b. Descending a Hill:
It is a good idea to select a lower gear on
your transmission when descending a hill to
avoid prolonged application of the brakes.
Extended application of the brakes can
cause unnecessary wear, tear and over-
heating.
Under extreme conditions this could cause
you to lose control of the vehicle.
7. Travel Speed:
It is difficult to recommend the correct travel
speed for all conditions and situations. We can
only say that you should not exceed a speed
that is safe for your particular conditions. In
general, drive slower than the posted maximum
speed limit just to be safe.
Faster speeds require much longer stopping
distances and adversely affect vehicle stability.
The requirement to stop or make emergency
manoeuvres or turns at high speed can lead to
loss of vehicle control.
Slow down before making turns. Reduce the
need to aggressively apply the brakes when
making turns. The trailer can push on the tow
vehicle when the brakes are applied in turns
and cause jackknifing.
Slow down - be safe.
8. Windy Conditions:
Meeting, passing or being passed by large
vehicles can create a large gust of wind that will
affect the handling and control characteristics
of the vehicle. This can be severe in strong
cross wind conditions.
Slow down to reduce the chance of losing
control. Drive at a speed where you have full
control and feel comfortable driving. In very
severe conditions, it may be necessary to wait
until the winds die down.
9. Cruise Control:
It is recommended that you not use the cruise
control on the tow vehicle. It can interfere with
your response in an emergency and affect
vehicle stability.
10. Vehicle Sway:
Trailer sway is the most common adverse
5-4
TOPAZ
A STANDARD RULE OF THUMB:
Use the same lower gear position
when descending a hill as you used
while climbing the hill.
handling characteristic that a driver can encoun-
ter. Sway can become very severe at high
speed and lead to loss of control of the vehicle
itself. Many external conditions can lead to
vehicle sway (such as cross winds, wind gusts
from other vehicles, etc.) that the driver has
little control over. However in certain condi-
tions, quick movements of the steering wheel
can start the vehicle swaying.
Follow these procedures to stop or reduce
vehicle sway:
a. Hold the steering wheel in one position.
Because of the time lag between sensing
vehicle position and corrective steering, it
is common for steering to aggravate the
swaying condition. In may cases, vehicle
control will be regained by just holding the
steering wheel stationary.
b. Slow down quickly but gradually. Do not
slam on the brakes to slow down. This will
cause the trailer to push hard on the back
of the tow vehicle and aggravate the sway
condition. In severe or slippery conditions,
this can cause the unit to jackknife and you
will lose control. Carefully apply the trailer
brakes to slow the vehicle and keep the
unit aligned.
c. If there is a sudden change in control or
handling of the vehicle, slow down quickly
but gradually and stop as soon as possible,
out of the way of other vehicles or off the
roadway. Check all major systems or
components to be sure no failures or
problems have occurred. Check tire
pressure, sway control, hitch spring bar, lug
nuts and load shifting. Determine the
cause of the change in stability and correct
before continuing. If you cannot determine
the cause of the change, travel to an
authorized service centre to obtain help.
Do not exceed a safe travel speed.
11. Vehicle Spacing:
Always allow extra space between you and the
vehicle ahead to provide the extra distance
required for stopping. The heavier vehicle
requires more distance to stop safely than the
tow unit alone. Do not tailgate.
Always allow extra space and distance when
passing another vehicle. A longer distance of
clear road is required for the vehicle to get up to
speed to pass another vehicle. Go further past
the other vehicle to provide space for the trailer
to clear the other vehicle. If space and/or
distance are questionable, do not pass.
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