2017 MAZDA MODEL CX-5 Owners Manual (in English)

3–57
Before Driving
Towing
High-altitude operation
CAUTION
Be aware of the towing load weight diff erences when towing at high altitudes. For
altitudes exceeding 1,000 meter (3,280 ft 10 in), always reduce the towing load by 10 %
for every 1,000 meter (3,280 ft 10 in) increase in altitude from the load indicated under the
maximum GCWR heading in the trailer towing-load table. If the determined maximum
total towing load weight is exceeded, the engine and other power-train parts may be
damaged.

TRAILER TOWING-LOAD TABLE
Because vehicle weights vary, adjustments must be made to meet the requirements in this
table.

Item Model
SKYACTIV-G 2.0 SKYACTIV-G 2.5
2WD 2WD AWD
Manual
transaxle Automatic transaxle
MAX.
FRONTAL
AREA
2.97 m
2 (32 ft 2 )
MAX. TTW
907.2 kg (2,000 lb)
MAX. GCWR
2,609 kg
(5,751.8 lb) 2,713 kg
(5,981.0 lb) 2,771 kg
(6,108.9 lb)
MAX. GAWR
Front
981 kg
(2,163 lb) 1,057 kg
(2,330 lb) 1,075 kg
(2,370 lb)
Rear 966 kg
(2,130 lb) 994 kg
(2,191 lb) 1,034 kg
(2,280 lb)
MAX. GVWR
1,944 kg
(4,286 lb) 2,048 kg
(4,515 lb) 2,106 kg
(4,643 lb)
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3–58
Before Driving
Towing
Item Model
SKYACTIV-G 2.0 SKYACTIV-G 2.5
2WD 2WD AWD
Manual
transaxle Automatic transaxle
TRAILER-
TONGUE
LOAD Tongue load

Tongue load/Trailer load × 100 = 10 % to 15 %
Trailer load

DISTRIBUTION
OF TRAILER
LOAD

Front 60 %
Rear 40 %

WARNING
Always keep tow loads within specifi ed limits as indicated in the Trailer Towing-Load
Table:
Attempting to tow loads greater than those specifi ed is dangerous as it may cause serious
handling and performance problems that could result in personal injury or vehicle
damage, or both.

Load your trailer with the weight about 60 % toward the front and 40 % toward the
rear: Loading the trailer with more weight in the rear than in the front is dangerous. Doing so
could cause you to lose control. The trailer tongue load must be 10 %—15 % of the total
trailer load (sum of the weights of the trailer and cargo).

Always have the total trailer weight and tongue load determined prior to departure: Attempting to tow loads without determining the total trailer weight and tongue load is
dangerous. Trailer sway from crosswinds, rough roads or other causes could result in loss
of control and a serious accident.

CAUTION
The total trailer weight and tongue load can be determined by weighing the trailer on
platform scales at a highway weight station or a trucking company.

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3–59
Before Driving
Towing
Trailer Hitch
Use only a hitch ball recommended by the trailer manufacturer that confo\
rms to the gross
trailer weight requirement.
When not towing a trailer, remove the trailer hitch (if detachable) to reduce the possibility o\
f
damage as a result of the vehicle being rear-ended.
WARNING
Always make sure the trailer hitch is securely attached before departure:
An unsecured trailer hitch is dangerous as it causes greater trailer sway from crosswinds,
rough roads or other causes, resulting in loss of control and a serious accident.
Examine all trailer-hitch mounting bolts regularly and tighten any that are loose. If the
hitch is removed, seal any open mounting holes to prevent exhaust, dust, water, dirt
and other foreign elements from fi ltering in, possibly endangering personal safety and
damaging your vehicle.
Do not install a hitch that stiff ens the bumper as it will reduce the bumper's performance.

Make sure there are no exhaust gas leaks into the passenger compartment if any
mounting bolts are connected to the body: Modifying your vehicle exhaust system is dangerous. Exhaust gas entering the vehicle
could cause loss of consciousness or even death.
When mounting the trailer hitch, make no modifi cations to the vehicle exhaust system.

CAUTION
 Make all hitch adjustments with actual loads. Do not load and unload vehicle while adjusting hitch. This action will change the vehicle height.
 Do not use an axle-mounted hitch. This may damage the axle and related parts.
Tires
When towing a trailer, make sure all tires are in fl ated to the recommended cold-tire pressure,
as indicated on the tire pressure chart on the driver's door frame. Trailer tire size, load rating,
and infl ation pressures should conform to tire manufacturer speci fi cations.
WARNING
Never use the temporary spare tire when towing:
Using the temporary spare tire on your vehicle when towing a trailer is dangerous as it
could result in tire failure, loss of control, and injury to vehicle occupants.

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3–60
Before Driving
Towing
Safety Chains
Safety chains must be used as a precautionary measure should the trailer\
become
unintentionally unhitched. They should cross under the trailer tongue and attach to the hitch.
Leave enough slack to allow full turns. Consult literature published by \
your trailer or hitch
manufacturer for more details.
WARNING
Make sure the safety chain is securely attached to both the trailer and the vehicle prior
to departure: Towing a trailer without using a safety chain securely attached to both the trailer and the
vehicle is dangerous. If damage occurs to the coupling unit or hitch ball, the trailer could
wander into another lane and cause a collision.

Trailer Lights
Trailer lights must comply with all federal, state, and local regulations\
. Equip your trailer as
required before towing it day or night.
CAUTION
Do not connect a trailer lighting system directly to the lighting system of your Mazda. This
may damage your vehicle's electrical system and lighting systems. Have a recreational
vehicle dealer or trailer rental agency connect the system, and inspect the brake lights
and turn signals yourself before each trip.

