
Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10293077) -
2017 - crc - 8/24/16
248 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Warning (Continued)
vehicle is not driven properly. For
example, if the trailer is too heavy
or the trailer brakes are inadequate
for the load, the vehicle may not
stop as expected. 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 dealer for advice
and information about towing a
trailer with the vehicle.
Caution
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, see
“Weight of the Trailer”
following.
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.
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. Read this section
carefully before pulling a trailer.
Weight of the Trailer
Safe trailering requires monitoring the
weight, speed, altitude, road grades,
outside temperature, and how
frequently the vehicle is used to pull a
trailer. Take into consideration 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 not 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 TWR.
Ask your dealer for trailering
information or advice.
Weight of the Trailer Tongue
The tongue load 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 0192 for more
information about the vehicle's
maximum load capacity.

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10293077) -
2017 - crc - 8/24/16
DRIVING AND OPERATING 249
Hitch TypeMaximum Tongue Weight
Weight Carrying 124 kg
Do not exceed the maximum
allowable tongue weight for the
vehicle. Choose the shortest hitch
extension that will position the hitch
ball closest to the vehicle. This will
help reduce the effect of trailer tongue
weight on the rear axle.
Trailer rating may be limited by the
vehicle's ability to carry tongue
weight. Tongue or kingpin weight
cannot cause the vehicle to exceed the
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating)
or the RGAWR (Rear Gross Axle
Weight Rating). See “Total Weight on
the Vehicle's Tires ”following.
After loading the trailer, weigh the
trailer and then the tongue,
separately, to see if the weights are
proper. If they are not, adjustments
might be made by moving some items
around in the trailer.
If a cargo carrier is used in the trailer
hitch receiver, choose a carrier that
positions the load as close to the vehicle as possible. Make sure the
total weight, including the carrier, is
no more than half of the maximum
allowable tongue weight for the
vehicle or 227 kg (500 lb), whichever
is less.
Total Weight on the Vehicle's
Tires
Be sure the vehicle's tires are inflated
to the inflation pressures found on
the Certification label on the driver
side rear door or see
Vehicle Load
Limits 0192. Make sure not to exceed
the GVWR limit for the vehicle, or the
RGAWR, with the tow vehicle and
trailer fully loaded for the trip
including the weight of the trailer
tongue.
Weight of the Trailering
Combination
It is important that the combination
of the tow vehicle and trailer does not
exceed any of its weight ratings —GCWR, GVWR, RGAWR, Trailer
Weight Rating, or Tongue Weight. The
only way to be sure it is not exceeding
any of these ratings is to weigh the
tow vehicle and trailer combination,
fully loaded for the trip, getting
individual weights for each of these
items.
Towing Equipment
Hitches
The correct hitch equipment helps
maintain combination control. Most
small-to-medium trailers can be towed
with a weight-carrying hitch which
simply features a coupler latched to
the hitch ball. Larger trailers may
require a weight-distributing hitch
that uses spring bars to distribute the
trailer tongue weight among the two
vehicle and trailer axles. See
“Weight
of the Trailer Tongue ”in Trailer
Towing 0247 for rating limits with
various hitch types.
Consider using sway controls with any
trailer. Ask a trailering professional
about sway controls or refer to the
trailer manufacturer's
recommendations and instructions.

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10293077) -
2017 - crc - 8/24/16
250 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Weight-Distributing Hitch
Adjustment
1. Front of Vehicle
2. Body to Ground Distance
When using a weight-distributing
hitch, the spring bars should be
adjusted so the distance (2) is the
same after coupling the trailer to the
tow vehicle and adjusting the hitch.
Safety Chains
Always attach chains between the
vehicle and the trailer. Cross the safety
chains under the tongue of the trailer
to help prevent the tongue from
contacting the road if it becomesseparated from the hitch. Instructions
about safety chains may be provided
by the hitch manufacturer or by the
trailer manufacturer. If the trailer
being towed weighs up to 2 271 kg
(5,000 lb) with a factory-installed step
bumper, safety chains may be
attached to the attaching points on
the bumper, otherwise, safety chains
should be attached to holes on the
trailer hitch platform. Always leave
just enough slack so the combination
can turn. Never allow safety chains to
drag on the ground.
Trailer Brakes
A loaded trailer that weighs more than
900 kg (2,000 lb) must be equipped
with its own brake system, with
brakes working on all axles. Trailer
braking equipment conforming to
Canadian Standards Association (CSA)
requirement CAN3-D313, or its
equivalent, is recommended.
State and local regulations may also
require the trailer to have its own
braking system if loaded above a
certain threshold.
Be sure to read and follow the
instructions for the trailer brakes so
they are installed, adjusted, and
maintained properly.
Since the vehicle is equipped with
StabiliTrak, the trailer brakes cannot
tap into the vehicle's hydraulic
system.
Trailer Wiring Harness
The seven-pin trailer connector is
mounted in the bumper. This
connector can be plugged into a
seven-pin universal heavy-duty trailer
connector available through your
dealer.
The seven-wire harness contains the
following trailer circuits:
.
Yellow: Left Stop/Turn Signal
. Green/Violet: Right Stop/Turn
Signal
. Brown: Taillamps
. White: Ground
. Light Green: Back-up Lamps
. Red/Green: Battery Feed
. Dark Blue: Trailer Brake

