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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.
Weight of the Trailer
How heavy can a trailer safely be?
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.Use one of the following charts to determine how much
your vehicle can weigh, based upon your vehicle model
and options.
Maximum trailer weight is calculated assuming only the
driver is in the tow vehicle and it has all the required
trailering equipment. The weight of additional optional
equipment, passengers and cargo in the tow vehicle
must be subtracted from the maximum trailer weight.
The Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) is the
total allowable weight of the completely loaded vehicle
and trailer including any passengers, cargo, equipment
and conversions. The GCWR for your vehicle should
not be exceeded.
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The seven-wire harness contains the following
trailer circuits:
Yellow: Left Stop/Turn Signal
Dark Green: Right Stop/Turn Signal
Brown: Taillamps
White: Ground
Light Green: Back
-up Lamps
Red: Battery Feed
Dark Blue: Trailer Brake
If you need to upgrade your vehicle to heavy
-duty
trailering, a brake controller harness is available from
your dealer.Heavy
-Duty Trailer Wiring Package (If Equipped)
Your vehicle is equipped with the seven-wire trailer
towing harness. This harness with a seven
-pin universal
heavy
-duty trailer connector that is attached to a bracket
on the hitch platform.
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The seven-wire harness contains the following
trailer circuits:
Yellow: Left Stop/Turn Signal
Dark Green: Right Stop/Turn Signal
Brown: Taillamps
White: Ground
Light Green: Back
-up Lamps
Red: Battery Feed
Dark Blue: Trailer Brake
A jumper harness for an electric trailer brake controller
and a trailer battery feed fuse are included with this
trailering package. (See ªInstrument Panel Jumper
Wiring Harnessº later in this section.)
If you need to tow a light
-duty trailer with a standard
four
-way round pin connector, an adapter connector is
included with your vehicle.Instrument Panel Jumper Wiring Harness
This harness is included with the heavy-duty trailer
wiring package. The harness is for an electric trailer
brake controller and includes a trailer battery feed fuse.
This harness and fuse should be installed by your dealer
or a qualified service center.
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Four Wire Trailer Harness Adapter
If you need to tow a light
-duty trailer with a standard
four
-way round pin connector, an adapter connector is
included with your vehicle.
Connect the adapter with
the tab (arrow) pointing
toward the top. The cap
on the wiring harness will
lock onto the tab (arrow)
and help hold the adapter
in place.
Power Winches
If you wish to use a power winch on your vehicle, only
use it when your vehicle is stationary or anchored.
NOTICE:
Using a power winch with the transmission in
gear may damage the transmission. When
operating a power winch, always leave the
transmission in NEUTRAL (N).
Use the regular brakes, set the parking brake, or block
the wheels to keep your vehicle from rolling.
Step-Bumper Pad
Your vehicle has a rear step bumper, it is equipped with
a rear step pad at the center of the bumper.
If you will be using the
bumper to tow a trailer, you
must remove the center
cutout circle to install the
trailer ball.
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Jump Starting
If your battery (or batteries) has run down, you may
want to use another vehicle and some jumper cables to
start your vehicle. Be sure to follow the steps below to
do it safely.
CAUTION:
Batteries can hurt you. They can be
dangerous because:
They contain acid that can burn you.
They contain gas that can explode or ignite.
They contain enough electricity to
burn you.
If you don't follow these steps exactly, some or all
of these things can hurt you.
NOTICE:
Ignoring these steps could result in costly
damage to your vehicle that wouldn't be covered
by your warranty.
The ACDelco battery in your vehicle has a
built
-in hydrometer. Do not charge, test or
jump start the battery if the hydrometer looks
clear or light yellow. Replace the battery when
there is a clear or light yellow hydrometer and a
cranking complaint.
Trying to start your vehicle by pushing or pulling
it won't work, and it could damage your vehicle.
1. Check the other vehicle. It must have a
12
-volt battery with a negative ground system.
NOTICE:
If the other system isn't a 12-volt system with a
negative ground, both vehicles can be damaged.
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2. Get the vehicles close enough so the jumper cables
can reach, but be sure the vehicles aren't touching
each other. If they are, it could cause a ground
connection you don't want. You wouldn't be able
to start your vehicle, and the bad grounding could
damage the electrical systems.
