2011 GMC CANYON Owner's Manual

Bla ck pla te (5 9,1 )
G M C Can yon Owner M an ual - 2011
D riv in g an d Opera tin g 9-5 9
To w in gG en era l To w in g
I n fo rm atio nO nly use to w in g equip m ent th at
h as been de sig ned fo r th e ve hic le .
C onta ct yo u r dea le r or tr a ile rin g
d eale r fo r assis ta nce wit h pre parin g
t h e ve h ic le fo r to w in g atr a il e r.
S ee th e fo llo w in g tr a ile r to w in g
i n fo rm atio n in th is se ctio n:.
F or in fo rm atio n on driv in g
w hile to w in g atr a ile r, se e
 D riv in g Chara cte ris tic s and
T o w in g Tip s.
.
F or m axim um ve h ic le and tr a il e r
w eig hts , se e T ra ile r To w in g.
.
F or in fo rm atio n on equip m ent
t o to w atr a il e r, se e T o w in g
E quip m ent.  F
or in fo rm atio n on to w in g adis a ble d
v e hic le , se e To w in g th e Veh ic le on
p age 10 9 3. F or in fo rm atio n on
t o w in g th e ve h ic le be hin d ano th e r
v e hic le su ch as a moto r hom e, se e
R ecre atio na lV ehic le To w in g on
p age 10 9 4.
D riv in g Chara cte ris tic s
a n d To w in g Tip sP ullin g A Tra ile rH ere are so m e im po rta nt po in ts :.
T here are man y dif fe re n t la w s,
i n clu d in g sp eed lim it re str ic tio n s,
h avin g to do wit h tr a ile rin g .
M ake su re th e rig will b e le gal,
n ot on ly where yo u liv e bu t
a ls o whe re yo u wil l b e driv in g.
A goo d so urc e fo r th is
i n fo rm atio n ca n be sta te or
p ro vin cia lp olic e .
.
C onsid er usin g asw ay co n tr o l.
S ee H it c h es in To w in g
E quip m en t on page 96 9 .
.
D o not to w atr a ile r at all d urin g
t h e fir s t 800 km (5 00 m ile s) th e
n ew ve hic le is driv e n. T he
e ngin e, axle or oth er parts co u ld
b e dam aged.
.
T hen, durin g th e fir s t 800 km
( 5 00 m ile s) th at a tr a il e r is
t o w ed, do not driv e ove r 80 km /h
( 5 0 m ph) and do not m ake sta rts
a t fu ll th ro ttle . T his help s th e
e ngin e and oth er parts of th e
v e hic le wear in at th e heavie r
l o ads.
.
V ehic le s wit h auto m atic
t r a nsm is sio ns ca n to w in
D (D riv e ), but yo u may want to
s h if t to alo w er gear se le ctio n if
t h e tr a nsm is sio n sh if ts to o ofte n
( e .g ., under heavy lo ads and/o r
h illy co ndit io ns). If th e ve hic le
h as a manualtr a nsm is sio n
i t is bette r not to use th e
h ig hest gear.

Bla ck pla te (6 0,1 )
G M C Can yon Owner M an ual - 2011
9 -6 0 Driv in g an d Opera tin gT hre e im po rta nt co nsid e ra tio ns
h ave to do wit h weig ht:.
T he weig ht of th e tr a ile r
.
T he weig ht of th e tr a ile r to ngue
.
T he weig ht on th e ve hic le 's tir e s
D riv in g wit h aTra il e r
{
W ARNIN G
W hen to w in g atr a ile r, exh aust
g ase s m ay co lle ct at th e re ar
o f th e ve hic le and en te r if th e
l if tg ate , tr u n k/h atc h , or re ar-m ost
w in dow is open .
E ngin e exh aust co n ta in s Carb on
M onoxid e (C O )w hic h ca nnot be
s e en or sm elle d. It ca n ca use
u nco nscio u sn ess and eve n death .
( C ontin ued)
W ARNIN G (C ontin u ed )
To maxim iz e sa fe ty when to w in g
a tr a ile r:.H ave th e exh au st sys te m
i n sp ecte d fo r le aks an d make
n ece ssa ry re p air s befo re
s ta rtin g a tr ip ..N eve r driv e wit h th e lif tg ate ,
t r u nk/h atc h , or re ar-m ost
w in dow op en..F ull y op en th e air outle ts
o n or und er th e in str u m ent
p anel..A dju st th e Clim ate Contr o l
s ys te m to ase tt in g th a t
b rin gs in only ou ts id e air
a nd se t th e fa n sp ee d to th e
h ig hest se tt in g. S ee Cli m ate
C ontr o lS yste m in th e In dex.
