A tow hitch on cabriolet?
2nd Gear
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 765
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RE: A tow hitch on cabriolet?
An Audi towing something??? LOL I have yet to see it. I'm sure it can be done though. Just make sure you get the opinion of someone here or on another audi forum because the tow guys who put those things on will definitely say that it can be done just to get your business and then they might end up butchering the back end of your car.
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1st Gear
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 37
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RE: A tow hitch on cabriolet?
U-Haul said they have a kit for my car but it has to be drilled into the tire well. Class 1 and I can use it for my bike rack and my waverunner. They did say that the hitch would be even with the rear bumper and visible when standing behind the car (Bummer). The cost with the wiring for lights installed is $365, does this sound like a good deal and should I trust U-Haul, they said it comes with a life time warranty?
2nd Gear
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 765
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RE: A tow hitch on cabriolet?
The hitch comes with a lifetime warranty but will they cover the damage done to your car if the hitch ends up warping your frame over time or it damages the CAR in any way?????? My guess is no... Dude, honestly. It's an AUDI!!! Not a Chevy. It's not made to tow things. Buy a cheap used truck for 2k and do your towing with that.
Junior Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 8
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RE: A tow hitch on cabriolet?
I posted this about five months ago. My car is an Avant but it should work for your car as well. Hope this helps.
I found very little information on installing the hitch or wiring on a B6 S4. Hopefully, the words below will help. I have posted photos as well at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/86468555@N00/sets/
I have installed a number of hitches on cars over the years as I have never owned a pickup and only a couple SUV's. I enjoy driving a sporty car which can be used for utility purposes when necessary. This is one of the easiest hitch installs I have done. I bought the hitch from etrailer.com and it was packaged very well. The hitch is made by Curt Manufacturing and I have used their hitches on other cars and have always been pleased with the fit and finish. Directions and a draw barcome with the hitch. You will have to buy your ball and a wiring adapter.
Installing the hitch:
1. Remove the spare tire.
2. There is a tow hook attached to the bottom of the spare tire well. Place the hitch just above the tow hook and center it so both sides of the hitch are flush with the side of the spare tire well.
3. There is a bracket used to attach the hitch to the tow hook. Install the bracket and snug it up.
4. Once you have it snugged in place, drill the four holes to mount the hitch to the spare tire well. The instructions say to mark the places to drill and remove the hitch for drilling. Once I snugged the hitch in place, I drilled the holes with the hitch in place. You wll need a right angle drill with a short drill bit as there is not much room on either side.
5. Once you have the holes drilled, install the bolts. I made a mistake here and installed the bolts from the outside of the car when I should have installed them from the inside. I had to cut off the bolts in order for the spare tire to fit in the well. I did place a rubber seal on the inside to help prevent any water leaks.
6. Tighten up the bolts and you are done.
The more difficult part was installing the wiring harness. You will need to purchase a wiring adapter that convertsfive wires to four. I bought mine at Advance Auto Parts but they are available at most places that sell trailer wiring harnesses. You will see a photo of the adapter at the photo site.
Installing the wiring:
1. To get the tailights off the car, you need to pry off the small plug on the side panel. It is located on the trim piece about 10" up from the floor on either side. Once you have pried it out, you can insert a Phillips screwdriver to unscrew the bolt that holds the tailights in place. Once you have loosened that bolt, push out on the tailights to break them loose from the car. It will take a determined push.
2. Once you have the tailights hanging from the rear of the car, you can find the wires that you need to tap into. All but one of the wires you will be tapping into are on the left side.
Gray wire-running lights
Blue/Green wire-Left turn signal
Red/yellow wire-brake
Ground wire-Brown
3. On the right tailight you will find the one wire needed there
Yellow wire-right turn signal
4. Remove both side access panels
5. The left tailight wires run behind the black box on the left side. To access those wires, you will need pull out the left side trim panel far enough to remove that black box.Remove both tie downs and the screw at the rear upper corner of the side trim panel. Pull out on the panel on the side at the rear. It has two metal clips that go intometal holes on the side. It also takes a determind pull but be careful that you do not crack the panel. Once you have it released at the rear, you call pull it out far enough to access the two bolts and one nut that are holding the black box in. You do not need to unhook any wiring from the back of the box.Once you have all the bolts and nuts removed from the black box, you can finagle it through the hole in the side panel.
