2002 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE tow

4-48
Four-Wheel-Drive Vehicles
Use the following procedure to correctly tow your
vehicle on all four wheels:
1. Firmly set the parking brake.
2. Shift the transmission to PARK (P).
3. Securely attach the vehicle being towed to the
tow vehicle.
CAUTION:
Shifting a four-wheel-drive vehicle's transfer
case into NEUTRAL can cause your vehicle to
roll even if the transmission is in Park (P). You or
others could be injured. Make sure the parking
brake is firmly set before you shift the transfer
case to NEUTRAL. See ªTransfer Caseºin the
Index for more information.
4. Shift the transfer case to NEUTRAL (N).
See ªFour
-Wheel-Driveº in the Index for the
proper procedure to select the neutral position for
your vehicle.
5. Release the parking brake only after the vehicle
being towed is firmly attached to the towing vehicle.
6. When the vehicle is properly attached to the tow
vehicle and is ready to be towed, turn the ignition to
OFF. To prevent the battery from draining, remove
the IGN 0 fuse from the instrument panel fuse block.
See ªFusesº in the Index for more information about
removing the IGN 0 fuse.

4-49 Dolly Towing
(Two-Wheel Drive Vehicle Only)
Tw o-Wheel Drive OnlyTw o
-Wheel-Drive Vehicles
Tw o
-wheel-drive, vehicles, should not be towed with
the rear wheels on the ground. Two
-wheel-drive
transmissions have no provisions for internal lubrication
while being towed. To properly tow these vehicles, they
should be placed on a platform trailer with all four
wheels off the ground.
In rare cases when it's unavoidable that a two
-wheel
drive vehicle is to be towed with the rear wheels on the
ground, the propeller shaft axle yoke orientation should
be marked and the propeller shaft removed following the
applicable service manual removal/installation procedure.
Dust or dirt can enter the back of the transmission
through the opening created by removing the propeller
shaft if proper protection is not provided. Also, check
the transmission fluid level before driving the truck.
When the vehicle is properly attached to the tow vehicle
and is ready to be towed, turn the ignition to LOCK.
Clamp the steering wheel in a straight
-ahead position
with a clamping device designed for towing.

4-50
Four-Wheel-Drive VehiclesFour-wheel drive vehicles are not designed to be
dolly towed.
If you need to tow a four
-wheel drive vehicle see
ªDinghy Towingº earlier in this section.
NOTICE:
Dolly towing a four-wheel drive vehicle will
damage drivetrain components. Don't dolly tow a
four
-wheel drive vehicle.

4-53 Trailer Recommendations
You must subtract your hitch loads from the Cargo
Weight Rating (CWR). CWR is the maximum weight of
the load your vehicle can carry. It doesn't include the
weight of the people inside. But you can figure about
150 lbs. (68 kg) for each seat. The total cargo load must
not be more than your vehicle's CWR.
Weigh your vehicle with your trailer attached, so that
you won't go over the GVWR or GAWR. If you are
using a weight
-distributing hitch, weigh the vehicle
without the equalizer bars in place.
You'll get the best performance if you spread out the
weight of your load the right way, and if you choose the
correct hitch and trailer brakes.
For more information, see ªTrailer Towingº in
the Index.
Adding a Snow Plow or
Similar Equipment
Before installing a snow plow on your vehicle, here are
some things you'll need to know:
NOTICE:
If your vehicle doesn't have the snow plow prep
package, adding a plow can damage your vehicle,
and the repairs wouldn't be covered by warranty.
Unless your vehicle was built to carry a snow
plow, don't add one to your vehicle.
If your vehicle has the snow plow option called
RPO VYU (snow plow prep package), then the
payload your vehicle can carry will be reduced
when a snow plow is installed. Your vehicle
can be damaged if either the front or rear axle
ratings, or the GVW, are exceeded.

