Towing caravan with a triptronic box

[Flufy]

Hi, I am about to pick up my caravan from storage on Friday and this will be my first time towing with my Audi A6 3lt TDI Avant Le Mans Auto. Previous car was a 2lt TDI Passat sport estate manual 140bhp and this was struggling with the caravan at 1500kg ( was a bit unstable at 60mph ).
I have never towed with an automatic gear box and was wondering if anyone here has any tips on using the gear box.
I.e. use it in sport mode or leave it in drive and use the paddles when i need a bit of manual intervention?

[skidmarks]

You won't have any problem whatsoever. I tow a 1700kg twin axle caravan and its not a problem. Stick it in drive and drive! Basically you have that much power at the end of your right foot that you don't actually need to use the paddles or sports mode unless you want to play! Fabulous car for towing.

[Flufy]

Thanks skidmarks, will take the caravan for a little spin not just straight home, just to get a feel for the setup.
I will report tonight how it went

[apole]

Hi there,

You shouldn't have any issues, as others have said just stick in D and be gentle. On my last non audi car I did fit an extra transmission oil cooler as a precaution.

I have a question, do you have the AL-KO stabilising hitch on your caravan? If so what towbar do you have? I have a stabilser and a standard audi retractable towbar. With the stabilising hitch you are supposed to have an extended neck towball which basically means it's a bit further away from the car, presumably to allow extra space for the larger hitch.

I haven't tried towing my van yet with the audi, will have to see how it looks hitched up but dont' want to end up damaging my bumper if it's too close.

Does anyone have experience of this?

[Flufy]

Caravan won't be ready today, just had a call from storage people who are doing a service today, needs two new tyres so will be ready Friday .
As for the tow ball, I told the garage it is for an Alko 3000 stabiliser but tow sure does a extended one for about £12

[garfield247]

Hi apole
I think the extended neck that alko refer to is for a flange type tow ball all to do with the length of the neck between the bottom of the ball and the rest of the tow bar.On a normal tow ball the neck is short so when the car and van articulate at odd angles the hitch fouls the tow bar but with the longer neck that wont happen,i've a witter detachable tow bar on my car which is a salon and a alko hitch and the clearance is more than adequate

[mabaudi]

I have the 2.7quattro se avant and tow a single axel caravan 1475kg. I have had no problem towing with my car. I have occasionally used the paddles to changes down for an overtake but on the whole is select D and go. I have the audi detachable towbar and my AKS hitches up no problem. Its no tighter then any pf my previous towcars. But I do now use the caravan mover to bring the caravan to the car. Towing MPG is around 22-26. My old A6 1.9 with the same van would do 24-29mpg so I havent lost much in the fuel costs. But with my current putfit it feels like the cars is in total control of the caravan where as my previous car did struggle. Overtaking lorries etc is no problem and by accident I have found myself over the speed limit. In france it will stick at 65 on cruise control all day long. Hope you find the same outcome. Cheers

[Flufy]

Just got back with the caravan, hardly felt the van on the back had to keep looking in the mirror to check it was still there.
I left the gear box in D and had no problems but I did find that the gear box stayed in gear longer before changing up, does the car sense the caravan or just the torque that's needed and rev a little bit higher ?
Result is I like towing with this car and caravan very impressed so far.