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unexpected or unsafe manner.
Before driving, inspect all trailer
hitch parts and attachments, safety
chains, electrical connectors, lamps,
tires, and mirrors. SeeTowing
Equipment 0296. If the trailer has
electric brakes, start the
combination moving and then
manually apply the trailer brake
controller to check that the trailer
brakes work. During the trip,
occasionally check that the cargo
and trailer are secure and that the
lamps and any trailer brakes are
working.
Towing with a Stability Control
System
When towing, the stability control
system might be heard. The system
reacts to vehicle movement caused
by the trailer, which mainly occurs
during cornering. This is normal
when towing heavier trailers.
Following Distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the
vehicle ahead as you would when
driving without a trailer. This can
help to avoid heavy braking and
sudden turns.
Passing
More passing distance is needed
when towing a trailer. The
combination of the vehicle and
trailer will not accelerate as quickly
and is much longer than the vehicle
alone. It is necessary to go much
farther beyond the passed vehicle
before returning to the lane. Pass
on level roadways. Avoid passing
on hills if possible.
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering
wheel with one hand. To move the
trailer to the left, move that hand to
the left. To move the trailer to the
right, move that hand to the right.
Always back up slowly and,
if possible, have someone
guide you.
Making Turns
Caution
Turn more slowly and make wider
arcs when towing a trailer to
prevent damage to your vehicle.
Making very sharp turns could
cause the trailer to contact the
vehicle.
Make wider turns than normal when
towing, so the trailer will not go over
soft shoulders, over curbs, or strike
road signs, trees, or other objects.
Always signal turns well in advance.
Do not steer or brake suddenly.
Driving on Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower
gear before starting down a long or
steep downhill grade. If the
transmission is not shifted down, the
brakes may overheat and result in
reduced braking efficiency.
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Warning (Continued)
provide a means of escape
in the unlikely event the
vehicle slides into the water.
. If the boat launch surface is
slippery, have the driver
remain in the vehicle with
the brake pedal applied
while the boat is being
launched. The boat launch
can be especially slippery at
low tide when part of the
ramp was previously
submerged at high tide. Do
not back onto the ramp to
launch the boat if you are
not sure the vehicle can
maintain traction.
. Do not move the vehicle if
someone is in the path of
the trailer. Some parts of the
trailer might be underwater
and not visible to people
who are assisting in
launching the boat. Disconnect the wiring to the trailer
before backing the trailer into the
water to prevent damage to the
electrical circuits on the trailer.
Reconnect the wiring to the trailer
after removing the trailer from the
water. If the trailer has electric
brakes that can function when the
trailer is submerged, it might help to
leave the electrical trailer connector
attached to maintain trailer brake
functionality while on the boat ramp.
To back the trailer into the water:
1. If equipped, place the vehicle in four-wheel-drive high.
2. Slowly back down the boat ramp until the boat is floating,
but no further than necessary.
3. Press and hold the brake pedal, but do not shift into
P (Park) yet.
4. Have someone place chocks under the front wheels of the
vehicle.
5. Gradually release the brake pedal to allow the chocks to
absorb the load of the trailer. 6. Reapply the brake pedal. Then
apply the parking brake and
shift into P (Park).
7. Release the brake pedal.
Pulling the Trailer from the Water
To pull the trailer out of the water: 1. Press and hold the brake pedal.
2. Start the engine and shift into gear.
3. Release the parking brake.
4. Let up on the brake pedal.
5. Drive slowly until the tires are clear of the chocks.
6. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
7. Slowly pull the trailer from the water.
8. Once the vehicle and trailer have been driven from the
sloped part of the boat ramp,
the vehicle can be shifted from
four-wheel-drive high. Shift into
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292 Driving and Operating
the drive mode that is
appropriate for the road
conditions.
Caution
If the vehicle tires begin to spin
and the vehicle begins to slide
toward the water, remove your
foot from the accelerator pedal
and apply the brake pedal. Seek
help to have the vehicle towed up
the ramp.
Maintenance when Trailer
Towing
The vehicle needs service more
often when used to tow trailers. See
Maintenance Schedule0442. It is
especially important to check the
engine oil, axle lubricant, belts,
cooling system, and brake system
before and during each trip.
Check periodically to see that all
nuts and bolts on the trailer hitch
are tight.
Engine Cooling When Trailer
Towing
The cooling system may temporarily
overheat during severe operating
conditions. See Engine Overheating
0 351.
Trailer Towing
If equipped with a diesel engine,
see the Duramax diesel
supplement.
Caution
Towing a trailer improperly can
damage the vehicle and result in
costly repairs not covered by the
vehicle warranty. To tow a trailer
correctly, follow the directions in
this section and see your dealer
for important information about
towing a trailer with the vehicle.
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.
Trailer Weight
{Warning
Never exceed the towing capacity
for your vehicle.
Safe trailering requires monitoring
the weight, speed, altitude, road
grades, outside temperature, and
how frequently the vehicle is used to
tow a trailer.
