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Trailer Towing
General Towing Information
Only use towing equipment that has
been designed for the vehicle. Contact your dealer or trailering dealer for
assistance with preparing the vehicle for towing a trailer. Read the entire
section before towing a trailer.
For towing a disabled vehicle, see
Towing the Vehicle 0 385. For towing the vehicle behind another vehicle
such as a motor home, see
Recreational Vehicle Towing 0 386.
Driving Characteristics and Towing Tips
Driving with a Trailer
When towing a trailer:
. Become familiar with the local
laws that apply to trailer towing.
. Do not tow a trailer during the first 2 414 km (1,500 mi) to
prevent damage to the engine, axle, or other parts.
. Then during the first 800 km
(500 mi) of trailer towing, do not drive over 80 km/h (50 mph) and
do not make starts at full throttle.
. Vehicles can tow in D (Drive). Shift the transmission to a lower gear if the transmission shifts too often
under heavy loads and/or hilly conditions.
. Do not use Adaptive Cruise Control when towing.
. The Forward Automatic Braking
system should be set to Off when towing. See Forward Automatic
Braking (FAB) 0 269.
. The Front Pedestrian Braking
system should be set to Alert or Off when towing. See Front
Pedestrian Braking (FPB) System
0 270.
. Turn off Parking Assist when towing.
{ Warning
When towing a trailer, exhaust
gases may collect at the rear of the vehicle and enter if the liftgate,
trunk/hatch, or rear-most window is open.
When towing a trailer:
. Do not drive with the liftgate, trunk/hatch, or rear-most
window open.
. Fully open the air outlets on or under the instrument
panel.
. Also adjust the climate
control system to a setting
that brings in only outside air. See “Climate Control Systems”
in the Index.
For more information about carbon monoxide, see Engine Exhaust
0 228.
Towing a trailer requires a certain amount of experience. The
combination you are driving is longer
300 DRIVING AND OPERATING
and not as responsive as the vehicle itself. Get acquainted with the
handling and braking of the rig before setting out for the open road.
Before starting, check all trailer hitch parts and attachments, safety chains, electrical connectors, lamps, tires, and mirrors. If the trailer has electric
brakes, start the combination moving and then apply the trailer brake
controller by hand to be sure the brakes work.
During the trip, check occasionally to be sure that the load is secure and the lamps and any trailer brakes
still work.
Following Distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the vehicle ahead as you would when
driving the vehicle without a trailer. This can help to avoid heavy braking and sudden turns.
Passing
More passing distance is needed when towing a trailer. The combination will not accelerate as quickly and is longer
so it is necessary to go much farther beyond the passed vehicle before
returning to the lane.
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering wheel with one hand. To move the trailer to
the left, move that hand to the left. To move the trailer to the right, move
your hand to the right. Always back up slowly and, if possible, have
someone guide you.
Making Turns
Caution
Making very sharp turns while
trailering could cause the trailer to come in contact with the vehicle.
The vehicle could be damaged. Avoid making very sharp turns while trailering.
When turning with a trailer, make
wider turns than normal. Do this so the trailer will not strike soft
shoulders, curbs, road signs, trees,
or other objects. Avoid jerky or sudden maneuvers. Signal well in advance.
If the trailer turn signal bulbs burn out, the arrows on the instrument
cluster will still flash for turns. It is
important to check occasionally to be sure the trailer bulbs are still working.
Driving on Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear
before starting down a long or steep
downgrade. If the transmission is not
shifted down, the brakes might get hot and no longer work well.
Vehicles can tow in D (Drive). Shift
the transmission to a lower gear if the transmission shifts too often under
heavy loads and/or hilly conditions.
When towing at high altitude on steep uphill grades, consider the following:
Engine coolant will boil at a lower
temperature than at normal altitudes.
If the engine is turned off immediately after towing at high altitude on steep
uphill grades, the vehicle may show
signs similar to engine overheating. To avoid this, let the engine run while
parked, preferably on level ground,
