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Here are some rules to follow:
0
Will you have to make any holes in
the body of your vehicle when you
install a trailer hitch?
If you do, then
be sure to seal the holes later when
you remove the
hitch. If you don't
seal them, deadly carbon monoxide
(CO) from your exhaust can get into
your vehicle (see "Carbon Monoxide"
in the Index). Dirt and water can, too.
The bumpers on your vehicle are not
intended for hitches.
Do not attach
rental hitches or other bumper-type
hitches
to them. Use only a
frame-mounted hitch that does not
attach
to the bumper.
Safety Chains
You should always attach chains between
your vehicle and your trailer. Cross the
safety chains under the tongue
of the
trailer
so that the tongue will not drop to
the road
if it becomes separated from the
hitch. Instructions about safety chains
may be provided by the hitch
manufacturer or by the trailer
manufacturer. Follow the manufacturer's
recommendation for attaching safety
chains. Always leave just enough slack
so
you can turn with your rig. And, never
a Jlow safety chains to drag on the ground.
Trailer Brakes
If your trailer weighs more than 1,000
pounds (450 kg) loaded, then it needs its
own brakes
- and they must be adequate.
Be sure
to read and follow the instructions
for the trailer brakes
so you'll be able to
install, adjust and maintain them properly.
Because you have anti-lock brakes, do
not
try to tap into your vehicle's brake
system. If you
do, both brake systems
won't
work well, or at all.
Driving with a Trailer
Towing a trailer requires a certain amount
of experience. Before setting out for the
open road, you'll want to get to know
your rig. Acquaint yourself
with the feel
of handling and braking with the added
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Your Driving and the Road
178
weight of the trailer. And always keep in
mind that the vehicle you are driving is
now a good deal longer and not nearly so
responsive as your vehicle is by itself,
Before you start, check the trailer hitch
and platform, safety chains, electrical
connector, lights, tires and mirror
adjustment. If the trailer has electric
brakes, start your vehicle and trailer
moving and then apply the trailer brake
controller by hand
to be sure the brakes
are working. This lets you check your
electrical connection
at the same time.
During your trip, check occasionally to be
sure that the load is secure, and that the
lights and any trailer brakes are still
working.
Following Distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the
vehicle ahead as you would when driving
your vehicle without a trailer. This can
help you avoid situations that require
heavy braking and sudden turns.
Passing
You’ll need more passing distance up
ahead when you’re towing a trailer. And,
because you’re a good deal longer, you’ll
need to go much farther beyond the
passed vehicle before you can return
to
your lane.
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering wheel
with one hand. Then, to move the trailer
to the left, just move that hand
to the left.
To move the trailer to the right, move
your hand
to the right. Always back up
slowly and,
if possible, have someone
guide you.
Making Turns
When you’re turning with a trailer, make
wider turns than normal.
Do this so your
trailer won’t strike
soft shoulders, curbs,
road signs, trees, or other objects. Avoid
jerky or sudden maneuvers. Signal well
in
advance.
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Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
When you tow a trailer, your vehicle has to
have a different turn signal flasher and
extra wiring. The green arrows on your
instrument panel will flash whenever you
signal a turn or lane change. Properly
hooked up, the trailer lights will also flash,
telling other drivers you’re about to
turn,
change lanes or stop.
When towing a trailer, the green arrows on
your instrument panel will flash for turns
even if the bulbs on the trailer are burned
out. Thus,
you may think drivers behind
you are seeing your signal when they are
not. It’s important to check occasionally to
be sure the trailer bulbs are still working.
Driving on Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear
before you start down a long or steep
downgrade. If
you don’t shift down, you
might have to use your brakes
so much
that they would get hot and no longer work well.
On a long uphill grade, shift down and
reduce your speed to around
45 mph
(70 km/h) to reduce the possibility of
engine and transmission overheating. If you
are towing a trailer and you
have an automatic transmission with
Overdrive, you may prefer to drive
in D
instead of Overdrive (or, as you need to,
a lower gear). Or, if you have a manual
transmission
with fifth (or sixth) gear
and you are towing a trailer, it’s better
not to use
fifth (or sixth) gear. Just drive
in fourth gear (fifth gear
if you have
a six-speed manual transmission)
(or, as you need to, a lower gear.
