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Trailer brakes
If your trailer is equipped with a braking
system, make sure it conforms to federal
and/or local regulations and that it is
properly installed.
WARNING
Never connect a trailer brake system directly
to the vehicle brake system.
Pre-towing tips
O
Be certain your vehicle maintains a
level position when a loaded or un-
loaded trailer is hitched. Do not drive
the vehicle if it has an abnormal nose-
up or nose-down condition; check for
improper tongue load, overload, worn
suspension or other possible causes
of either condition.
O
Always secure items in the trailer to
prevent load shifts while driving.
O
Load the trailer so approximately 60%
of the trailer load is in the front half
and 40% is in the back half.
O
Check your hitch, trailer tire pressure,
vehicle tire pressure, trailer light op-
eration, and trailer wheel lug nuts
every time you attach a trailer to the
vehicle.
O
Be certain your rear view mirrors con-
form to all federal, state or local regu-
lations. If not, install any mirrors re-
quired for towing before driving the
vehicle.
Trailer towing tips
In order to gain skill and an under-
standing of the vehicle’s behavior, you
should practice turning, stopping and
backing up in an area which is free from
traffic. Steering stability, and braking per-
formance will be somewhat different than
under normal driving conditions.
O
Always secure items in the trailer to
prevent load shift while driving.
O
Avoid abrupt starts, acceleration or
stops.
O
Avoid sharp turns or lane changes.
O
Always drive your vehicle at a mod-
erate speed. Some states or provinces
have specific speed limits for vehicles
that are towing trailers. Obey the local
speed limits.
O
When backing up, hold the bottom of
the steering wheel with one hand.
Move your hand in the direction in
which you want the trailer to go. Make
small corrections and back up slowly.
If possible, have someone guide you
when you are backing up.
O
Always block the wheels on both ve-
hicle and trailer when parking. Parking
on a slope is not recommended; how-
ever, if you must do so, and if your ve-
hicle is equipped with automatic
transmission, first block the wheels
and apply the parking brake, and then
move the transmission selector lever
into the P (Park) position. If you move
the selector lever to the P (Park) posi-
tion before blocking the wheels and
applying the parking brake, transmis-
sion damage could occur.
O
When going down a hill, shift into a
lower gear and use the engine braking
effect. When going up a long grade,
downshift the transmission to a lower
gear and reduce speed to reduce
chances of engine overloading and/or
overheating.
O
If the engine coolant rises to an ex-
tremely high temperature when the air
conditioning system is on, turn off the
9-22
Technical and consumer information
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06.6.26/S50-D/V5.0
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