F or m ore in fo rm atio n abo ut
C arb on Monoxid e, se e Engin e
E xh aust on pa ge 93 6. T
o w in g a tr a ile r re quir e s a ce rta in
a m ount of exp erie nce . G et to kn ow
t h e rig befo re se ttin g out fo r th e
o p en ro ad. G et acq uain te d wit h th e
f e e lo f handlin g and bra kin g wit h
t h e added weig ht of th e tr a ile r. A nd
a lw ays ke ep in min d th at th e ve hic le
y o u are driv in g is now lo nger and
n o t as re sp onsiv e as th e ve hic le is
b y it s e lf .
B efo re sta rtin g, ch eck all tr a il e r
h it c h parts and atta ch m ents , sa fe ty
c h ain s, ele ctr ic a lco nnecto rs , la m ps,
t ir e s and mir ro r adju stm ents . If th e
t r a ile r has ele ctr ic bra ke s, sta rt th e
v e hic le and tr a il e r m ovin g and th en
a p ply th e tr a ile r bra ke co ntr o lle r
b y hand to be su re th e bra ke s are
w ork in g. T his ch ecks th e ele ctr ic a l
c o nn ectio n at th e sa m e tim e.
D urin g th e tr ip , ch eck occa sio nally
t o be su re th at th e lo ad is se cu re ,
a n d th at th e la m ps and any tr a ile r
b ra ke s are still w ork in g.

Bla ck pla te (6 1,1 )
G M C Can yon Owner M an ual - 2011
D riv in g an d Opera tin g 9-6 1
W hile to w in g a tr a il e r or w hen
e xp ose d to lo ng pe rio d s of
s u nsh in e, th e flo or of th e tr u ck bed
m ay be co m e ve ry warm .A vo id
p uttin g it e m sin th e tr u ck bed th a t
m ig ht be aff e cte d by hig h am bie n t
t e m pe ra tu re s.F ollo w in g Dis ta n ceS ta y at le ast tw ic e as fa r behin d th e
v e hic le ahe ad as yo u would whe n
d riv in g th e ve hic le wit h out a tr a ile r.
T his ca n he lp to avo id sit u atio ns
t h at re quir e he avy bra kin g and
s u dden tu rn s.P assin gM ore passin g dis ta n ce is needed
w hen to w in g a tr a ile r. B eca use th e
r ig is lo ng er, it is nece ssa ry to go
m uch fa rth er beyo n d th e passe d
v e hic le befo re re tu rn in g to th e la ne .
B ackin g UpH old th e bott o m of th e ste e rin g
w heelw it h one ha nd. T he n, to
m ove th e tr a il e r to th e le ft, m ove
t h at han d to th e le ft. To move th e
t r a il e r to th e rig ht, m ove yo ur hand
t o th e rig h t. A lw ays back up slo w ly
a nd, if possib le , have so m eo ne
g uid e yo u .M akin g Tu rn sN otic e: Makin g ve ry sh arp tu rn s
w hil e tr a ile rin g co u ld cau se th e
t r a il e r to co m ein co nta ct w it h th e
v eh ic le . T h e veh ic le co uld be
d am ag ed .A vo id mak in g very
s h arp tu rn s while tr a ile rin g.
W hen tu rn in g wit h a tr a ile r, m ake
w id er tu rn s th an norm al. D o th is
s o th e tr a il e r w ill n ot str ik e so ft
s h ould e rs , cu rb s, ro a d sig ns, tr e es
o r oth er obje cts . A vo id je rk y or
s u dden mane uve rs . S ig nalw ell in
a dva nce .
Tu rn Sig nals W hen To w in g a
T ra ile rT he arro w s on th e in str u m ent pane l
f la sh wheneve r sig nali n g atu rn or
l a n e ch ange. P ro perly hooke d up ,
t h e tr a ile r la m ps als o fla sh , te lli n g
o th er driv e rs th e ve hic le is tu rn in g,
c h a ngin g la nes or sto ppin g.
