2013 KIA CEED tow bar

Driving your vehicle
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5
Towbar hitches
It's important to have the correct towbar
hitch equipment. Crosswinds, large
trucks going by, and rough roads are a
few reasons why you’ll need the right
towbar hitch. Here are some rules to fol-
low:
 Do you have to make any holes in the
body of your vehicle when you install a
trailer towbar hitch? If you do, then be
sure to seal the holes later when you
remove the towbar hitch.
If you do not seal them, deadly carbon
monoxide (CO) from your exhaust can
get into your vehicle, as well as dirt and
water.  The bumpers on your vehicle are not
intended for towbar hitches. Do not
attach rental towbar hitches or other
bumper-type towbar hitches to them.
Use only a frame-mounted towbarhitch that does not attach to the
bumper.
 A Kia accessory trailer towbar hitch is available at an authorised Kia dealer. Safety chains
You should always attach chains
between your vehicle and your trailer.
Cross the safety chains under the tongue
of the trailer so that the tongue will not
drop to the road if it becomes separated
from the towbar hitch.
Instructions about safety chains may be
provided by the towbar hitch manufactur-
er or by the trailer manufacturer. Follow
the manufacturer’s recommendation for
attaching safety chains. Always leave just
enough slack so you can turn with your
trailer. And, never allow safety chains to
drag on the ground.
OJD052024
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573
Driving your vehicle
Trailer brakes
If your trailer is equipped with a braking
system, make sure it conforms to your
country’s regulations and that it is prop-
erly installed and operating correctly.
If your trailer weight exceeds the maxi-
mum allowed weight without trailer
brakes, then the trailer will also require its
own brakes as well. Be sure to read and
follow the instructions for the trailer
brakes so you’ll be able to install, adjust
and maintain them properly.
 Do not tap into or modify your vehicle'sbrake system. Driving with a trailer
Towing a trailer requires a certain
amount of experience. Before setting out
for the open road, you must get to know
your trailer. 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 so responsive as your vehicle is
by itself.
Before you start, check the trailer towbar
hitch and platform, safety chains, electri-
cal connector(s), lights, tyres and mirror
adjustment. If the trailer has electric
brakes, start your vehicle and trailer mov-
ing and then apply the trailer brake con-
troller by hand to be sure the brakes are
working. This lets you check your electri-
cal connection at the same time.
During your trip, check occasionally to be
sure that the load is secure, and that the
lights and any trailer brakes are still work-ing.Following distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the vehi-
cle 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 of the increased vehicle length,
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 your 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
When you’re turning with a trailer, make
wider turns than normal. Do this so your
trailer won’t strike soft shoulders, curbs,
road signs, trees, or other objects. Avoid
jerky or sudden manoeuvres. Signal well
in advance.
WARNING
- Trailer brakes
Do not use a trailer with its own
brakes unless you are absolutely
certain that you have properly set
up the brake system. This is not a
task for amateurs. Use an experi-
enced, competent trailer shop for
this work.
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Driving your vehicle
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5
When you are ready to leave after park- ing on a hill
1. With the manual transaxle in Neutral
or automatic transaxle in P (Park),
apply your brakes and hold the brake
pedal down whilst you:
 Start your engine;
 Shift into gear; and
 Release the parking brake.
2. Slowly remove your foot from the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks. Maintenance when trailer towing
Your vehicle will need service more often
when you regularly pull a trailer.
Important items to pay particular atten-tion to include engine oil, automatic
transaxle fluid, axle lubricant and cooling
system fluid. Brake condition is another
important item to frequently check. Each
item is covered in this manual, and the
Index will help you find them quickly. If
you’re trailering, it is a good idea to
review these sections before you start
your trip.
Do not forget to also maintain your trailer
and towbar hitch. Follow the mainte-
nance schedule that accompanied your
trailer and check it periodically.
Preferably, conduct the check at the start
of each day’s driving. Most importantly,
all towbar hitch nuts and bolts should betight.CAUTION
 Due to higher load during trailer
usage, overheating might occur
in hot days or during uphill driv-ing. If the coolant gauge indicatesover-heating, switch off the air conditioner and stop the vehicle
in a safe area to cool down the engine.
 When towing check transaxle fluid more frequently.
 If your vehicle is not equipped with an air conditioner, youshould install a condenser fan to improve engine performance
when towing a trailer.
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Driving your vehicle
If you do decide to pull a trailer
Here are some important points if you decide to pull a trailer:
 Consider using a sway control. You can ask a towbar hitch dealer about sway control.
 Do not do any towing with your car during its first 2,000 km (1,200 miles) in order to allow the engine to properly break in. Failure
to heed this caution may result in serious engine or transaxle damage.
 When towing a trailer, we recommend that you consult an authorised Kia dealer on additional requirements such as a towing kit, etc.
 Always drive your vehicle at a moderate speed (less than 100 km/h (60 mph)).
 On a long uphill grade, do not exceed 70 km/h (45 mph) or the posted towing speed limit, whichever is lower.
 The chart contains important considerations that have to do with weight:
Engine
Item
Petrol 1.4LPetrol 1.6L MPI Petrol 1.6L GDIDiesel 1.4L Diesel 1.6L
M/TM/TA/T M/T A/T (DCT)M/T M/T A/T
Maximum trailer
weight kg (Ibs.)
Without brakeSystem600
(1,323)600
(1,323)600
(1,323) 600
(1,323) 600
(1,323)650
(1,433) 650
(1,433) 650
(1,433)
With brake System
1,200
(2,646)1,300
(2,866)1200
(2,646) 1,400
(3,086) 1,300
(2,866)1,500
(3,307) 1,500
(3,307) 1,300
(2,866)
Maximum permissible static
vertical load on the coupling device kg (Ibs.)
60
(132)60
(132)60
(132) 60
(132) 60
(132)75
(165) 75
(165) 75
(165)
Recommended distance from rear wheel centre to coupling point mm (inch)
5 Door : 859 (33.8)
Wagon : 1,055 (41.54)
For Europe
M/T : Manual transaxle
A/T : Automatic transaxle
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