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:
0
0
0
0
e
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
500
miles
(800
krn)
that you
tow a trailer, don’t drive over
50
mph
(80
km/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 faster than the maximum posted speed
for trailers (or no more than
55
mph
(90
km/h))
to
save wear on your vehicle’s parts.
4-33
To Next Page
Loading...