To avoid the possibility of the vehicles rolling, set
the parking brake firmly on both vehicles involved in
the jump start procedure. Put the automatic
transmission in PARK (P), or a manual transmission
in NEUTRAL (N) before setting the parking brake.
If you have a four
-wheel-drive vehicle, be sure the
transfer case is in a drive gear not in NEUTRAL.
NOTICE:
If you leave your radio on, it could be badly
damaged. The repairs wouldn't be covered by
your warranty.
3. Turn off the ignition on both vehicles. Unplug
unnecessary accessories plugged into the cigarette
lighter or in the accessory power outlets. Turn off the
radio and all the lamps that aren't needed. This will
avoid sparks and help save both batteries. And it
could save your radio!
4. Open the hoods and locate the positive (+) and
negative (
-) terminal locations of the other vehicle.
Your vehicle has a remote positive (+) jump starting
terminal and a remote negative (
-) jump starting
terminal. You should always use these remote
terminals instead of the terminals on the battery.
The remote positive (+) terminal is located behind
a red plastic cover near the engine accessory drive
bracket. To uncover the remote positive (+) terminal,
open the red plastic cover.
The remote negative (
-) terminal is located on
the engine drive bracket on all V8 diesel engines.
On V8 engines it is marked ªGND.º
On V6 engines the remote negative (
-) terminal is
located on a tab attached to the engine accessory
drive bracket where it is marked ªGND.º
See ªEngine Compartment Overviewº in the Index
for more information on location.
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5-5
CAUTION:
Using a match near a battery can cause battery
gas to explode. People have been hurt doing this,
and some have been blinded. Use a flashlight if
you need more light.
Be sure the batteries have enough water. You
don't need to add water to the ACDelco battery
(or batteries) installed in every new GM vehicle.
But if a battery has filler caps, be sure the right
amount of fluid is there. If it is low, add water to
take care of that first. If you don't, explosive gas
could be present.
Battery fluid contains acid that can burn you.
Don't get it on you. If you accidentally get it in
your eyes or on your skin, flush the place with
water and get medical help immediately.
CAUTION:
Fans or other moving engine parts can injure you
badly. Keep your hands away from moving parts
once the engine is running.
5. Check that the jumper cables don't have loose or
missing insulation. If they do, you could get a shock.
The vehicles could be damaged too.
Before you connect the cables, here are some basic
things you should know. Positive (+) will go to
positive (+) or a remote positive (+) terminal if the
vehicle has one. Negative (
-) will go to a heavy,
unpainted metal engine part or a remote negative (
-)
terminal if the vehicle has one.
Don't connect positive (+) to negative (
-) or you'll
get a short that would damage the battery and maybe
other parts too. And don't connect the negative (
-)
cable to the negative (
-) terminal on the dead battery
because this can cause sparks.
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NOTICE:
Spinning your wheels can destroy parts of your
vehicle as well as the tires. If you spin the wheels
too fast while shifting your transmission back
and forth, you can destroy your transmission.
For information about using tire chains on your vehicle,
see ªTire Chainsº in the Index.
Rocking Your Vehicle To Get It Out
First, turn your steering wheel left and right. That will
clear the area around your front wheels. If you have a
four
-wheel-drive vehicle, shift into 4HI or 4LO. If your
vehicle has the Traction Assist System, you should turn it
off by pressing the TAS on/off button. Then shift back and
forth between REVERSE (R) and a forward gear, spinning
the wheels as little as possible. Release the accelerator
pedal while you shift, and press lightly on the accelerator
pedal when the transmission is in gear. By slowly spinning
your wheels in the forward and reverse directions, you will
cause a rocking motion that may free your vehicle. If that
doesn't get you out after a few tries, you may need to be
towed out. Or, you can use your recovery hooks if your
vehicle has them. If you do need to be towed out, see
ªTowing Your Vehicleº in the Index.
Using the Recovery Hooks
Your vehicle may be equipped with recovery hooks. The
hooks are provided at the front of your vehicle. You may
need to use them if you're stuck off
-road and need to be
pulled to some place where you can continue driving.
