2020 GMC ACADIA trailer

GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13687875) - 2020 - CRC - 10/28/19
Driving and Operating 253
outside of this range. Always refer
to the trailer owner’s manual for the
recommended trailer tongue weight
for each trailer. Never exceed the
maximum loads for your vehicle,
hitch and trailer.
After loading the trailer, separately
weigh the trailer and then the
tongue to see if the weights are
proper. If the trailer tongue weight is
too high or too low, 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
181 kg (400 lb), whichever is less.
Ask your dealer for trailering
information or assistance.Towing Equipment
Hitches
Always use the correct hitch
equipment for your vehicle.
Crosswinds, large trucks going by,
and rough roads can affect the
trailer and the hitch.
Proper hitch equipment for your
vehicle helps maintain combination
control. Many trailers can be towed
using a weight-carrying hitch which
has a coupler latched to the hitch
ball, or a tow eye latched to a pintle
hook. Other trailers may require a
weight-distributing hitch that uses
spring bars to distribute the trailer
tongue weight between your vehicle
and trailer axles. See “Trailer
Tongue Weight” underTrailer
Towing 0250 or weight limits with
various hitch types.
Never attach rental hitches or other
bumper-type hitches. Only use
frame-mounted hitches that do not
attach to the bumper.
Always seal any holes in your
vehicle if the trailer hitch removed.
If not sealed, dirt, water, and carbon monoxide (CO) from the exhaust
may enter your vehicle. See
Engine
Exhaust 0200.Hitch Cover
1. Upper Attachments
2. Fasteners
To remove hitch cover, if equipped:
1. Remove the two fasteners on the lower tabs (2).
2. Pull the lower edge of the cover to about a 45 degree
angle.

GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13687875) - 2020 - CRC - 10/28/19
254 Driving and Operating
3. Pull the cover downward todisengage the upper
attachments (1).
To reinstall hitch cover: 1. Hold cover at a 45 degree angle to the vehicle and push
the upper tabs into the slots in
the bumper.
2. Push the bottom of the cover forward until the lower tabs line
up with the lower slots (1).
3. Snap the hitch cover into place by pushing the upper corners
forward.
4. Reinstall the two fasteners on the lower tabs (2).
Consider using mechanical sway
controls with any trailer. Ask a
trailering professional about sway
controls or refer to the trailer
manufacturer's recommendations
and instructions.Weight-Distributing Hitch
Adjustment
1. Front of Vehicle
2. Body to Ground Distance
When using a weight-distributing
hitch, measure the front fender
height distance (2) before
connecting the trailer. Adjust the
spring bars until the front fender
height distance (2) is the same
height before the trailer was
connected. Do not reduce the front
fender height below the initial
distance (2).
Tires
. Do not tow a trailer while using a
compact spare tire on the
vehicle.
. Tires must be properly inflated to
support loads while towing a
trailer. See Tires0297 for
instructions on proper tire
inflation.
Safety Chains
Always attach chains between the
vehicle and the trailer, and attach
the chains to the holes on the trailer
hitch platform. Instructions about
safety chains may be provided by
the hitch manufacturer or by the
trailer manufacturer.
Cross the safety chains under the
tongue of the trailer to help prevent
the tongue from contacting the road
if it becomes separated from the
hitch. Always leave just enough
slack so the combination can turn.
Never allow safety chains to drag on
the ground.

GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13687875) - 2020 - CRC - 10/28/19
Driving and Operating 255
Trailer Brakes
Loaded trailers over 450 kg
(1,000 lb) must be equipped with
brake systems and with brakes for
each axle. Trailer braking equipment
conforming to Canadian Standards
Association (CSA) requirement
CAN3-D313, or its equivalent, is
recommended.
State or local regulations may
require trailers to have their own
braking system if the loaded weight
of the trailer exceeds certain
minimums that can vary from state
to state. Read and follow the
instructions for the trailer brakes so
they are installed, adjusted, and
maintained properly. Never attempt
to tap into your vehicle's hydraulic
brake system. If you do, both the
vehicle anti-lock brakes and the
trailer brakes may not function,
which could result in a crash.
Trailer Wiring Harness
lf equipped, the trailer wiring
harness, with a 7-pin connector is
mounted on the trailer hitch.
1. Left Turn/Brake
2. Tail Lamps
3. Reverse Lamps
4. Battery feed
5. Right Turn/Brake
6. Electric Brakes
7. Ground
If the vehicle is not equipped with a
trailer connector on the trailer hitch,
a 7-wire trailering harness is tied to
the vehicles frame. The harness
requires the installation of a trailer
connector, which is available
through your dealer.Use only a round, seven-wire
connector with flat blade terminals
meeting SAE J2863 specifications
for proper electrical connectivity.
The seven-wire harness contains
the following trailer circuits:
Stop/Turn
Signal Left Yellow/Gray
Stop/Turn
Signal Right Green/Violet
Tail/Parking
Lamps Gray/Brown
Reverse Lamps White/Green
Battery Feed Red/Green
Ground Black
Electric Trailer
Brake Blue
Electric Brake Control Wiring
Provisions
If equipped, (4) blunt-cut wires are
located near the driver's feet for an
aftermarket electric trailer brake
controller as part of the trailer wiring
package. The harness contains the
following circuits:

GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13687875) - 2020 - CRC - 10/28/19
256 Driving and Operating
Electric Trailer
BrakesBlue
Battery Feed Red/Black or
Red/Blue
Brake Apply
Signal White/Blue
Ground Black
Refer to the aftermarket electric
trailer brake controller owner's
manual to determine wire color
coding of the electric trailer brake
controller. The wire colors on the
brake controller may be different
from the vehicle. It may be
necessary to have a technician
connect the 12-volt power to the
engine compartment fuse block. The
electric trailer brake controller
should be installed by your dealer or
a qualified service center.
Trailer Lamps
Always check all trailer lamps are
working at the beginning of each
trip, and periodically on longer trips.
Turn Signals When Towing a
Trailer
When properly connected, the trailer
turn signals should will illuminate to
indicate the vehicle is turning,
changing lanes, or stopping. When
towing a trailer, the arrows on the
instrument cluster will illuminate
even if the trailer is not properly
connected or the bulbs are
burned out.
Tow/Haul Mode
For instructions on how to enter
Tow/Haul mode, see Driver Mode
Control 0212.
Tow/Haul assists when pulling a
heavy trailer or a large or heavy
load. See Tow/Haul Mode 0206.
Tow/Haul Mode 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” under
Trailer Towing 0250. Tow/Haul Mode is most useful when
towing a heavy trailer or carrying a
large or heavy load:
.
through rolling terrain
. in stop-and-go traffic
. in busy parking lots
Operating the vehicle in Tow/Haul
Mode when lightly loaded or not
towing will not cause damage;
however, it is not recommended and
may result in unpleasant engine and
transmission driving characteristics
and reduced fuel economy.
Trailer Sway
Control (TSC)
Vehicles with StabiliTrak/Electronic
Stability Control (ESC) have a
Trailer Sway Control (TSC) feature.
Trailer sway is unintended
side-to-side motion of a trailer while
towing. If the vehicle is towing a
trailer and the TSC detects that
sway is increasing, the vehicle
brakes are selectively applied at
each wheel, to help reduce
excessive trailer sway. If equipped
with the Integrated Trailer Brake

GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13687875) - 2020 - CRC - 10/28/19
Driving and Operating 257
Control (ITBC) system, and the
trailer has an electric brake system,
StabiliTrak/ESC may also apply the
trailer brakes.
If TSC is enabled, the Traction
Control System (TCS)/StabiliTrak/
ESC warning light will flash on the
instrument cluster. Reduce vehicle
speed by gradually removing your
foot from the accelerator. If trailer
sway continues, StabiliTrak/ESC
can reduce engine torque to help
slow the vehicle. TSC will not
function if StabiliTrak/ESC is turned
off. SeeTraction Control/Electronic
Stability Control 0209.
{Warning
Trailer sway can result in a crash
and in serious injury or death,
even if the vehicle is equipped
with TSC.
If the trailer begins to sway,
reduce vehicle speed by
gradually removing your foot from
the accelerator. Then pull over to
check the trailer and vehicle to
help correct possible causes,
including an improperly or
overloaded trailer, unrestrained
cargo, improper trailer hitch
configuration, or improperly
inflated or incorrect vehicle or
trailer tires. See Towing
Equipment 0253 for trailer ratings
and hitch setup
recommendations.
Trailer Tires
Special Trailer (ST) tires differ from
vehicle tires. Trailer tires are
designed with stiff sidewalls to help
prevent sway and to support heavy
loads. These features can make it
difficult to determine if the trailer tire
pressures are low only based on a
visual inspection.
Always check all trailer tire
pressures before each trip when the
tires are cool. Low trailer tire
pressure is a leading cause of trailer
tire blow-outs.
Trailer tires deteriorate over time.
The trailer tire sidewall will show the
week and year the tire was
manufactured. Many trailer tire
manufacturers recommend
replacing tires more than six
years old.

GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13687875) - 2020 - CRC - 10/28/19
258 Driving and Operating
Overloading is another leading
cause of trailer tire blow-outs. Never
load your trailer with more weight
than the tires are designed to
support. The load rating is located
on the trailer tire sidewall.
Always know the maximum speed
rating for the trailer tires before
driving. This may be significantly
lower than the vehicle tire speed
rating. The speed rating may be on
the trailer tire sidewall. If the speed
rating is not shown, the default
trailer tire speed rating is 105 km/h
(65 mph).Conversions and
Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical
Equipment
{Warning
The Data Link Connector (DLC) is
used for vehicle service
and Emission Inspection/
Maintenance testing. See
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
(Check Engine Light)0127.
A device connected to the DLC —
such as an aftermarket fleet or
driver-behavior tracking device —
may interfere with vehicle
systems. This could affect vehicle
operation and cause a crash.
Such devices may also access
information stored in the vehicle’s
systems.
Caution
Some electrical equipment can
damage the vehicle or cause
components to not work and
would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty. Always check
with your dealer before adding
electrical equipment.
Add-on equipment can drain the
vehicle's 12-volt battery, even if the
vehicle is not operating.
The vehicle has an airbag system.
Before attempting to add anything
electrical to the vehicle, see
Servicing the Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle 075 and
Adding Equipment to the
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle 076.

GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13687875) - 2020 - CRC - 10/28/19
292 Vehicle Care
FusesUsage
F23 Parking/Trailer lamps
F24 Right trailer stoplamp/Turn lamp
F25 Steering column lock
F26 –
F27 Left trailer stoplamp/ Turn lamp
F28 –
F29 –
F30 Washer pump
F31 –
F32 –
F33 Fog lamps
F34 Horn
F35 –
F36 Headlamp high-beam left
F37 Headlamp high-beam right
F38 Automatic headlamp leveling motor Fuses
Usage
F39 Transmission control module 1/Battery 1
F40 Left rear bus electrical center/
Ignition
F41 Instrument cluster
F42 Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning
F43 Head-Up display
F44 Electronic brake control module
electric brake
booster/Run/Crank
F45 –
F46 –
F47 –
F48 Rear wiper 2
F49 Interior rearview mirror/Trailer
F50 Fuel system control module
F51 Heated steering wheel Fuses
Usage
F52 Air conditioning clutch
F53 –
F54 Coolant pump
F55 –
F56 –
F57 Engine control module/Ignition
F58 Transmission control module/Ignition
F59 Engine control module battery
F60 –
F61 O2 sensor 1/ Aeroshutter
F62 Engine control module–odd
F63 O2 sensor 2
F64 Engine control module–even
F65 Engine control module powertrain 1

GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13687875) - 2020 - CRC - 10/28/19
296 Vehicle Care
FusesUsage
F1 –
F2 Trailer battery 1 Fuses
Usage
F3 Driver seat belt motor
F4 Rear blower
F5 Rear drive control
F6 Passenger seat belt motor
F7 Right window
F8 Rear defogger
F9 Left window
F10 –
F11 Trailer reverse
F12 –
F13 –
F14 –
F15 –
F16 –
F17 Camera/Spare
F18 Trailer module
F19 Ventilated seats
F20 – Fuses
Usage
F21 Trailer connector
F22 –
F23 –
F24 Passenger window switch
F25 –
F26 Trailer brake
F27 Driver ventilated seat/Lumbar
F28 Passive entry/ Passive start
F29 –
F30 Canister vent
F31 –
F32 Heated mirror
F33 –
F34 Liftgate module
F35 Fuel system control module
F36 Passenger ventilated seat/
Lumbar