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Driving your vehicle
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 thebody 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 don’t 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. Use only
a frame-mounted towbar hitch that
does not attach to the bumper.
We recommend that you contact an authorised Kia dealer for the Kia trailer
hitch accessory.
OYN059101/OYN059102
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Safety chains
You should always attach chains
between your vehicle and your trailer.
Cross the safety chains under the nose
of the trailer so that the nose 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
drag on the ground. 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 weighs more than the max-
imum trailer weight without trailer brakes
loaded, then it needs its own brakes and
they must be adequate. Be sure to read
and follow the instructions for the trailer
brakes so you’ll be able to install, adjust
and maintain them properly.
Don’t tap into your vehicle's brake sys-
tem. 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 trailer brakes are still working.
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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When you are ready to leave after park- ing on a hill
1. With the manual transaxle in Neutralor 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’s a good idea to review
these sections before you start your trip.
Don’t 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 A/Cand stop the vehicle in a safe area
to cool down the engine.
When towing, check the transaxle fluid more frequently.
If your vehicle is not equipped with an air conditioner, you
should install a condenser fan to improve engine performancewhen towing a trailer.
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5
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 dur- ing 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 Kiadealer on additional requirements such
as a towing kit, etc.
Always drive your vehicle at a moder- ate speed (less than 100 km/h / 60
mph). If your vehicle is a commercial
vehicle, drive less than 80 km/h.
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 consider- ations that have to do with weight: M/T : Manual transaxle
A/T : Automatic transaxleEngine
Item Petrol Engine Diesel Engine
1.4
Engine
1.6 Engine1.4
Engine
1.6
EngineM/T A/T
Maximum trailer weight kg (Ibs.)
Without brakeSystem 550
(1213) 550
(1213)
550
(1213) 550
(1213) 550
(1213)
With brake System 1300
(2866) 1300
(2866)
1100
(2425) 1300
(2866) 1300
(2866)
Maximum permissible static
vertical load on the coupling
device kg (Ibs.) 75
(165)
Recommended distance
from rear wheel centre tocoupling point mm (inch) 768
(30.2)
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