W hen to w in g atr a ile r, th e arro w s on
t h e in str u m ent panelfla sh fo r tu rn s
e ve n if th e bulb s on th e tr a ile r are
b urn ed out. F or th is re aso n yo u
m ay th in k oth er driv e rs are se ein g
t h e sig nalw hen th ey are not. It is
i m porta nt to ch eck occ a sio nally to
b e su re th e tr a ile r bulb s are still
w ork in g.

Bla ck pla te (6 2,1 )
G M C Can yon Owner M an ual - 2011
9 -6 2 Driv in g an d Opera tin gD riv in g On Gra d esR educe sp eed and sh if t to a
l o w er gear befo re sta rtin g dow n a
l o ng or ste e p dow ngra d e. If th e
t r a nsm is sio n is not sh if te d dow n, th e
b ra ke s m ig ht ha ve to be use d so
m uch th at th ey would ge t hot and no
l o ng er w ork well .
V ehic le s wit h au to m atic
t r a nsm is sio ns ca n to w in D (D riv e ),
b u t yo u may want to sh if t to a lo w er
g e ar se le ctio n if th e tr a n sm is s io n
s h if ts to o ofte n (e .g ., under heavy
l o ad s and/o r hilly co n dit io ns). If th e
v e hic le has a man ua ltr a n sm is sio n it
i s bette r no t to use th e hig hest gear. W
hen to w in g at hig h alt it u de on
s te ep uphill g ra des, co nsid e r th e
f o ll o w in g: E ng in e co ola n t w ill b oil a t
a lo w er te m pera tu re th a n at norm al
a lt it u des. If th e engin e is tu rn ed off
i m media te ly afte r to w in g at hig h
a lt it u de on ste ep up hill g ra d es, th e
v e hic le may sh ow sig n s sim ila r to
e ngin e ove rh ea tin g. To avo id th is ,
l e t th e engin e ru n whil e park e d ,
p re fe ra bly on le ve lg ro un d, w it h an
a uto m atic tr a nsm is sio n in P (P ark )
o r a manualtr a n sm is sio n in
N (N eutr a l) w it h th e pa rk in g bra ke
a ppli e d, fo r a fe w min ute s be fo re
t u rn in g th e eng in e off . If th e
o ve rh eat w arn in g co m es on, se e
E ngin e Ove rh eatin g on pa ge 102 4 .
P ark in g on Hills
{
W ARNIN G
Park in g th e ve hic le on ahill
w it h th e tr a ile r atta ch ed ca n be
d a ngero us. If so m eth in g goes
w ro ng, th e rig co uld sta rt to move .
P eople ca n be in ju re d, and both
t h e ve hic le and th e tr a il e r ca n be
d a m aged. W hen possib le , alw ays
p a rk th e rig on a fla t su rfa ce .
I f pa rk in g th e rig on ahill :
1 . Pre ss th e bra ke pedal, but do
n ot sh if t in to P (P ark ) ye t fo r
v e hic le s wit h an auto m atic
t r a nsm is sio n, or in to gear
f o r ve hic le s wit h amanual
t r a nsm is sio n. T urn th e wheels
i n to th e cu rb if fa cin g dow nhill
o r in to tr a ff ic if fa cin g uphill.
2 . Have so m eone pla ce ch ocks
u nder th e tr a il e r w heels .

Bla ck pla te (6 3,1 )
G M C Can yon Owner M an ual - 2011
D riv in g an d Opera tin g 9-6 3
3 . When th e whee lch ocks are in
p la ce , re le ase th e bra ke pedal
u ntil th e ch ock s ab so rb th e lo ad.
4 . Reap ply th e bra ke pedal. T hen
a pply th e park in g bra ke and sh if t
i n to P (P ark ) fo r ve hic le s wit h an
a uto m atic tr a nsm is s io n or in to
g ear fo r ve h ic le s wit h amanual
t r a nsm is sio n.
5 . If th e ve hic le has
f o ur-w he el- d riv e , be su re
t h e tr a nsfe r ca se is in adriv e
g ear and not in N (N eutr a l) .
S ee Four-W heelD riv e on
p age 103 1 fo r m ore in fo rm atio n.
6 . Rele ase th e bra ke pedal.
L eavin g Afte r Park in g on aHill1 . Apply an d hold th e bra ke pe dal
w hil e yo u:
.
S ta rt th e engin e
.
S hif t in to agea r
.
R ele a se th e park in g bra ke
2 . Let up on th e bra ke peda l.
