1994 CHEVROLET S10 tow

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine You can ask a hitch dealer about sway controls.
0 Don’t tow a trailer at aU during the first 500 miles (800 km) your new
vehicle is driven. Your engine, axle or other
parts could be damaged.
Then, during the fist 500 miles (800 km) that you tow a trailer, don’t
drive over
50 mph (80 kmk) and don’t make starts at full throttle. This
helps your engine and other
parts of your vehicle wear in at the heavier
loads.
Three important considerations have to da with weight:
Weight of the Trailer
How heavy can a .trailer safely be?
It depends on how you plan to use your rig. For example, speed, altitude,
road grades, outside temperature and how much your vehicle is used to pull
a trailer are all important. And, it can also depend on any special equipment
that you have
on your vehicle.
You can ask
your dealer for our trailering information or advice, or you can
write us at the address listed
in your Warranty and Owner Assistance
Information Booklet.
In Canada, write to General Motors of Canada Limited, Customer
Assistance Center,
1908 Colonel Sam Drive, Oshawa, Ontario L1H 8P7.
Weight of the Trailer Tongue
The tongue load (A) of any trailer is an important weight to measure
because it affects the total or gross weight
of your vehicle. The gross vehicle
weight (GVW) includes the curb weight of the vehicle, any cargo you may
carry in it, and the people who will be riding in the vehicle. And
if you will
tow a trailer, you must add the tongue load to the GVW because your\

vehicle will be carrying that weight,
too. See “Loading Your Vehicle” in the
Index for more infomation about your vehicle’s maximum load capacity.
4-39

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine You can tow trailers to 2,000 pounds (900 kg) with a step bumper hitch, but
if your trailer tongue has a V-shaped foot, your bumper could be damaged
in sharp turns. Check the distance from the front edge of the foot to the
middle of the hitch ball socket.
If the distance is less than 12 inches, take the
foot
off the trailer tongue.
Safety Chains
You should always attach chains between your vehicle and your trail\
er.
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 allow 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 bE---:s
so you’ll be able to install, adjust and
maintain them properly.
Your trailer brakes system can tap into vehicle’s hydraulic brake system
except:
Don’t tap into your vehicle’s brake system if the trailer’s brake system will
use more than
0.02 cubic inch (0.3~~) of fluid from your vehicle’s master
cylinder. If it does, both braking systems won’t work well. You could even
lose your brakes.
Will the trailer parts take
3,000 psi (20 650 Pa) of pressure? If not, the
trailer brake system must not be used with your vehicle.
If everything checks out this far, then make the brake fluid tap at the port on
the master cylinder that sends fluid to the rear brakes. But don’t use copper
tubing for this.
If you do, it will bend and finally break off. Use steel brake
tubing.
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. Acquai\
nt yourself
with the feel
of handling and braking with the added 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 th\
e trailer has
electric brakes, start your vehicle and trailer moving and then\
apply the
4-41

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine trailer brake controller by hand to be sure the brakes are working. This lets
you check your electricql 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 apd sudden turns.
Passing
You’ll need more passing distance up ahead when you’re to\
wing a trailer.
And, because you’re a good deal longer, you’ll need to g\
o 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 n\
ormal. 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.
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 wi\
ll
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 pan\
el will flash
€or
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 importan\
t
to check occasionally to be sure the trailer bulbs are still \
working.
4-42

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Driving On Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear before you start dawn 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 have an automatic transmission, you should use “D” when towing a
trailer. Operating your vehicle
in “D” when towing a trailer will minimize
heat buildup and extend the life of your transmission.
Or, if you have a
rrianual transmission with fifth gear, it’s better not to use fifth gear, just
drive in fourth gear (or, as
you need to, a lower gear).
Parking on Hills
You really should not park your vehicle, with a trailer attached, \
on a hill. If
something goes wrong, your rig could start to move. People
can be injured,
and both your vehicle and the trailer can be damaged.
But if you ever have
to park your rig on a hill, here’s how to do it:
1. Apply your regular brakes, but don’t shift into “P” (Park) yet, or into
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, release the regular brakes until the
gear
for
a manual transmission.
chocks absorb the load.
4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then apply your parking brake, and \
then
shift into
“P” (Park), or “R” (Reverse) for a manual transmission.
5. If you have a four-wheel drive vehicle with a manual transfer \
case shift
lever, be sure the transfer case is
in a drive gear-not in “N” (Neutral).
6. Release the parking brakes,
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine - . ?
-. “C ^.
When You Are Ready to Leave After Parking on a Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal down while you:
Start your engine;
Shift into a gear; and
Release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
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, belt, cooling system, an\
d 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.
Trailer Light Wiring
See “Trailer Wiring Harness” in the Index.
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I b

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Problems on the Road
Section
.
Here you’ll find what to do about some problems that can occur on the road .
Hazard Warning Flashers ..................................... 5-2
Other Warning Devices
...................................... 5-3
Jump Starting .............................................. 5-3
Towing Your Vehicle ........................................ 5-8
Engine Overheating
........................................ 5-12
If a Tire Goes Flat ......................................... 5-20
Changing a Flat Tire ....................................... 5-20
If You’re Stuck: In Sand. Mud. Ice or Snow ..................... 5-34
5-1

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Towing Your Vehicle
Try to have a GM dealer or a professional towing service tow your vehicle.
They can provide the right equipment and know how to tow it without
damage.
If your vehicle has been changed since
it was factory-new by adding things
like fog lamps, aero skirting, or special tires and wheels, these things\
could
be damaged during towing.
Before you do anything, turn on the hazard warning flashers.
When you call, tell the towing service:
That your vehicle has rear-wheel drive, or that it has the four-wheel
0 The make, model, and year of your vehicle.
Whether you can move the shift lever for the transmission and shift the
drive option.
transfer case, if you have one.
If there was an accident, what was damaged.
5-8

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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 transmissi,on (either automatic or manual) should
be
in “N’ (Neutral) and the transfer case (either manual shift or electronic
shift),
if you have one, should be in 2 HI. The paking brake should be
released.
5-9