
Driving with a Trailer Following Distance
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. 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.
4-52
ProCarManuals.com

Instrument Panel ............................. 6-51
Outside of Your Geo .......................... 6-52
Special Problems
............................. 6-50
Stains
..................... ............. 6-50
Tires
..................................... 6-54
Vinyl
....................................... 6-50
Wheels
..................................... 6-54
Windshield and Wiper Blades
................... 6-51
Climate Control System
............................ 3-1
Clock, Setting the
................................ 3-6
Clutch Adjustment
...................... ... 6-21
Coinholder
.................................. 2-40
Comfort Controls
....................... .... 3-1
Compact Disc Care
........................... 3-19
Compact Disc Player
............................ 3-1 1
Control
of a Vehicle ................ ............. 4-5
Convertible Top ................................ 2-42
Convex Outside Mirror
.......................... 2-38
Coolant
....................................... 6-24
Levelcheck ................................. 5-15
RecoveryTank
............................... 5-16
Radiator
.................................... 5-19
Temperature Gage
............................ 2-64
Cooling System
................................ 5 - 14
Courtesy Transportation ........................... 8-6 Cruise
Control
.................. .... 2-32
Cruise Light
................................. 2-33
Cupholders
.................................... 2-40
Customer Assistance for Text Telephone Users
......... 8-3
Customer Assistance Information
................... 8-1
Customer Satisfaction Procedure
... .............. 8-1
Damage. Finish
...... ...... 6-55
Damage. Sheet Metal ..... ..... ...... 6-54
Daytime Running Lamps
......................... 2-35
Daytime Running Lamps Indicator Light
............ 2-69
Dead Battery
................................... 5-2
Defects. Reporting Safety
... ............ 8-8
Defensive Driving ....... ............ 4-1
Defogger. Rear Window
....... .......... 3-5
Defogging
................................... 3-4
Defrosting ..................................... 3-4
Dimensions. Vehicle ............................ 6-64
Dome Lamps
.................................. 2-36
Door
Locks ..... .................... 2-3
Storage
..................................... 2-39
Downshifting ............................. 2- 15, 2- 16
Drive Position. Automatic Transmission
............. 2-12
Driver Position
................................. 1-18
ProCarManuals.com

Ignition Positions ....... ............ 2-4
Inflation, Tire
................................ 6-41
Inside Daymight Rearview Mirror ................. 2-37
Inspections
.................................... 7-51
Exhaust Systems
............................. 7-5 1
Front-Wheel-Drive Axle Boot .................. 7-5 1
Front-Wheel-Drive Axle Seal ................... 7-5 1
Radiator and Heater Hose ...................... 7-51
RearAxle
................................... 7-52
Steering
.................................... 7-51
Suspension
................... ........... 7-51
Throttle Linkage
.............................. 7-52
Instrument Panel
............................... 2-56
Brightness Control
............................ 2-36
Cleaning
.................................... 6-51
Cluster ..................................... 2-58
Fuse Block .................................. 6-58
Interior
Lamps .................... ... 2-36
Brake
System
.... ....................... 7-52
Jack. Tire
....
Jump Starting . .
.................... 5-23
................... 5-2
Key Lock Cylinders Service ..................... 7-48 .
Keys .......................................... 2-1
Labels
Certification
................................. 4-46
Certification/Tire
............................. 4-46
Service Parts Identification ..................... 6-57
8 Tire-Loading Information ...................... 4-46
Vehicle Identification Number ................... 6-57
Lamps
...................................... 2-35
Dome ................. ........... 2-36
Interior
............ ......... 2-36
On Reminder ......... , ... ....... 2-29
Lamps Control
........................ . . 2-29
Leaving
Your Vehicle ............................. 2-4
Leaving Your Vehicle with the Engine Running
....... 2-22
Lighter
....................................... 2-40
Lights
Air Bag Readiness
................... 1-25.2.6. 2-61
Anti-Lock
Brake System Active ............. 2-64. 4-8
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning
....... . . 2.63, 4.6
Brake System Warning
........... .... 2-62
Charging System
........................... 2-61
Cruise ...................................... 2-33
Daytime Running Lamps Indicator ............... 2-69
Oil Pressure ................................. 2-67
Overdrive0
fi ................................ 2-69
Rear Window Defogger
......................... 3-5
9-6
ProCarManuals.com