3 . Driv e slo w ly until th e tr a il e r is
c le ar of th e ch o cks .
4 . Sto p and have so m eon e pic k up
a nd sto re th e ch ocks.
M ain te n an ce W hen Tra ile r
T o w in gT he ve hic le needs se rv ic e more
o fte n when pulli n g atr a il e r. S ee
S ch edule d Main te nance on
p age 11 2 or th e In dex fo r m ore
i n fo rm atio n. T hin gs th at are
e sp ecia ll y im porta nt in tr a ile r
o pera tio n are auto m atic
t r a nsm is sio n flu id , engin e oil ,
a xle lu bric a nt, belt s , co olin g
s ys te m and bra ke syste m .It is a
g ood id ea to in sp ect th ese befo re
a nd durin g th e tr ip .
C heck perio dic a lly to se e th at all
h it c h nuts and bolt s are tig ht.

Bla ck pla te (6 4,1 )
G M C Can yon Owner M an ual - 2011
9 -6 4 Driv in g an d Opera tin gTra ile r To w in g
{
W ARNIN G
The driv e r ca n lo se co ntr o lw hen
p ullin g a tr a il e r if th e co rre ct
e quip m ent is not use d or th e
v e hic le is no t driv e n pro perly .
F or exa m ple , if th e tr a ile r is
t o o he avy, th e bra ke s m ay not
w ork well  or eve n at all . T he
d riv e r and pa sse ng ers co uld be
s e rio usly in ju re d. T he ve hic le may
a ls o be dam aged; th e re su lt in g
r e pair s would not be co ve re d by
t h e ve hic le warra nty . P ull a tr a ile r
o nly if all th e ste p s in th is se ctio n
h ave been fo llo w ed. A sk yo ur
d eale r fo r ad vic e an d in fo rm atio n
a bou t to w in g atr a ile r w it h th e
v e hic le . N
otic e: Pulli n g atr a il e r
i m pro perly can dam ag e th e
v eh ic le an d re su lt in co stly
r e p air s not co vere d by th e
v eh ic le warr a n ty . To pu ll a tr a ile r
c o rre ctly , fo llo w th e ad vic e in th is
s ectio n an d se e yo ur dea le r fo r
i m porta n t in fo rm atio n ab ou t
t o w in g atr a ile r w it h th e ve h ic le .
T o id entif y th e tr a ile rin g ca pacit y of
t h e ve hic le , re ad th e in fo rm atio n in
 W eig ht of th e Tra il e r th a t appea rs
l a te r in th is se ctio n .
T ra ile rin g is dif fe re n t th a n ju st
d riv in g th e ve hic le by it s e lf .
T ra ile rin g means ch ang es in
h andlin g, acce le ra tio n, bra kin g,
d ura bili t y and fu ele co n om y.
S ucc e ssfu l, sa fe tr a il e rin g ta ke s
c o rre ct equip m en t, an d it has to be
u se d pro pe rly .
T he fo llo w in g in fo rm atio n has m an y
t im e-te ste d, im porta nt tr a ile rin g tip s
a nd sa fe ty ru le s. M an y of th ese are
i m porta nt fo r yo u r sa fe ty an d th at of y
o ur passe ngers . S o ple ase re ad
t h is se ctio n ca re fu ll y befo re pull in g a
t r a ile r.
W eig ht of th e Tra ile rH ow heavy ca n atr a ile r sa fe ly be?
I t de pends on how th e rig is use d.
F or exa m ple , sp eed, alt it u de, ro ad
g ra de s, outs id e te m pera tu re and
h o w much th e ve hic le is use d to
p u ll a tr a ile r are all im porta nt. It ca n
d e pen d on any sp ecia le quip m ent
o n th e ve hic le , and th e am ount of
t o n gue weig ht th e ve hic le ca n ca rry .
S ee W eig ht of th e Tra ile r To ngue
l a te r in th is se ctio n fo r m ore
i n fo rm atio n.
M axim um tr a ile r w eig ht is
c a lc u la te d assu m in g only th e driv e r
i s in th e to w ve hic le and it has all
t h e re quir e d tr a ile rin g equip m ent.
T he weig ht of addit io nalo ptio nal
e q uip m ent, passe ngers and ca rg o in
t h e to w ve hic le must be su btr a cte d
f r o m th e maxim um tr a ile r w eig ht.

