Trailer Hitch for my 97 A8 4.2Q

[Scottydo]

Hey guys looking to add a Trailer Hitch so i can tow my A4 to H2Oi and back and avoid all the issues i had last year has anyone tried to add a trailer hitch to a d2 body before and if so where can i get the stuff i need for the setup? Thanks guys for the help.

[BrianC72gt]

Yes, a bunch of guys have done it. I put one together for mine about two years ago. Mine is a universal class II. At 160k on a 2000 A8 I've had no issues, but the automatic transmission is meant to be the Achilles heel for these cars. I use it for a utility trailer and to tow a small sailboat on occasion.

Remove rear bumper...two big vertical bolts. Remove both impact absorbing bumper mounts. remove passenger's side tow bar plate (3 bolts). Fab up two mirror image mounting brackets that bolt in on either side where the tow bar plate was. I beat the plates into submission using a bench vice, a BFH, and a couple of solid steel bars. On the second one, I made a relief cut on the outside of the bend to make it easier to shape. Once it was right, I welded in the cut. You can see a little bead on the end of the bracket on the exhaust side via the link below. Three bolts for each, The one inside the bumper impact absorber is a little tricky. Wire it up. Done. If I ever get around to it, I'll rig up a remote lever and sleeve to insert/retract the hitch pin using a lawn mower throttle lever or the like. Bit of a nuisance to lie on your back to fish the pin in and out.

Here is a link to some photos and details.

DIY D2 trailer hitch (http://forums.quattroworld.com/a8/msgs/69146.phtml)

BTW, be really careful if you do any welding while the hitch is on the car. I disconnected the battery, but my instrument cluster gave me a scare. It freaked out after I did a little tack welding before removing the hitch for tidying up. If you are going to do any welding on the car...pull the cluster. Pulling, dissecting and cleaning mine up restored everything to normal, but it is still a brown pants moment when it freaks out.

Have fun,

Brian C.

[Scottydo]

Thats awesome brian ill have to get started asap.

[BrianC72gt]

I stumbled upon a fellow D2er's trailer hitch photo jornal. A picture is worth a thousand words:

Trailer hitch photo journal (http://gallery.quattroworld.com/pictureposter/brittcrowell/A8Lhitch/)

[27litres]

Sorry, a bit late to this party - don't visit AZ often enough!
There are a couple of manufacturers for D2 towbars.
I bought mine about 6 or 7 months ago from Ironbull Towbars in Queensland, but I went to post a link and the site is down - hope he's still in business...
Anyway, the original Audi factory Westfalia one (which was brilliant, though had no safety chain points) is no longer produced.
There are a couple of aftermarket ones though.
Bosal and some other crowd make a fixed hitch one, and there is also a quick release model such as I fitted to my S8.
I found both types on Ebay.co.uk after a brief search. Seller doesn't freight outside EU according to postage section, but an email might change that.
Although they have Euro style swan necks, they do have chain anchor points, which makes them legal here in Oz at least.

Any Euro hitch on a D2 will be rated to 2300kg (max manufacturer towing weight is an EU requirement), well capable of towing a car.

Wiring in a D2 will require a "jesus box" (solid state relay box) to prevent bulb warning issues. Very straight forward to wire though...