133
In case of towing
Driving with a trailer places greater
demands on the towing vehicle and
requires extra care from the driver.
Distribution of loads
F Distribute the load in the trailer so that the heaviest items are as close as possible to
the axle and the nose weight approaches
the maximum permitted without exceeding
it.
Air density decreases with altitude, thus
reducing engine performance. The maximum
towed load must be reduced by 10% for every
1,000 metres of altitude.
For more information on the Technical
data of your vehicle and particularly on
towable loads, refer to the corresponding
section.
If the exterior temperature is high, it is
recommended that the engine be allowed
to idle for 1 to 2 minutes after the vehicle
comes to a stop, to facilitate its cooling.
Side wind
F Take into account the increased sensitivity to wind.
Cooling
Towing a trailer on a slope increases the
temperature of the coolant.
As the fan is electrically controlled, its cooling
capacity is not dependent on the engine speed.
F
T
o lower the engine speed, reduce your
speed.
The maximum towed load on a long incline
depends on the gradient and the exterior
temperature.
In all cases, keep a check on the coolant
temperature.
F
I
f this warning lamp and the
STOP warning lamp come on,
stop the vehicle and switch off
the engine as soon as possible.
Braking
Towing a trailer increases the braking distance.
To avoid overheating of the brakes, the use of
engine braking is recommended.
Ty r e s
F Check the tyre pressures of the towing vehicle and of the trailer, observing the
recommended pressures.
Lighting
F Check the electrical lighting and signalling on the trailer and the headlamp beam height
of your vehicle.
For more information on Headlamp
adjustment , refer to the corresponding
section.
The rear parking sensors will be
deactivated automatically to avoid
the audible signal if a genuine DS
AUTOMOBILES towbar is used.
06
Driving
172
During use
Never release the locking system with a
trailer or load carrier on the towball.
Never exceed the gross train weight
(GTW) for the vehicle.
Before setting off, check the adjustment of
the headlamp beam height.
For more information on adjusting the
headlamp beam height, refer to the
corresponding section.
After use
For journeys made without a trailer or
load carrier, the trailer socket must be
folded away, the towball removed and the
protective plug inserted in the carrier. This
measure applies particularly if the towball
could hinder visibility of the number plate
or lighting.Fitting the towball
F Remove the protective plug from the carrier and check the condition of the fixing system.
If necessary, clean the carrier with a brush
or a clean cloth.
F
T
ake the towball from the storage bag.
F
R
emove the protective cover from the ball
and the protective cap from the locking
wheel.
F
S
tow the plug, cover and cap in the storage
bag.
F
C
heck that the towball is unlocked (position
B ). If not, insert the key in the lock and
turn the key anti-clockwise to unlock the
mechanism. F
T
ake the towball in both hands; insert the
end of the towball into the carrier by lifting it,
then, to ensure that it has correctly locked in
place, pull firmly down on the ball end of the
towball.
The locking wheel then automatically rotates
anti-clockwise with an audible "click". Take
care to keep your hands clear.
F
C
heck that the towball has correctly locked
in place (position A ).
07
Practical information
