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To begin with, towing noticeably affects your vehicle’s performance:
It will not accelerate as quickly — an important point to keep in mind when merging
onto a highway.
It will not stop as quickly. Leave more room than usual between you and the traffic
ahead, and brake sooner when coming to a stop.
Abrupt maneuvering can unbalance the load and reduce the handling and
stability of your tow vehicle. Plan ahead and make lane changes and turns
smoothly.
If possible, before you actually hit the open road, practice towing in a large
uncrowded area such as a safe, open place with minimal traffic. Become especially
familiar with backing up a trailer — the maneuver many people find most difficult.
BRAKE SOONER
The combination of your tow vehicle and trailer obviously requires a greater distance
to stop. A good rule of thumb to remember is that for each 10 mph of speed, allow
yourself one tow vehicle and trailer length of distance between the front of your
vehicle and the vehicle ahead. When braking, use firm but gradual pressure on the
pedal rather than panic braking.
WARNING- Applying the brakes abruptly or with too much force can cause the
trailer to skid or jackknife at its point of attachment with the vehicle. This, in turn, can
throw the tow vehicle out of control. If equipped with an electric trailer brake
controller, follow the recommended operational instructions.
CORNER MORE SLOWLY
Know your vehicle and trailer capabilities.
WARNING- Entering a sharp corner too quickly or abruptly can “crack the whip,”
whereby the trailer can actually pull the tow vehicle off the road resulting in property
damage, a serious accident, personal injury, or death.
Therefore, when approaching a relatively sharp corner, begin braking sooner than you
would when not towing. Do your braking in a straight line prior to the corner, and turn
smoothly into it. In addition, remember to make a wider turn than normal to ensure that
the trailer safely clears the inside of the turn.
BACK UP WITH CAUTION
Backing up with a trailer is a difficult maneuver. Steer with one hand at the bottom of
the steering wheel. To turn the trailer to the left, first move the steering wheel to the left.
To turn the trailer to the right, move the wheel to the right. All movements of the wheel
should be done in small increments. Of course, backing up should be done only at
very slow speeds. For large trailers that obstruct your rearward vision, have someone
outside the vehicle act as a “spotter” to guide you along.
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WARNING- Do not use or rely upon the Back-up Collision Intervention system (BCI)
when towing a trailer. The BCI system cannot function properly when objects are
obstructing the radar sensor beams.
PARK SMART
A tow vehicle and trailer can be an unwieldy combination in a small area, so always
try to park where you will have a relatively easy time maneuvering. Once parked,
always block the wheels on both the tow vehicle and the trailer.
Parking on a slope is not recommended. If, however, you must park on a slope and
your vehicle is equipped with an automatic transmission, there are some precautions
you should take:
Turn the wheels of the tow vehicle towards the side of the road away from the
center of the road, and apply the parking brake and only then move the gear lever
into PARK.
Next, block/chock the wheels once the tow vehicle and trailer are in position and
are being held by the vehicle’s brake.
CAUTION-If you move the lever into PARK before blocking the wheels and applying
the parking brake, it may be difficult to later shift out of PARK. Transmission damage
may also occur.
PASS CAREFULLY
As mentioned in the introduction to this section, because of the added weight of the
trailer, acceleration capability is reduced and you will require a longer distance to
pass another vehicle. Be certain you have sufficient time and space to pass safely.
WARNING- Never attempt to pass on hills or when going around curves. Doing so
could cause a loss of vehicle control and result in accident, property damage or
personal injury. Because the trailer does not follow the exact path as the tow vehicle
on turns, safely passing and cornering while towing takes considerably more distance
and turning space than normal. Be certain you have sufficient time and space to pass
safely, remember, the length of the trailer must also pass the other vehicle before you
can safely change lanes.
HILLS – UPGRADES
If your vehicle is equipped with an automatic transmission, it is designed to select
automatically the correct gear for the best towing comfort and performance as the
incline increases. To maintain speed or avoid up and down shifts, manually shift to a
lower gear as needed. The added weight of a trailer places an increased load on the
engine and cooling system, so monitor your coolant temperature gauge and
automatic transmission fluid temperature gauge (if equipped) carefully. At the first sign
of overheating, pull to the side of the road. See IF YOUR ENGINE OVERHEATS later in this
section for more information.