6. Once you have the box out, you will see the wires running along the side of the car. This is where I tapped into the wires for the adapter. I soldered my connections but you could use clip on connectors. Remember that these connections will be hidden once you are finished are not easily accessible. If you know how to solder, I would take the time to do that.
7. On the right side, also remove the tie downs, the top screw in the corner and pull out the panel from the side of the car. Here, I did not remove any items that are directly behind theaccesspanel.Once I pulled out the sidepanel, I could reach the wiring for the right tailight where it came through the body. However, I did not have room to tap into the wires here. Since I only had one wire to run on this side, I tapped into the wire on the harness from the body of the car to the tailight. I punched a small hole in the rubber grommet and pushed the wire through the grommet from the tailight side. I could then pull the wire through on the inside of the car. I ran the wire along the rear of the car under the rear brushed aluminum trim piece that I had removed. I then attached that wire to the wire for the right turn signal at the adapter.
8. Once you have all the wiring complete, put everything back together and you are done. When re-installing the bolt that fastens the tailights, install the bolt while you have the rear side panel pulled away. It makes it much easier to get to and less chance that you will drop it into the abyss. I ran the wiring harness beneath the side panel into the area above the spare tire. The carpeted rear panel will hide the wire when you do not need it. When pulling your trailer, simple pull the wire out from beneath the carpet panel and out the rear hatch.
I found very little information on installing the hitch or wiring on a B6 S4. Hopefully, the words below will help. I have posted photos as well at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/86468555@N00/sets/
I have installed a number of hitches on cars over the years as I have never owned a pickup and only a couple SUV's. I enjoy driving a sporty car which can be used for utility purposes when necessary. This is one of the easiest hitch installs I have done. I bought the hitch from etrailer.com and it was packaged very well. The hitch is made by Curt Manufacturing and I have used their hitches on other cars and have always been pleased with the fit and finish. Directions and a draw barcome with the hitch. You will have to buy your ball and a wiring adapter.
Installing the hitch:
1. Remove the spare tire.
2. There is a tow hook attached to the bottom of the spare tire well. Place the hitch just above the tow hook and center it so both sides of the hitch are flush with the side of the spare tire well.
3. There is a bracket used to attach the hitch to the tow hook. Install the bracket and snug it up.
4. Once you have it snugged in place, drill the four holes to mount the hitch to the spare tire well. The instructions say to mark the places to drill and remove the hitch for drilling. Once I snugged the hitch in place, I drilled the holes with the hitch in place. You wll need a right angle drill with a short drill bit as there is not much room on either side.
5. Once you have the holes drilled, install the bolts. I made a mistake here and installed the bolts from the outside of the car when I should have installed them from the inside. I had to cut off the bolts in order for the spare tire to fit in the well. I did place a rubber seal on the inside to help prevent any water leaks.
6. Tighten up the bolts and you are done.
The more difficult part was installing the wiring harness. You will need to purchase a wiring adapter that convertsfive wires to four. I bought mine at Advance Auto Parts but they are available at most places that sell trailer wiring harnesses. You will see a photo of the adapter at the photo site.
Installing the wiring:
1. To get the tailights off the car, you need to pry off the small plug on the side panel. It is located on the trim piece about 10" up from the floor on either side. Once you have pried it out, you can insert a Phillips screwdriver to unscrew the bolt that holds the tailights in place. Once you have loosened that bolt, push out on the tailights to break them loose from the car. It will take a determined push.
2. Once you have the tailights hanging from the rear of the car, you can find the wires that you need to tap into. All but one of the wires you will be tapping into are on the left side.
Gray wire-running lights
Blue/Green wire-Left turn signal
Red/yellow wire-brake
Ground wire-Brown
3. On the right tailight you will find the one wire needed there
Yellow wire-right turn signal
4. Remove both side access panels
5. The left tailight wires run behind the black box on the left side. To access those wires, you will need pull out the left side trim panel far enough to remove that black box.Remove both tie downs and the screw at the rear upper corner of the side trim panel. Pull out on the panel on the side at the rear. It has two metal clips that go intometal holes on the side. It also takes a determind pull but be careful that you do not crack the panel. Once you have it released at the rear, you call pull it out far enough to access the two bolts and one nut that are holding the black box in. You do not need to unhook any wiring from the back of the box.Once you have all the bolts and nuts removed from the black box, you can finagle it through the hole in the side panel.