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10293077) -
2017 - crc - 8/24/16
DRIVING AND OPERATING 251
To help charge a remote (non-vehicle)
battery, press the Tow/Haul Mode
button at the end of the shift lever.
If the trailer is too light for Tow/Haul
Mode, turn on the headlamps to help
charge the battery.
Electric Brake Control Wiring
Provisions
These wiring provisions are included
with the vehicle as part of the trailer
wiring package. These provisions are
for an electric brake controller.
The harness should be installed by
your dealer or a qualified service
center.
Tow/Haul Mode
Pressing this button at the end of the
shift lever turns on and off the Tow/
Haul Mode.
This indicator light on the instrument
cluster comes on when the Tow/Haul
Mode is on.Tow/Haul is a feature that assists
when pulling a heavy trailer or a large
or heavy load. See
Tow/Haul
Mode 0208.
Tow/Haul is designed to be most
effective when the vehicle and trailer
combined weight is at least 75% of
the vehicle's Gross Combined Weight
Rating (GCWR). See “Weight of the
Trailer” underTrailer Towing 0247.
Tow/Haul is most useful under the
following driving conditions:
. When pulling a heavy trailer or a
large or heavy load through rolling
terrain.
. When pulling a heavy trailer or a
large or heavy load in stop-and-go
traffic.
. When pulling a heavy trailer or a
large or heavy load in busy
parking lots where improved low
speed control of the vehicle is
desired.
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

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10293077) -
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292 VEHICLE CARE
pressure needed to support the
vehicle's maximum load carrying
capacity.
For additional information
regarding how much weight the
vehicle can carry, and an example
of the Tire and Loading
Information label, seeVehicle Load
Limits 0192. How the vehicle is
loaded affects vehicle handling
and ride comfort. Never load the
vehicle with more weight than it
was designed to carry.
When to Check
Check the tires once a month
or more.
Do not forget the spare tire, if the
vehicle has one. See Full-Size Spare
Tire 0311 for additional
information.
How to Check
Use a good quality pocket-type
gauge to check tire pressure.
Proper tire inflation cannot be
determined by looking at the tire. Check the tire inflation pressure
when the tires are cold, meaning
the vehicle has not been driven for
at least three hours or no more
than 1.6 km (1 mi).
Remove the valve cap from the
tire valve stem. Press the tire
gauge firmly onto the valve to get
a pressure measurement. If the
cold tire inflation pressure
matches the recommended
pressure on the Tire and Loading
Information label, no further
adjustment is necessary. If the
inflation pressure is low, add air
until the recommended pressure is
reached. If the inflation pressure
is high, press on the metal stem in
the center of the tire valve to
release air.
Re-check the tire pressure with
the tire gauge.
Put the valve caps back on the
valve stems to keep out dirt and
moisture and prevent leaks. Use
only valve caps designed for the
vehicle by GM. TPMS sensorscould be damaged and would not
be covered by the vehicle
warranty.
Tire Pressure for
High-Speed Operation
{Warning
Driving at high speeds, 160 km/h
(100 mph) or higher, puts additional
strain on tires. Sustained
high-speed driving causes excessive
heat buildup and can cause sudden
tire failure. This could cause a
crash, and you or others could be
killed. Some high-speed rated tires
require inflation pressure
adjustment for high-speed
operation. When speed limits and
road conditions allow the vehicle to
be driven at high speeds, make sure
the tires are rated for high-speed
operation, are in excellent
condition, and are set to the correct
cold tire inflation pressure for the
vehicle load.

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10293077) -
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298 VEHICLE CARE
When It Is Time for New
Tires
Factors, such as maintenance,
temperatures, driving speeds, vehicle
loading, and road conditions affect the
wear rate of the tires.
Treadwear indicators are one way to
tell when it is time for new tires.
Treadwear indicators appear when the
tires have only 1.6 mm (1/16 in) or
less of tread remaining. Some
commercial truck tires may not have
treadwear indicators. SeeTire
Inspection 0296 and Tire Rotation
0 297 for additional information. The rubber in tires ages over time.
This also applies to the spare tire,
if the vehicle has one, even if it is
never used. Multiple factors including
temperatures, loading conditions, and
inflation pressure maintenance affect
how fast aging takes place. GM
recommends that tires, including the
spare if equipped, be replaced after six
years, regardless of tread wear. The
tire manufacture date is the last four
digits of the DOT Tire Identification
Number (TIN) which is molded into
one side of the tire sidewall. The first
two digits represent the week (01-52)
and the last two digits, the year. For
example, the third week of the year
2010 would have a four-digit DOT
date of 0310.
Vehicle Storage
Tires age when stored normally
mounted on a parked vehicle. Park a
vehicle that will be stored for at least
a month in a cool, dry, clean area
away from direct sunlight to slow
aging. This area should be free of
grease, gasoline, or other substances
that can deteriorate rubber.
Parking for an extended period can
cause flat spots on the tires that may
result in vibrations while driving.
When storing a vehicle for at least a
month, remove the tires or raise the
vehicle to reduce the weight from the
tires.
Buying New Tires
GM has developed and matched
specific tires for the vehicle. The
original equipment tires installed
were designed to meet General
Motors Tire Performance Criteria
Specification (TPC Spec) system
rating. When replacement tires are
needed, GM strongly recommends
buying tires with the same TPC
Spec rating.
GM's exclusive TPC Spec system
considers over a dozen critical
specifications that impact the
overall performance of the vehicle,
including brake system
performance, ride and handling,
traction control, and tire pressure
monitoring performance. GM's
TPC Spec number is molded onto