2012 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV trailer

Black plate (47,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012 - 2nd CRC - 11/29/11
Driving and Operating 9-47The SBZA displays may remain on
if a trailer is attached to the vehicle,
or a bicycle or object is extending
out to either side of the vehicle.
When SBZA is disabled for any
reason other than the driver turning
it off, it cannot be turned back on.
The SIDE BLIND ZONE ALERT ON
option will not be selectable if the
conditions for normal system
operation are not met.
SBZA Error Messages
The following messages may
appear in the DIC:
SIDE BLIND ZONE ALERT
SYSTEM OFF: This message
indicates that the driver has turned
the system off. SIDE BLIND ZONE SYSTEM
UNAVAILABLE: This message
indicates that the SBZA system is
disabled either because the sensor
is blocked and cannot detect
vehicles in your blind zone, or the
vehicle is passing through an open
field of view area, such as the
desert, where there is insufficient
data for operation. This message
may also activate during heavy rain
or due to road spray. The vehicle
does not need service. For cleaning,
see “ Washing the Vehicle ” under
Exterior Care on page 10 ‑ 96 .
SERVICE SIDE BLIND ZONE
ALERT SYSTEM: If this message
appears, both SBZA displays will
remain on indicating there is a
problem with the SBZA system.
If these displays remain on after
continued driving, the system needs
service. Take the vehicle to your
dealer. FCC Information See Radio Frequency Statement on
page 13 ‑ 21 for information
regarding Part 15 of the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC)
rules and Industry Canada
Standards RSS-GEN/210/220/310.
Frequency of operation:
24.05GHz – 24.25GHz
Field Strength: Not greater than
2.5V/m peak (0.25V/m average) at a
distance of 3m
The manufacturer is not responsible
for any radio or TV interference
caused by unauthorized
modifications to this equipment.
Such modifications could void the
user's authority to operate the
equipment.

Black plate (57,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012 - 2nd CRC - 11/29/11
Driving and Operating 9-57WARNING (Continued) .
Bring the fill nozzle in contact
with the inside of the fill
opening before operating the
nozzle. Contact should be
maintained until the filling is
complete. .
Do not smoke while
pumping fuel. .
Do not use a cellular phone
while pumping fuel. Towing General Towing
Information Only use towing equipment that has
been designed for the vehicle.
Contact your dealer or trailering
dealer for assistance with preparing
the vehicle for towing a trailer.
See the following trailer towing
information in this section: .
For information on driving while
towing a trailer, see “ Driving
Characteristics and
Towing Tips. ” .
For maximum vehicle and trailer
weights, see “ Trailer Towing. ”.
For information on equipment to
tow a trailer, see “ Towing
Equipment. ”
For information on towing a disabled
vehicle, see Towing the Vehicle on
page 10 ‑ 93 . For information on
towing the vehicle behind another vehicle such as a motor home, see
Recreational Vehicle Towing on
page 10 ‑ 93 .
Driving Characteristics
and Towing Tips Pulling a Trailer Here are some important points: .
There are many different laws,
including speed limit restrictions,
having to do with trailering.
Make sure the rig will be legal,
not only where you live but also
where you will be driving. .
Consider using a sway control.
See “ Hitches ” later in this
section. .
Do not tow a trailer at all during
the first 800 km (500 miles) the
new vehicle is driven. The
engine, axle or other parts could
be damaged. .
Then, during the first 800 km
(500 miles) that a trailer is
towed, do not drive over 80 km/h

