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DRIVING AND OPERATING 299

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.

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{ 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

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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.

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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,

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General Towing InformationDriving Characteristics and Towing TipsTrailer Towing (PLUG-IN Only)Trailer Towing (Gasoline Only)Towing Equipment