4-56
For example, adding a 700 lb. (318 kg) snow plow
actually adds more than 700 lb. (318 kg) to the
front axle. Using the formula, if the snow plow is
4 ft. (122 cm) in front of the front axle and the
wheel base is 10 ft. (305 cm), then:
W=700 lb. (318 kg)
A=4 ft. (122 cm)
W.B.=10 ft. (305 cm)
(W x (A + W.B.))/W.B.= (700 x (4 + 10))/10 =
980 lb. (445 kg)
So, if your truck's front axle reserve capacity is
more than 980 lb. (445 kg), you could add this
snow plow without exceeding the front GAWR.
Q:What if I want to add heavier equipment to
my vehicle?
A:You can add heavier equipment on the front of the
vehicle if you compensate for it by carrying fewer
passengers, less cargo, or by positioning cargo
more towards the rear. This has the effect of
reducing the load on the front. However, the front
GAWR, rear GAWR and the GVWR must never
be exceeded.
CAUTION:
On some vehicles equipped with certain front
mounted equipment, such as a snow plow, it may
be possible to load the front axle to the front
GAWR but not have enough weight on the rear
axle to have proper braking performance.
If your brakes can't work properly, you could
have a crash. To help your brakes work properly
when a snow plow is installed, always follow
the snow plow manufacturer or installer's
recommendation for rear ballast to ensure a
proper front and rear weight distribution ratio,
even though the actual front weight may be less
than the front GAWR, and the total vehicle weight
is less than the GVWR. Maintaining a proper
front and rear weight distribution ratio is
necessary to provide proper braking performance.

4-58
Towing a Trailer
CAUTION:
If you don't use the correct equipment and drive
properly, you can lose control when you pull a trailer.
For example, if the trailer is too heavy, the brakes
may not work well
-- or even at all. You and your
passengers could be seriously injured. Pull a trailer
only if you have followed all the steps in this section.
Ask your dealer for advice and information about
towing a trailer with your vehicle.
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 dealer for
important information about towing a trailer with
your vehicle.
To identify what the vehicle trailering capacity is for
your vehicle, you should read the information in
ªWeight of the Trailerº that appears later in this section.
If yours was built with trailering options, as many are,
it's ready for heavier trailers. 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.

4-59 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 if your trailer will
weigh 5, 000 lbs. (2 268 kg) or less. You should
always use a sway control if your trailer will weigh
more than 5, 000 lbs. (2 268 kg). 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 km/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.

You should tow in DRIVE (D). You may want to
shift the transmission to THIRD (3) or, if necessary,
a lower gear selection if the transmission shifts
too often (e.g., under heavy loads and/or hilly
conditions). See ªTow/Haul Modeº in the Index.
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.

4-60
Tow/Haul Mode
Tow/haul is a feature that assists when pulling a heavy
trailer or a large or heavy load. The purpose of the
tow/haul mode is to:

Reduce the frequency and improve the predictability
of transmission shifts when pulling a heavy trailer or
a large or heavy load.

Provide the same solid shift feel when pulling a
heavy trailer or a large or heavy load as when the
vehicle is unloaded.

Improve control of vehicle speed while requiring less
throttle pedal activity when pulling a heavy trailer or
a large or heavy load.
Your vehicle is equipped with a button at the end of the
shift lever which when pressed enables tow/haul. When
the button is pressed, a light on the instrument panel will
illuminate to indicate that tow/haul has been selected.
Tow/haul may be turned off by pressing the button
again, at which time the indicator light on the instrument
panel will turn off. The vehicle will automatically turn
off tow/haul every time it is started.Tow/haul is designed to be most effective when
the vehicle and trailer combined weight is at least
75% of the vehicle's Gross Combined Weight Rating
(GCWR). See ªWeight of the Trailerº later in this
section. Tow/haul is most useful under the following
driving conditions:

When pulling a heavy trailer or a large or heavy load
through rolling terrain.

When pulling a heavy trailer or a large or heavy load
in stop and go traffic.

When pulling a heavy trailer or a large or heavy load
in busy parking lots where improved low speed
control of the vehicle is desired.
Operating the vehicle in tow/haul when lightly loaded or
with no trailer at all will not cause damage. However,
there is no benefit to the selection of tow/haul when the
vehicle is unloaded. Such a selection when unloaded
may result in unpleasant engine and transmission
driving characteristics and reduced fuel economy.
Tow/haul is recommended only when pulling a heavy
trailer or a large or heavy load.