If You Do Decide To Pull A Trailer- Page 211

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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

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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

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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:

D

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.

D

Consider using a sway control. You can ask a hitch
dealer about sway controls.

D

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.

D

Then, during the first 500 miles (800 km) 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.

D

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.

Three important considerations have to do with weight:

D

the weight of the trailer,

D

the weight of the trailer tongue

D

and the total weight on your vehicle’s tires.