Towing
a
Trailer
A
CAUTION:
If
you don’t use the correct equipment and drive
properly, you can lose control when you pull a
trailer. For example, if the trailer
is
too heavy, the
brakes may not work well
--
or even at
all.
You
and your passengers could be seriously injured.
You may also damage your vehicle; the resulting
repairs would not
be
covered by your warranty.
Pull
a
trailer only if
you
have followed
all
the
steps in this section.
Ask
your dealer for advice
and information about towing
a
trailer with
your vehicle.
Your vehicle can tow a trailer
if
it
is equipped with the
proper trailer 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, durability 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:
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.
4-32
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