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Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often
when you're pulling a trailer. See the
Maintenance Schedule for more on this.
Things that are especially important
in
trailer operation are automatic
transmission
fluid (don't overfill), engine
oil, axle lubricant. belts. cooling system,
and brake adjustment. Each of these is
covered
in this manual, and the Index will
help you find them quickly. If you're
trailering, it's
a good idea to review these
sections before
you start your trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch
nuts
and bolts are tight.
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Part 5
P
Here you’ll find what to do about
some problems that can occur on
the road.
rroblems on the Road
Hazard Warning Flashers ............................................. 184
Jump Starting ...................................................... 185
Towing Your Vehicle ................................................ 190
Engine Overheating ................................................. 193
If a Tire Goes Flat .................................................. 204
If You’re Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow .............................. 215
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Problems on the Road
A
le
=Towing Your Vehicle
Try to have a CM dealer or a professional
towing service tow your Chevrolet. The
usual towing equipment is a sling-type
(A) or a wheel-lift (B) or car carrier (C)
tow truck.
If your vehicle has been changed or
modified since
it was factory-new by
adding aftermarket items like fog lamps,
aero skirting, or special tires and wheels,
these instructions and illustrations may
not be correct.
Before you do anything,
turn on the
hazard warning flashers.
190
When you call, tell the towing service:
0 That your vehicle cannot be towed
from the front or rear
with sling-type
equipment.
drive.
That your vehicle has rear-wheel
0 The make, model, and year of your
Whether you can still move the shift
If there was an accident, what was
When the towing service arrives, let the
tow operator know
that this manual
contains detailed towing instructions and
illustrations. The operator may want
to
see them.
vehicle.
lever.
damaged.
1
TO help avoid injury to you or
0
0
0
e
a
0
b others:
Never let passengers ride in a
vehicle that is being towed.
Never tow faster than safe
or
posted speeds.
Never
tow with damaged parts not
fully secured.
Never
get under your vehicle after
it has been lifted by the tow truck.
Always use separate safety chains
on each side when towing a vehicle,
Never use “J” hooks. Use
T-hooks instead.
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When your vehicle is being towed, have
the ignition
key off. The steering wheel
should be clamped
in a straight-ahead
position,
with a clamping device designed
for towing service.
Do not use the
vehicle’s steering column lock for this.
The transmission should be in Neutral
and the parking brake released.
Don’t have your vehicle towed on the rear
wheels, unless you must.
If the vehicle
must be towed on the rear wheels, don’t
EO more than 35 mDh (55 kmh) or I
CAUTION:
RA
I Front Towing Hook-Ups
A vehicle can fall from a car
Attach T-hook chains to slots in frame
carrier if
it isn’t properly rearward of front wheels on both sides.
secured. This can cause a collision,
tightly secured with chains or steel
cables before
it is transported.
Don’t
use substitutes (ropes, leather
straps, canvas webbing, etc.) that
can be cut by sharp edges
underneath the towed vehicle.
Farther than
50 miles (80 km j or your
transmission
will be damaged. If these
limits must be exceeded, then
the rear
wheels have to be supported on
a dolly.
I.
I
Do not attach winch cables or
1 hooks to suspension components
en using car carrier equipment
I Always use T-hooks inserted in the
I I
I T-hook slots. II
191 ProCarManuals.com
Page 196 of 358
Problems on the Road
I.. 192
not tow with sling-typc
equipment or fascia/fog light
damage will occu
Use wheel lift or car carrier
equipment. Additional ramping may
be required for car carrier equipment.
Use safety chains and wheel straps. Attach
a separate safety chain around
outboard end
of each lower control arm.
I
contact. To help avoid damage, install
a towing
dolly and raise vehicle until
proper clearance
is obtained between *
the ground and/or wheel-lift equipment.
Rear Towing Hook-Ups
Attach T-hook chains in front of rear
wheels in bottom of frame rail on both
sides.
/I
I ~ to suspension compontllLa
using car carrier equipment.
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