
If You Do Decide To Pull A Trailer
If you do, here are some important points:
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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.
Don’t tow a trailer at all during the first
500 miles
(800 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 h/h) and
don’t make starts at full throttle. This helps your
engine and other parts
of your vehicle wear in at the
heavier loads.
If you have an automatic transmission, you should use
DRIVE (D) (or, as you need to, a lower gear) when
towing a trailer. Operating your vehicle
in DRIVE (D)
when towing a trailer will minimize heat buildup and
extend
the life of your transmission. If you have a
manual transmission and you are towing a trailer, it’s better not
to use FIFTH (5) gear. Just drive in
FOURTH (4) gear (or, as you need to, a lower gear). Three important considerations have
to do with weight:
the weight
of the trailer,
the weight of the trailer tongue
and the weight on your vehicle’s tires.
Weight of the Trailer
How heavy can a trailer safely be?
It should never weigh more than 1,000 lbs. (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:
Customer Assistance Department
Chevrolet/Geo
P.O. Box 7047
Troy,
MI 48007-7047
In Canada, write to:
General Motors of Canada Limited
Customer Assistance
Cente
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa,
Ontario LlH 8P7
$4-49
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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 information about
your vehicle’s maximum load capacity.
A B
If you’re using a weight-carrying hitch, the trailer
tongue
(A) should weigh 10 percent of the total loaded
trailer weight
(B). If you have a weight-distributing
hitch, the trailer tongue
(A) should weigh 12 percent of
the total loaded trailer weight
(B).
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 on Your Vehicle’s Tires
Be sure your vehicle’s tires are inflated to the limit for
cold tires. You’ll find these numbers
on the Certification
label at the rear edge
of the driver’s door lock pillar or
see “Tire Loading” in the Index. Then be sure you don’t
go over the GVW limit for your vehicle, including the
weight
of the trailer tongue.
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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.
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Flash-to-Pass Feature .....
Flat Tire. Changing ...............
Fluid Capacities ......................
Fluids and Lubricants ................
Fourth Gear. Manual Transmission . .
Four-wheel Drive .............
French Language Manual . .
Front Axle ................
Foreign Countries. Fuel ...........
..... 2-30
..... 5-22
... 6-63
..... 7-53
...... 6-4
........ 2-14
..... 2.16. 6.22
.......... 6-23
.. ............. 11
Front Seat Side Pockets .......................... 2-39
Front Sidemarker Lamp Bulb Replacement
........... 6-37
FrontTowing
................................... 5-9
Fuel .......................................... 6-2
Front
Turn Signal Lamp Bulb Replacement
.......... 6-36
Canada
...................................... 6-3
DoorLock
................................... 6-5
Filling
Your Tank ............................... 6-4
Gage
....................................... 2-69
.Fuses and Circuit Breakers
....................... 6-58
In Foreign Countries ........................... 6-4
Gages Engine Coolant Temperature
............ ... 2-64
..................................... Fuel 2-69
GAWR ....................................... 4-46
Gear Positions, Automatic Transmission ............. 2- 10 Gear
Positions. Manual Transmission
............... 2-14
GloveBox
.................................... 2-39
Gross Axle Weight Rating
.... ................ 4-46
Guide en FranGais
, 11
GVWR ................ .................. 4-46
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating ...................... 4-46 .. ......... .....................
Halogen Bulbs ..................... .... 6-34
Hazard Warning Flashers
.............. . . 5-1
Head Restraints
..................... ....... 1-3
Headlamps
....................... ......... 2-29
High/Low Beam Changer
.................... 2-29
Highway Hypnosis
.............................. 4-37
Bulb
Replacement
............ ......... 6-34
Hearing Impaired, Customer Assistance
.............. 8-3
Heating ........................................ 3-3
Hill and Mountain Roads
......................... 4-37
Hitches, Trailer
........ ..................... 4-51
Hood Checking Things Under
............... ....... 6-6
Prop
..................... ............... 6-7
Release
...................................... 6-6
Horn
......................................... 2-28
Hubs. Freewheeling ............................. 2-17
Hydroplaning
.................................. 4-33
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Trailer Brakes
..................................... 4-51
Driving on Grades ............................ 4-53
Driving with
................................. 4-52
Hitches
..................................... 4-51
Maintenance
When Towing ..................... 4-55
ParkingonHills .............................. 4-54
Safety Chains
................................ 4-51
Tongueweight
............................... 4-50
Total Weight on Tires
.......................... 4-50
Turnsignals ................................. 4-53
Weight
..................................... 4-49
Transfer
Case. Manual Shift ................. 2- 18. 6-22
Transmission Fluid
Automatic
................................... 6- 15
Transportation. Courtesy .......................... 8-6
Trip
Odometer ................................. 2-59
TTYUsers
..................................... 8-3
Turn Signal and Lane Change Signals ............... 2-28
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
................... 2-28
Manual ..................................... 6-19
Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer ................ 4-53
Underbody Flushing Service
..................... 7-50
Underbody Maintenance
.... ............... 6-55
Vehicle Control
...................................... 4-5 Damage
Warnings
............................... v
Dimensions ................................. 6-64
Identification Number
......................... 6-57
Loading
........... .................... 4-46
Storage
....... .................... 6-33
Visors. Sun .................................... 2-41
warning Devices
............................... 5-2
Warning Lights. Gages and Indicators
............... 2-60
Washer Fluid. Windshield
........................ 6-28
Washing Your Vehicle ........................... 6-52
Weatherstrips
.................................. 6-52
Wheel
Alignment
.................................. 6-46
LockKey
................................... 5-23
Nut Torque ............................. 5-31. 6-63
Replacement
................................. 6-46
Wrench ..................................... 5-23
Window Lock
.................................. 2-27
Windows. Power
............................... 2-27
Windshield Washer
............................. 2-31
Fluid
................... I .............. 6-28. 2-31
Fluid Level Check
............................ 7-47
Rear ....................................... 2-31
Windshield Wiper
.............................. 2-30
Rear ........................... : ........... 2-31
Winter
Driving ................................. 4-39
Wrench. Wheel ................................. 5-23
Ventilation
System
............................. 3-3
. c
9-12
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