Safety Belt Reminder ..................... 1-1 3. 2.60
Service Engine Soon
.......................... 2-65
Loading Your Vehicle
. . ..................... 4-46
Locks
............ ................... 2-3
Cylinders
....... ................ 7-48
Door ........... ................... 2-3
FuelDoor
.................................... 6-5
Key Lock Cylinder Service
..................... 7-48
PowerDoor
.................................. 2-3
Steering Column Lock Check
................ 1 .. 7-50
Window
.................................... 2-27
Rear Door Security
............................. 2-4
Low, Automatic Transmission
..................... 2- 12
Lowering and Raising the Canvas Top
.............. 2-49
Lubricants and Fluids
............................ 7-53
Lubrication Service, Body
........................ 7-48
Maintenance, Normal Replacement
Pa& ........... 6-62
Maintenance Record
............. ' ............... 7-55
Maintenance Schedule
............................ 7-1
Long Tripmighway Definition
................... 7-6
Long Tripmghway Intervals
................ 7-6, 7-32
Periodic Maintenance Inspections
................ 7-5 1
Owner Checks and Services ..................... 7-47
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
............. 7-53
Scheduled Maintenance Services
... ............ 7-3 Short
Trip/City Definition
..................... 7-4
Short Trip/City Intervals
.................. 7.4,7. 7.8
Maintenance. Underbody
......................... 6-55
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
................. 4-55
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
...................... 2-65
Manual Adjust Mirror
........................... 2-37
ManualFrontSeat ............................... 1-1
Manual Transmission ........................ 2.8. 2.14
Shifting
.................. .................. 2-14
Starting Your Engine
........................... 2-8
Fluid
....................................... 6-19
Methanol
....................................... 6-3
Mirrors
....................................... 2-37
Convex Outside
.............................. 2-38
Inside Daymight Rearview
..................... 2-37
Manual Adjust ............................... 2-37
Power Remote Control ......................... 2-38
MMT ......................................... 6-3
Model Reference
......... ......... 111
Mountain Roads ............................ 4-37
Multifunction Lever
............................. 2-28
...
Neutral, Automatic Transmission ................. 2-11
Neutral, Manual Transmission
..................... 2-15
New Vehicle Break-In ............................ 2-6
Night Vision ................................. 4-30
9-7
ProCarManuals.com

Odometer .................................... 2-59
Odometer. Trip
................................. 2-59
Off-Road Driving
.............................. 4- 14
Off-Road Recovery
............................. 4- 11
Oil. Engine
...................................... 6-9
Oil Pressure Light
.............................. 2-67
Overdrive. Automatic Transmission ................ 2- 13
Overdrive
Off Light ............................. 2-69
Overheating Engine ............................. 5- 12
Owner Checks and Services ....................... 7-47
Owner Publications. Ordering
...................... 8-9
..... Paint Spotting. Chemical . . ... 6-55
Park
Automat.ic Transmission
..................... 2-10
Shifting Into ................................. 2-21
Shifting out
of .......... ... ... 2-23
Parking
AtNight
..................................... 2-6
Brake
...................................... 2-20
Brake Mechanism Check ....................... 7-50
Over Things That Bum ............ ..... 2-24
With a Trailer ................................ 4-54
Your Vehicle. Manual Transmission .............. 2-24
Parking Lamp Bulb Replacement .................. 6-36
Passenger Position .............................. 1-3 1 Passing
....................... ... .... 4-11
Power Periodic Maintenance Inspections
................ 7-51
Door Locks .............. .......... . .2-3
Remote Control Mirror ........................ 2-38
Steering
..................................... 4-9
Steering
Fluid ................................ 6-27
Windows ................................... 2-27
Power Mode Selector Switch
...................... 2-13
Pregnancy. Use
of Safety Belts .................... 1-31
Preparing Your Canvas
Top for Storage ............. 2-54
Problems
on the Road ............................ 5-1
Publications. Service and Owner
................ 8-9
Radiator. Coolant .............................. 5-19
Radiator Pressure Cap ........................... 6-26
Radios ........................................ 3-6
Rain. Driving
In ................................ 4-31
Rear
Axle ....................................... 6-21
Combination Lamp Bulb Replacement ............ 6-38
Seat Passengers .............................. 1-31
Sidemarker Lamp Bulb Replacement ............. 6-38
Radio Reception ................................ 3-17
Door Security Locks ........................... 2-4
Towing
..................................... 5-10
ProCarManuals.com

Turn Signal Lamp Bulb Replacement ... ... 6-38
Window Defogger
.................... .... 3-5
Window Defogger Light
...................... 3-5
Windshield Washer
........................... 2-3 1
Removing and Installing ........................ 2-46
Rearview Mirrors
............................... 2-37
Convex Outside
........................ ...... 2-38
Inside Daymight
............................. 2-37
Manual Adjust
.................. ........ 2-37
Power Remote Control
....... ...... 2-38
Recovery Tank, Coolant
.......... ... ... 5-16
Recreational Vehicle Towing
.................... 4-43
Refrigerants, Air Conditioning
.................... 6-64
the Rear Window ............................. 2-46
Rear Window
Reclining Front Seatbacks
.......................... 1-2
Recovery
Hooks ................. ...... 5-34
Replacement Bulbs
...................................... 6-61
Parts
....................................... 6-62
Wheel
...................................... 6-46
Replacing Safety Belts
........... ............. 1-46
Reporting Safety Defects
..... .............. 8-8
Restraints
Checking
................................. 1-46
Child
....................................... 1-37
Replacing Parts After a Crash .................... 1-46
System Check
................................ 7-48
Reverse, Automatic Transmission
.................. 2-11
Reverse, Manual Transmission .................... 2-15
Right Front Passenger Position
.................... 1-31
Roadside Assistance
.............................. 8-4
Roadside Assistance, Canadian
..................... 8-6
Rocking Your Vehicle ........................... 5-34
Rotation, Tires
............................... 6-42
Head
........................................ l-3
safety
Belt Extender .......................... 1-46
Safety Belts
................................... 1-13
Adults ...................................... 1-18
Care ....................................... 6-51
Children
.................................... l-35
Driver Position ............................... 1-18
Extender
.................................... l-46
How to Wear Properly ......................... 1-18
Incorrect Usage .................... 1-20, 1-44, 1-45
Lap-Shoulder
... ..................... 1-18, 1-32
9-9
ProCarManuals.com