Your vehicle can tow a trailer if it is equipped with
proper towing equipment. To identify what the vehicle
trailering capacity is for your vehicle, you should read
the information in “Weight of the Trailer” that appears
later in this section. But trailering is different than just
driving your vehicle by itself. Trailering means changes
in handling, durdbility and fuel economy. Successful,
safe trailering takes correct equipment, and
it
has to be
used properly.
That’s the reason for this part. In
it
are many
time-tested, important trailering tips and safety rules.
Many of these are important for your safety and that of
your passengers.
So
please read this section carefully
before you pull a trailer.
Load-pulling components such as
the
engine, transaxle,
wheel assemblies and tires are forced to work harder
against the drag of the added weight. The engine
is
required
to
operate at relatively higher speeds and under
greater loads, generating extra heat. What’s more, the
trailer adds considerably to wind resistance, increasing
the
pulling requirements.
If
You
Do Decide To
Pull
A
Trailer
If you do, here are some important points.
0
0
0
0
0
There are many different laws, including speed limit
restrictions, having
to
do with trailering. Make
sure
your rig will be legal, not only where you live but
also where you’ll be driving.
A
good source for this
information can be state or provincial police.
Consider using a sway control.
You
can ask a hitch
dealer about sway controls.
Don’t tow a trailer at all during the first
1,000
miles
(1
600
km)
your new vehicle is driven.
Your
engine,
axle or other parts could be damaged.
Then, during the first
SO0
miles
(800
km) that you
tow a trailer, don’t drive over
SO
mph
(80
h/h)
and
don’t make starts at full throttle. This helps
your
engine and other parts of your vehicle wear in at the
heavier loads.
Obey speed limit restrictions when towing a trailer.
Don’t drive faste.r than the maximum posted speed
for trailers (or
no
more than
55
mph
(90
km/h))
to
save wear on your vehicle’s parts.
To Next Page
Loading...