Trailer Brakes
If the total trailer weight exceeds 450 kg (1,000 lb), trailer brakes \
are required. If your trailer
has brakes, make sure they comply with all federal, state, and local reg\
ulations.
WARNING
Do not connect a hydraulic trailer-brake system to your vehicle's brake system: Connecting a hydraulic trailer-brake system directly to the vehicle brake system is
dangerous and will result in inadequate braking and possible injury.

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3–61
Before Driving
Towing
Trailer Towing Tips
  Verify that your Mazda maintains a near-normal attitude when a loaded or unloaded trailer
is connected. Do not drive if it has an abnormal front-up or front-down \
position. Inspect
for incorrect tongue load, worn suspension parts, and trailer overloadin\
g.
   Make sure the trailer is properly loaded and the cargo is secure to prevent it from shifting.  Make sure the mirrors conform to all government regulations. If they do \
not, install
required rear view mirrors appropriate for towing purposes.

The three main causes of vehicle-trailer accidents are driver error, excessive speed, and
improper trailer loading.
Before driving
   Have your cooling and braking system checked by an Authorized Mazda Dealer.  Before starting out, inspect the operation of all vehicle and trailer li\
ghts and all vehicle-
to-trailer connections. Stop and re-inspect all lights and connections a\
fter driving a short
distance.

Driving
   Your Mazda will handle differently with a trailer in tow, so practice turning, backing, and
stopping in a traf fi c-free area.
   Take time to get accustomed to the extra weight and length.  Allow more room between your vehicle and the one in front because brakin\
g distance
increases with a trailer. For each 16 km/h (10 mph) of speed, allow at least one vehicle
and trailer length between your Mazda and the vehicle ahead.
   Avoid jerky starts or sudden acceleration.  Avoid sudden braking. It may cause loss of control and result in jackkni fi ng, especially so
on wet or slippery roads.
   Shift the shift lever to the D position when towing a trailer in hilly t\
errain or when heavily
loaded.

The D position will allow operating the vehicle without frequent shiftin\
g.
Lane changes and turning
Avoid quick lane changes, sudden turns, and tight turns. Slow down before\
turning to avoid
the need of sudden braking.
A turning trailer will make a tighter arc than the tow vehicle. Compensat\
e with turns that are
larger than normal.
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3–62
Before Driving
Towing
Passing
Plan well ahead to pass other vehicles, and provide plenty of room befor\
e changing lanes.
Crosswinds from passing vehicles, especially larger ones, and the effects of rough roads will
affect handling.
If swaying occurs, fi rmly grip the steering wheel and reduce speed immediately, but
gradually.
Steer straight ahead. If no extreme correction of steering or braking is\
made, the
combination of less speed and fi rm steering will result in stability.
Backing up
Backing a vehicle with a trailer requires practice and patience. Back sl\
owly, and have a
helper outside at the rear of the trailer to reduce the risk of an accid\
ent.
To turn the trailer, place your hand at the bottom of the steering wheel and turn it in the\

direction you want the trailer to go. Make only slight movements to prev\
ent sharp or
prolonged turning.
Ascending a hill
Shift into a lower gear to reduce the possibility of overloading or over\
heating the engine, or
both.
Descending a hill
Shift into a lower gear and use engine compression as a braking effect.
WARNING
Always use lower gears to reduce speed: Holding the brake pedal down too long or too frequently is dangerous as it could cause
the brakes to overheat and lose power, resulting in loss of control and a serious accident.
Use lower gears to help reduce speed. Pull off the road and allow brakes to cool down
whenever braking performance feels reduced.

Overheated engine
The extra weight of the trailer may strain the engine on hot days and on\
long or steep
upgrades.
If the temperature gauge indicates overheating, turn off the air conditioner, drive safely
to the side of the road, park off the right-of-way and wait for engine to cool. Refer to
Overheating on page 7-18 .
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3–63
Before Driving
Towing
Parking
Always make sure the tires of the trailer and the tow vehicle are blocke\
d while parked.
Apply the parking brake fi rmly and put the transaxle in P.
Avoid parking on an incline, but if you must, follow these instructions:
1. Depress and hold down the brake pedal.
2. Have a helper put wheel blocks against the downhill side of all vehicle \
and trailer tires.
3. Then release the brake pedal slowly until the blocks bear the load.
 If the grade is downhill, turn the steering wheel so that the front of t\
he front tires face the curb.
 If it is uphill, face the rear of the front tires against the curb.
4. Firmly apply the parking brake.
5. Shift the transaxle into P, and stop the engine.

To restart after parking on an incline:
1. With the transaxle in P, start the engine. (Be sure to depress and hold the brake pedal.)
2. Shift into gear.
3. Release the parking brake (also the foot brake) and pull away from the\
wheel blocks. Stop; apply the parking brake and shift into P.
4. Have a helper retrieve the wheel blocks.

Fuel consumption
Trailer towing causes higher fuel consumption.
Maintenance
If you tow a trailer frequently, have your vehicle serviced as shown in Scheduled
Maintenance (page 6-4 ).
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3–64
Before Driving
Towing
Recreational Towing
An example of "recreational towing" is
towing your vehicle behind a motorhome.
The transaxle is not designed for towing
this vehicle on all 4 wheels.
When doing recreational towing refer to
"Towing Description" (page 7-20 ) and
carefully follow the instructions.

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