight from the factory, $550 is a very good price. But if you want to add it after the fact...
it's quite a bit more expensive. The cheapest I found was about $700-$800 for just the parts and has a reduced tow capacity of 5500#. The Curt hitch has the same tow rating as the post-factory installed Audi hitch and makes a lot of sense for what my primary purpose is (bikes). However even if I were to need to buy a trailer control module (~$250), I'd come out hundreds ahead than going with the Audi post-factory installed hitch.
Don't get me wrong, if I had to do it all over, I'd have bought the car with the hitch preinstalled.
Don't get me wrong, if I had to do it all over, I'd have bought the car with the hitch preinstalled.
AudiWorld Super User
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 7,319
Likes: 6
From: Ireland, Dublin
Any idea what that is?
<center><img src="http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/Jusfofun/Car%20stuff/ThingyModule.jpg"></center><p>just behind the EU hitch stow under right side below tray.
There are three modules there. I think the one on left side of this pic is tailgate control. It is 4L0 907 290.
I didnt even notice the vertical one when I took the pic.
There are three modules there. I think the one on left side of this pic is tailgate control. It is 4L0 907 290.
I didnt even notice the vertical one when I took the pic.
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
AudiWorld Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,959
Likes: 4
From: Boston
Thanks for the pic. Where you have a blank space is my Nav unit. Where you have that module, I have
a blank space. I haven't gotten around to looking though the right-hand luggage compartment, but given the location, that's probably my missing Trailer Control Unit. The two connections would be (1) Brake controller wiring (terminates by parking brake up by the driver) and (2) Wiring harness to the trailer plug in/near the hitch
AudiWorld Stories
Bringing Audi to Life for Audi Fans
Top 10 Most Expensive Audis Ever Sold on Bring-A-Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Audi Features & Options We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
Audi Recreates Crazy-Looking Speed Record Breaker From 1935
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilder Recreates the 1995 Audi TTS Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Every Audi V10 Car Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
9 Audi Designs That Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
2026 Audi Q5 Buyer's Guide (Every Model Explained)
Brett Foote
Ranking Every Current Audi 'S' Model From Worst to First!
Joe Kucinski
10 Best Audis That are FINALLY LEGAL to Import to the U.S.!
Joe Kucinski
Thread Starter
AudiWorld Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,959
Likes: 4
From: Boston
Correction -- that's the not the Trailer module...
It's the "Level Control System Control Module -J197-. The Trailer aka "Towing Recognition Control Module -J345-" is actually located above the Navigation system (i.e. above the empty space in your pic).
Looks like I'll need to take out the right luggage compartment trim to take a look. Maybe I'll finally get around to removing that Sirius tuner too :-)
Looks like I'll need to take out the right luggage compartment trim to take a look. Maybe I'll finally get around to removing that Sirius tuner too :-)
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
crimepushers@hotmail.com
Audi 90 / 80 / Coupe quattro / Cabriolet
1
Nov 15, 2010 12:20 PM
Arcteryx::Stock Rods
S4 / RS4 (B5 Platform) Discussion
1
Sep 9, 2004 01:28 PM
bugbbq
A4 (B5 Platform) Discussion
11
May 4, 2001 07:29 PM
