Page 174 of 340

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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 weight
of the
trailer. And always keep in mind that
the vehicle you are
driving is now a good deal longer and not nearly as
responsive
as your vehicle is by itself.
Before
you start, check the trailer hitch and platform
(and attachments), safety chains, electrical connector,
lamps, 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 lamps and any trailer brakes
are still working.
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
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.
I NOTICE:
Making very sharp turns while trailering could
cause the trailer to come in contact with the
vehicle. Your vehicle could
be damaged. Avoid
making very sharp turns while trailering.
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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Page 175 of 340

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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 lamps 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 lwfot-e 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 transaxle overheating.
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
PARK (P) yet.
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, release the
regular brakes
until the chocks absorb the load.
4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then apply your parking
brake, and then shift
to PARK (P).
5. Release the regular brakes.
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Page 183 of 340

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Towing Your Vehicle
B
C
Try to have a GM dealer or a professional towing
service tow your Chevrolet. The usual towing
equipment
is:
(A) Sling-type tow truck
(B) Wheel-lift tow truck
(C) Car carrier
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.
When you call, tell
the towing service:
That your vehicle cannot be towed with sling-type
equipment.
That your vehicle cannot be towed from the rear with
the front wheels on the ground.
That your vehicle has front-wheel drive.
The make, model, and year of your vehicle.
0 Whether you can still move the shift lever.
0 If there was an accident, what was damaged.
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.
5-7
Page 184 of 340
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 transaxle should be in
NEUTRAL (N) and the
parking brake released.
5-8
Page 185 of 340
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Towing from the Front -- Vehicle Hookup
Before hooking up to a tow truck, be sure to read all the
information
in “Towing Your Vehicle” earlier in this
section.
1. Attach T-hook chains into the slots in the bottom of
the floor pan, just behind the front wheels, on both
sides.
NOTICE:
Do not tow with sling-type equipment or fascia
damage will occur. Use wheel-lift or car carrier
equipment. Additional ramping
may be required
for car carrier equipment. Use safety chains and
wheel straps.
5-9
Page 186 of 340
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine NOTICE:
When using wheel-lift equipment, towing over
rough surfaces can damage a vehicle. To help
avoid this, install a towing dolly beneath the
wheels that would otherwise be on the ground
during the tow. This
will increase clearance
between the wheel-lift equipment and the
underbody
of the towed vehicle.
L
2. Attach a separate safety chain around the outboard
end
of each lower control arm.
J
5-10
Page 187 of 340
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Towing from the Rear -- Vehicle Hookup
Before hooking up to a tow truck, be sure to read all the
information
in “Towing Your Vehicle” earlier in this
section.
Also be sure to use the proper hookup for your
particular vehicle.
1. Attach T-hook chains on both sides in the slotted
holes
in the bottom of the frame rail, just ahead of
the rear wheels.
I
2. Place the front wheels on a towing dolly or place the
vehicle on a car carrier.
I NOTICE:
Do not tow your Cavalier from the rear with the
front wheels on the ground or your transaxle can
be damaged. Do not tow with sling-type
NOTICE: (Continued)
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Page 188 of 340
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine NOTICE: (Continued)
equipment
or rear bumper valance will be
damaged. Use wheel-lift equipment with a towing
dolly or car carrier equipment. Additional
ramping may be required
for car carrier
equipment. Use safety chains and wheel straps.
Engine Overheating
You will find a coolant temperature gage on your
Chevrolet’s instrument
panel.
If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine
I I
3. Attach a separate safety chain to each side of the axle
inboard
of the spring. (Do not use the chain as a tie
down.)
5-12