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Recreational Vehicle Towing
There may be times when you want to tow your Pontiac
behind another vehicle for use at your destination. Be
sure to
use the proper towing equipment designed for
recreational towing. Follow the instructions
for the
towing equipment.
Towing Your Vehicle from the Front
m
Follow these steps:
1. ‘Put the front wheels on a dolly.
NOTICE:
Do not tow your Pontiac with the front wheels in
contact with the ground, or the automatic
transaxle could
be damaged.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Set the parking brake.
Turn the ignition key to
OW to unlock the steering
wheel.
See “Ignition” in the Index.
Clamp the steering wheel in a straight-ahead
position, with
a clamping device designed for
towing.
Release the parking brake.
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If you have a manual transaxle, you can also tow your
vehicle with all four wheels on the ground.
I
Follow these steps:
1. Set the parking brake.
2. Turn the ignition key to OFF to unlock the steering
wheel.
3. Clamp the steering wheel in a straight-ahead
position, with a clamping device designed
for
towing.
4. Shift your manual transaxle to NEUTRAL IN).
5. Release the parking brake.
NOTICE:
Make sure that the towing speed does not exceed
55 mph (90 km/h), or your Pontiac could be
badly damaged.
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Towing your Vehicle from the Rear Loading Your Vehicle
8
I NOTICE:
Do not tow your Pontiac from the rear, or your
vehicle could be badly damaged and the costly
repairs would not be covered by your warranty.
TIRE-LOADING INFORMATION
VEHICLE CAP. WT.
FRT. CTR. RR. TOTAL LBS.
MAX. LOADING 23 GVWR SAME AS VEHICLE
CAPACITY WEIGHT
XXX COLD TIRE
TIRE SIZE SPEED PRESSURE
RTG PSI/KPa
FRT.
RR.
SPA.
IF TIRES ARE HOT, ADD 4PS1128KPa
SEE OWNER'S MANUAL FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION
Two labels on your vehicle show how much weight it
may properly
carry. The Tire-Loading Information label
found on the rear edge of the driver's door tells
you the
proper size, speed rating and recommended inflation
pressures for the tires on your vehicle.
It also gives you
important information about the number
of people that
can be in
your vehicle and the total weight that you can
carry. This weight is called the Vehicle Capacity Weight
and includes the weight of all occupants, cargo, and all
nonfactory-installed options.
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MFD BY GENERAL MOTORS CORP
DATE GVWR GAWR FRT GAWR RR
THIS VEHICLE CONFORMS TO ALL APPLI-
CABLE U.S. FEDERAL
MOTOR VEHICLE
SAFETY, BUMPER, AND THEFT PREVENTION
STANDARDS
IN EFFECT ON THE DATE OF
MANUFACTURE SHOWN ABOVE.
The other label is the Certification label, found on the
rear edge of the driver’s door. It tells you the gross
weight capacity
of your vehicle, called the GVWR
(Gross Vehicle Weight Rating). The GVWR includes the
weight of the vehicle, all occupants, fuel and
cargo.
Never exceed the GVWR for your vehicle, or the Gross
Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) for either the front
or rear
axle.
And, if you do have a heavy load, you should spread it
out. Don’t carry more than
132 lbs. (60 kg) in your
trunk.
NOTICE:
Your warranty does not cover parts or
components that fail because of overloading.
If you put things inside your vehicle -- like suitcases,
tools, packages, or anything else
-- they will go as fast
as the vehicle
goes. If you have to stop or turn quickly,
or if there is a crash, they’ll keep
going.
1
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Towing a Trailer
NOTICE:
Pulling a trailer improperly can damage your
vehicle and result in costly repairs not covered by
your warranty.
To pull a trailer correctly, follow
the advice in this part, and see your Pontiac
dealer for important information about towing a
trailer with your vehicle.
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Do not tow a trailer if your vehicle is equipped with a
2.3L Quad 4 Engine (Code D).
Your car can tow a trailer if it is equipped with a 3.1L
V6 Engine (Code M) and 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-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-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.
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.
Consider using a sway control.
You can ask a hitch dealer about sway controls.
e
e
e
Don’t tow a trailer at all during the first 1000 miles
(1 600 km) your new vehicle is driven. Your engine,
axle or other parts could be damaged.
Then, during the first 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.
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.
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Three important considerations have to do with weight:
Weight of the Trailer
How heavy can a trailer safely be?
It should never weigh more than
1,000 pounds (450 kg).
But even that can be too heavy.
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:
Pontiac Customer Services Department
One Pontiac Plaza
Pontiac, Michigan
48340-2952
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 capacity
weight of your vehicle. The capacity weight 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 subtract the tongue
load from your vehicle’s capacity weight because your
vehicle will be carrying that weight, too. See “Loading
Your Vehicle” in the Index for more information about
your vehicle’s maximum load capacity.
A B
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If you’re using a “dead-weight” hitch, the trailer tongue
(A) should weigh 10% of the total loaded trailer weight
(B).
If you have a “weight-distributing” hitch, the trailer
tongue
(A) should weigh 12% of the total loaded trailer
weight
(E).
After you’ve loaded your trailer, weigh the trailer and
then the tongue, separately, to
see if the weights are
proper. If they aren’t, you may be able to get them right
simply by moving some items around in the trailer.
Total Weight an Your Vehicle’s Tires
Be sure your vehicle’s tires are inflated to the
recommended pressure for cold tires. You’ll find these
numbers on the Certification label at the
rear edge of the
driver’s door or see “Loading
Your Vehicle” in the
Index. Then be sure you don’t go over the
GVW limit
for your vehicle, including the weight of the trailer
tongue.
Hitches
It’s important to have the correct hitch equipment.
Crosswinds, large trucks going
by, and rough roads are a
few reasons why you’ll need the right hitch. 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
$he
bumper.
-“
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