6. Once you have the box out, you will see the wires running along the side of the car. This is where I tapped into the wires for the adapter. I soldered my connections but you could use clip on connectors. Remember that these connections will be hidden once you are finished are not easily accessible. If you know how to solder, I would take the time to do that.
7. On the right side, also remove the tie downs, the top screw in the corner and pull out the panel from the side of the car. Here, I did not remove any items that are directly behind theaccesspanel.Once I pulled out the sidepanel, I could reach the wiring for the right tailight where it came through the body. However, I did not have room to tap into the wires here. Since I only had one wire to run on this side, I tapped into the wire on the harness from the body of the car to the tailight. I punched a small hole in the rubber grommet and pushed the wire through the grommet from the tailight side. I could then pull the wire through on the inside of the car. I ran the wire along the rear of the car under the rear brushed aluminum trim piece that I had removed. I then attached that wire to the wire for the right turn signal at the adapter.
8. Once you have all the wiring complete, put everything back together and you are done. When re-installing the bolt that fastens the tailights, install the bolt while you have the rear side panel pulled away. It makes it much easier to get to and less chance that you will drop it into the abyss. I ran the wiring harness beneath the side panel into the area above the spare tire. The carpeted rear panel will hide the wire when you do not need it. When pulling your trailer, simple pull the wire out from beneath the carpet panel and out the rear hatch.
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1st Gear
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 37
From:
RE: A tow hitch on cabriolet?
WOW jerhofer, great post!!! Great photos too! Pablo, I really do not have room for another vehicle and I would never buy a vehicle for $2000; waste of money IMHO. I am trying to get my wife to trade her car in for a Subaru with a hitch 
If not I may go with U-Haul, they will install everything and warranty it for the life of the car. My last car had a hitch and it rusted out in 4 years (dealer installed, they would not fix it), U-Haul said if that happened they would replace the hitch under the warranty. I spoke to the Audi dealer and asked them if it would void the power train warranty and they said "It would not" but if the wiring is installed incorrectly and something goes wrong with the tail lights, they may not cover it under the warranty and I would have to get U-Haul to cover the costs. After speaking to U-Haul again they informed me, that would be covered by the life time warranty and that it is very unlikely that the hitch wiring would affect anything unless you shorted the pins and then it would blow a fuse in the converter and they would replace it for free. Sounds too good to be true.
If not I may go with U-Haul, they will install everything and warranty it for the life of the car. My last car had a hitch and it rusted out in 4 years (dealer installed, they would not fix it), U-Haul said if that happened they would replace the hitch under the warranty. I spoke to the Audi dealer and asked them if it would void the power train warranty and they said "It would not" but if the wiring is installed incorrectly and something goes wrong with the tail lights, they may not cover it under the warranty and I would have to get U-Haul to cover the costs. After speaking to U-Haul again they informed me, that would be covered by the life time warranty and that it is very unlikely that the hitch wiring would affect anything unless you shorted the pins and then it would blow a fuse in the converter and they would replace it for free. Sounds too good to be true.
Junior Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 8
From:
RE: A tow hitch on cabriolet?
Thanks.
We recently moved about 30 miles to a new house. I have a 5' x 7' enclosed trailer that is fairly tall. We made at least 15 trips with the trailer hauling anything that would fit, which is a surprising amount. The good thing about a trailer, as opposed to a pickup, is that everything is protected from the weather. I had to be careful how I packed the trailer to make sure I did not have too much tongue weight. The S4 pullled it very well. A few years back I had a BMW X5 with the V8 and the S4 pulled it nearly as well.
So, yes, you can haul with an Audi. Plus, with my car being an Avant, we could also load the interior of the car. My wife's A3 was also pressed into duty and it is surprising how much you can put inside either of these cars. By the time we finished all of our trips, we only had to rent a large truck for the big items.
We recently moved about 30 miles to a new house. I have a 5' x 7' enclosed trailer that is fairly tall. We made at least 15 trips with the trailer hauling anything that would fit, which is a surprising amount. The good thing about a trailer, as opposed to a pickup, is that everything is protected from the weather. I had to be careful how I packed the trailer to make sure I did not have too much tongue weight. The S4 pullled it very well. A few years back I had a BMW X5 with the V8 and the S4 pulled it nearly as well.
So, yes, you can haul with an Audi. Plus, with my car being an Avant, we could also load the interior of the car. My wife's A3 was also pressed into duty and it is surprising how much you can put inside either of these cars. By the time we finished all of our trips, we only had to rent a large truck for the big items.
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