Black plate (58,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012 - 2nd CRC - 11/29/11
9-58 Driving and Operating (50 mph) and do not make starts
at full throttle. This helps the
engine and other parts of the
vehicle wear in at the heavier
loads. .
Vehicles can tow in D (Drive).
Shift the transmission to a lower
gear if the transmission shifts
too often under heavy loads and/
or hilly conditions. .
If the vehicle has the Side Blind
Zone Alert (SBZA) system and it
doesn't seem to be working
properly while pulling a trailer,
turn the system off. See Side
Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) on
page 9 ‑ 45 for more information.
Important considerations that have
to do with weight: .
The weight of the trailer .
The weight of the trailer tongue .
The weight on the vehicle's tires .
And the weight of the trailering
combination Driving with a Trailer
{ WARNINGWhen towing a trailer, exhaust
gases may collect at the rear of
the vehicle and enter if the
liftgate, trunk/hatch, or rear-most
window is open.
Engine exhaust contains Carbon
Monoxide (CO) which cannot be
seen or smelled. It can cause
unconsciousness and even death.
To maximize safety when towing
a trailer: .
Have the exhaust system
inspected for leaks and make
necessary repairs before
starting a trip. .
Never drive with the liftgate,
trunk/hatch, or rear-most
window open.
(Continued) WARNING (Continued) .
Fully open the air outlets on
or under the instrument
panel. .
Adjust the Climate Control
system to a setting that
brings in only outside air and
set the fan speed to the
highest setting. See Climate
Control System in the Index.
For more information about
Carbon Monoxide, see Engine
Exhaust on page 9 ‑ 29 .
Towing a trailer requires a certain
amount of experience. The
combination you are driving is
longer and not as responsive as the
vehicle itself. Get acquainted with
the handling and braking of the rig
before setting out for the open road.

Black plate (59,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012 - 2nd CRC - 11/29/11
Driving and Operating 9-59Before starting, check all trailer hitch
parts and attachments, safety
chains, electrical connectors,
lamps, tires and mirrors. If the
trailer has electric brakes, start the
combination moving and then apply
the trailer brake controller by hand
to be sure the brakes work.
During the trip, check occasionally
to be sure that the load is secure
and the lamps and any trailer
brakes still work.
Following Distance Stay at least twice as far behind the
vehicle ahead as you would when
driving the vehicle without a trailer.
This can help to avoid heavy
braking and sudden turns. Passing More passing distance is needed
when towing a trailer. The
combination will not accelerate as
quickly and is longer so it is
necessary to go much farther
beyond the passed vehicle before
returning to the lane.
Backing Up Hold the bottom of the steering
wheel with one hand. Then, to move
the trailer to the left, 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.
Making Turns
Notice: Making very sharp turns
while trailering could cause the
trailer to come in contact with the
vehicle. The vehicle could be
damaged. Avoid making very
sharp turns while trailering. When turning with a trailer, make
wider turns than normal. Do this so
the trailer will not strike soft
shoulders, curbs, road signs, trees
or other objects. Avoid jerky or
sudden maneuvers. Signal well in
advance.
If the trailer turn signal bulbs burn
out, the arrows on the instrument
panel will still flash for turns. It is
important to check occasionally to
be sure the trailer bulbs are still
working.
Driving on Grades Reduce speed and shift to a lower
gear before starting down a long or
steep downgrade. If the
transmission is not shifted down, the
brakes might get hot and no longer
work well.
Vehicles can tow in D (Drive). Shift
the transmission to a lower gear if
the transmission shifts too often
under heavy loads and/or hilly
conditions.

Black plate (60,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012 - 2nd CRC - 11/29/11
9-60 Driving and Operating The tow/haul mode may be used if
the transmission shifts too often.
See Tow/Haul Mode on page 9 ‑ 33 .
When towing at high altitude on
steep uphill grades, consider the
following: Engine coolant will boil at
a lower temperature than at normal
altitudes. If the engine is turned off
immediately after towing at high
altitude on steep uphill grades, the
vehicle may show signs similar to
engine overheating. To avoid this,
let the engine run while parked,
preferably on level ground, with the
automatic transmission in P (Park)
for a few minutes before turning the
engine off. If the overheat warning
comes on, see Engine Overheating
on page 10 ‑ 19 . Parking on Hills
{ WARNINGParking the vehicle on a hill with
the trailer attached can be
dangerous. If something goes
wrong, the rig could start to move.
People can be injured, and both
the vehicle and the trailer can be
damaged. When possible, always
park the rig on a flat surface.
If parking the rig on a hill:
1. Press the brake pedal, but do
not shift into P (Park) yet. Turn
the wheels into the curb if facing
downhill or into traffic if facing
uphill.
2. Have someone place chocks
under the trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in
place, release the regular brakes
until the chocks absorb the load. 4. Reapply the brake pedal. Then
apply the parking brake and shift
into P (Park).
5. Release the brake pedal.
{ WARNINGIt can be dangerous to get out of
the vehicle if the shift lever is not
fully in P (Park) with the parking
brake firmly set. The vehicle
can roll.
If the engine has been left
running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You or others could be
injured. To be sure the vehicle will
not move, even when on fairly
level ground, always put the shift
lever fully in P (Park) with the
parking brake firmly set.
Leaving After Parking on a Hill
1. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
2. Start the engine.
3. Shift into a gear.