Bla ck pla te (6 5,1 )
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D riv in g an d Opera tin g 9-6 5
U se th e fo llo w in g ch a rt to dete rm in e how much th e ve hic le ca n weig h, base d upon th e ve hic le modela nd optio ns.
V eh ic le Axle Ratio Maxim um Tra ile r W eig h t GCW R*
2 W D Regu la r C ab
2 .9 L L4 Auto m atic Tra nsm is sio n 3.7 3 154 2 kg (3 ,4 00 lb s) 3175 kg (7 ,0 00 lb s)
2 .9 L L4 Man ualT ra nsm is sio n 3.7 3 1089 kg (2 ,4 00 lb s) 2722 kg (6 ,0 0 0 lb s)
3 .7 L L5 Auto m atic Tra nsm is sio n 3.7 3 1814 kg (4 ,0 00 lb s) 3856 kg (8 ,5 0 0 lb s)
2 W D Exte n ded Cab
2 .9 L L4 Auto m atic Tra nsm is sio n 3.7 3 145 2 kg (3 ,2 00 lb s) 3175 kg (7 ,0 00 lb s)
2 .9 L L4 Man ualT ra nsm is sio n 3.7 3 99 8 kg (2 ,2 00 lb s) 2722 kg (6 ,0 00 lb s)
3 .7 L L5 Auto m atic Tra nsm is sio n 3.7 3 2495 kg (5 ,5 00 lb s) 4309 kg (9 ,5 0 0 lb s)
5 .3 L V8 Auto m atic Tra nsm is sio n 3
.4 2
3 .7 3 2
722 kg (6 ,0 00 lb s) 4717 kg (1 0,4 00 lb s)
5 .3 L V8 Auto m atic Tra nsm is sio n,
Z Q 8 Spo rt S usp en sio n 3
.4 2 1814 kg (4 ,0 00 lb s) 3856 kg (8 ,5 0 0 lb s)

Bla ck pla te (6 6,1 )
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9 -6 6 Driv in g an d Opera tin g
V eh ic le Axle Ratio Maxim um Tra ile r W eig ht GCW R*
2 W D Cre w Cab
2 .9 L L4 Auto m atic Tra nsm is sio n 3.7 3 136 1 kg (3 ,0 00 lb s) 3175 kg (7 ,0 00 lb s)
2 .9 L L4 Manu alT ra n sm is sio n 3.7 3 95 3 kg (2 ,1 00 lb s) 2722 kg (6 ,0 00 lb s)
3 .7 L L5 Auto m atic Tra nsm is sio n 3.7 3 2495 kg (5 ,5 00 lb s) 4309 kg (9 ,5 0 0 lb s)
5 .3 L V8 Auto m atic Tra nsm is sio n 3
.4 2
3 .7 3 2
72 2 kg (6 ,0 00 lb s) 4717 kg (1 0,4 00 lb s)
5 .3 L V8 Auto m atic Tra nsm is sio n,
Z Q 8 Spo rt S usp en sio n 3
.4 2 172 4 kg (3 ,8 00 lb s) 3856 kg (8 ,5 00 lb s)
4 W D Regula r C ab
2 .9 L L4 Auto m atic Tra nsm is sio n 3.7 3 140 6 kg (3 ,1 00 lb s) 3175 kg (7 ,0 00 lb s)
2 .9 L L4 Manu alT ra n sm is sio n 3.7 3 95 3 kg (2 ,1 00 lb s) 2722 kg (6 ,0 00 lb s)
3 .7 L L5 Auto m atic Tra nsm is sio n 3.7 3 1814 kg (4 ,0 00 lb s) 4082 kg (9 ,0 0 0 lb s)
4 W D Exte n ded Cab
2 .9 L L4 Auto m atic Tra nsm is sio n 3.7 3 131 5 kg (2 ,9 00 lb s) 3175 kg (7 ,0 00 lb s)
2 .9 L L4 Manu alT ra nsm is sio n 3.7 3 86 1 kg (1 ,9 00 lb s) 2722 kg (6 ,0 00 lb s)
3 .7 L L5 Auto m atic Tra nsm is sio n 3.7 3 2495 kg (5 ,5 00 lb s) 4445 kg (9 ,8 0 0 lb s)
5 .3 L V8 Auto m atic Tra nsm is sio n 3
.4 2
4 .1 0 2
72 2 kg (6 ,0 00 lb s) 4717 kg (1 0,4 00 lb s)