Black plate (61,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012 - 2nd CRC - 11/29/11
Driving and Operating 9-614. Release the parking brake.
5. Let up on the brake pedal.
6. Drive slowly until the trailer is
clear of the chocks.
7. Stop and have someone pick up
and store the chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer
Towing The vehicle needs service more
often when pulling a trailer. See the
Maintenance Schedule for more
information. Things that are
especially important in trailer
operation are automatic
transmission fluid, engine oil, axle
lubricant, belts, cooling system and
brake system. It is a good idea to
inspect these before and during
the trip.
Check periodically to see that all
hitch nuts and bolts are tight. Trailer Towing If the vehicle is a hybrid, see the
hybrid supplement for more
information.
Do not tow a trailer during break ‐ in.
See New Vehicle Break-In on
page 9 ‑ 21 for more information.
{ WARNINGThe driver can lose control when
pulling a trailer if the correct
equipment is not used or the
vehicle is not driven properly. For
example, if the trailer is too
heavy, the brakes may not work
well — or even at all. The driver
and passengers could be
seriously injured. The vehicle may
also be damaged; the resulting
repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Pull a trailer
only if all the steps in this section
have been followed. Ask your
(Continued) WARNING (Continued) dealer for advice and information
about towing a trailer with the
vehicle.
Notice: Pulling a trailer
improperly can damage the
vehicle and result in costly
repairs not covered by the vehicle
warranty. To pull a trailer
correctly, follow the advice in this
section and see your dealer for
important information about
towing a trailer with the vehicle.
To identify the trailering capacity of
the vehicle, read the information in
“ Weight of the Trailer ” that appears
later in this section.
Trailering is different than just
driving the vehicle by itself.
Trailering means changes in
handling, acceleration, braking,
durability and fuel economy.
Successful, safe trailering takes
correct equipment, and it has to be
used properly.

Black plate (62,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012 - 2nd CRC - 11/29/11
9-62 Driving and Operating The following information has 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 pulling a
trailer.
Weight of the Trailer How heavy can a trailer safely be?
It depends on how the rig is used.
Speed, altitude, road grades,
outside temperature and how much
the vehicle is used to pull a trailer
are all important. It can depend on any special equipment on the
vehicle, and the amount of tongue
weight the vehicle can carry. See
“ Weight of the Trailer Tongue ” later
in this section for more information.
Trailer weight rating (TWR) is
calculated assuming the tow vehicle
has only the driver but all required
trailering equipment. Weight of
additional optional equipment,
passengers and cargo in the tow
vehicle must be subtracted from the
trailer weight rating.

Black plate (63,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012 - 2nd CRC - 11/29/11
Driving and Operating 9-63Use the following chart to determine how much the vehicle can weigh, based upon the vehicle model and options.
Vehicle Axle Ratio Maximum Trailer Weight GCWR*
Escalade 2WD 6.2L V8 3.42 3 765 kg (8,300 lbs) 6 350 kg (14,000 lbs)
Escalade AWD 6.2L V8 3.42 3 674 kg (8,100 lbs) 6 350 kg (14,000 lbs)
Escalade ESV 2WD 6.2L V8 3.42 3 629 kg (8,000 lbs) 6 350 kg (14,000 lbs)
Escalade ESV AWD 6.2L V8 3.42 3 493 kg (7,700 lbs) 6 350 kg (14,000 lbs)
*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 the vehicle should not be
exceeded.
Ask your dealer for trailering
information or advice, or write us at
our Customer Assistance Offices.
See Customer Assistance Offices
(U.S. and Canada) on page 13 ‑ 4 or
Customer Assistance Offices
(Mexico) on page 13 ‑ 5 for more
information.
Weight of the Trailer Tongue
The tongue load (A) of any trailer is
very important because it is also
part of the vehicle weight. The
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) includes the curb weight of the
vehicle, any cargo carried in it, and
the people who will be riding in the
vehicle as well as trailer tongue
weight. Vehicle options, equipment,
passengers and cargo in the vehicle
reduce the amount of tongue weight
the vehicle can carry, which will also
reduce the trailer weight the vehicle
can tow. See Vehicle Load Limits on
page 9 ‑ 16 for more information
about the vehicle's maximum load
capacity.