Trailer Weight Ratings
When towing a trailer, the combined
weight of the vehicle, vehicle
contents, trailer, and trailer contents
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300 Driving and Operating
MeasurementHeight Example 2500/3500 (mm)
H1 1 040
H2 1 080
H2−H1 40
(H2−H1)/4 10
H2−[(H2−H1)/4] 1 070
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 Tires0379 for
instructions on proper tire
inflation.
Fifth-Wheel and Gooseneck
Trailering
Fifth-wheel and gooseneck trailers
can be used with many pickup
models. These trailers place a
larger percentage of the weight
(kingpin weight) on the tow vehicle
than conventional trailers. Make sure this weight does not cause the
vehicle to exceed GAWR or GVWR.
Fifth-wheel or gooseneck kingpin
weight should be 15–25% of the
trailer weight up to the maximum
amount specified in the trailering
chart for the vehicle. See
“Trailer
Weight" under Trailer Towing0292.
The hitch should be in the pickup
bed so that its centerline is over or
slightly in front of the rear axle. Take
care that it is not so far forward that
it will contact the back of the cab in
sharp turns. This is especially
important for short box pickups.
Trailer pin box extensions and
sliding fifth-wheel hitch assemblies
may be used. There should be at
least 15 cm (6 in) of clearance between the top of the pickup box
and the bottom of the trailer shelf
that extends over the box.
Make sure the hitch is attached to
the tow vehicle frame rails. Do not
use the pickup box for support.
Safety Chains
Always attach safety chains
between the vehicle and the trailer.
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
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slow the vehicle. TSC will not
function if StabiliTrak/ESC is turned
off. SeeTraction Control/Electronic
Stability Control 0235.
{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 0296 for trailer ratings
and hitch setup
recommendations.
Aftermarket Electronic Trailer
Sway Control Devices
Some trailers may come equipped
with an electronic device designed
to reduce or control trailer sway.
Aftermarket equipment
manufacturers also offer similar
devices that connect to the wiring
between the trailer and the vehicle.
These devices may interfere with
the vehicle’ s trailer brake or other
systems, including integrated
anti-sway systems, if equipped.
Messages related to trailer
connections or trailer brakes could
appear on the DIC. The effects of
these aftermarket devices may have
on vehicle handling or trailer brake
performance is not known.
{Warning
Use of aftermarket electronic
trailer sway control devices could
result in reduced trailer brake
performance, loss of trailer
brakes, or other malfunctions, and
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
result in a crash. You or others
could be seriously injured or
killed. Before using one of these
devices:
. Ask the device or trailer
manufacturer if the device
has been thoroughly tested
for compatibility with the
make, model, and year of
your vehicle and any
optional equipment installed
on your vehicle.
. Before driving, check the
trailer brakes are working
properly, if equipped. Drive
the vehicle with the trailer
attached on a level road
surface that is free of traffic
at about 32-40 km/h
(20-25 mph) and fully apply
the manual trailer brake
apply lever. Also, check the
trailer brake lamps and
other lamps are functioning
correctly.
(Continued)
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310 Driving and Operating
Warning (Continued)
.If the trailer brakes are not
operating properly at any
time, or if a DIC message
indicates problems with the
trailer connections or trailer
brakes, carefully pull the
vehicle over to the side of
the road when traffic
conditions allow.
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. If the vehicle is equipped with a
trailer tire pressure monitoring
system, see the trailer tire pressure
monitoring system description and
the trailering app.
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.
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).
Trailering App
Trailer Light App
If equipped, the Trailer Lights App is
on the Home Page of the
infotainment display.
Touch Start to cycle the trailer lamps
on and off to determine if they are
working. The test follows this
sequence:
1. The running lights turn on first and remain on throughout the
sequence.
2. The brake lights turn on for about two seconds.
3. The left turn signal light flashes three times.
4. The right turn signal light flashes three times.
5. The reverse lights turn on for about two seconds.
6. Steps 2–5 repeat for approximately one minute and
45 seconds, or until the test
deactivates.
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312 Driving and Operating
3. Touch IMPORT.
A pop-up will indicate the import
was successful. Touch OK to return
to the trailer list and select the trailer
profile. The Tow/Haul Mode
reminder, Brake Gain Setting and
Trailer Tire Pressure sensor
learning, if equipped, do not import.
Trailer Feature Setup
Tow/Haul Mode Reminder
To turn the Tow/Haul Mode
Reminder setting on, touch Yes. To
turn it off, touch No.
Trailer Tire Pressure Setup
If the Trailer Tire Pressure
Monitoring System (TTPMS) is
detected, touch the Tire Pressure
Monitoring icon to set up tire
pressure monitoring.Touch Yes to
set up the sensors or touch No to
return to the previous screen.
A trailer must be electrically
connected to the vehicle before
starting the sensor-to-vehicle learn
process. After selecting Start from the Learn
Sensors screen, use the Tool
Method or the Manual Method
(described below) to learn each tire
sensor, during which the current tire
number will be highlighted.
Each sensor has a minimum of
two minutes to learn, shown by a
timer. After a sensor is learned, a
checkmark appears next to the tire,
the vehicle horn will sound, the
vehicle’s brake lamps will flash, and
all working trailer lamps will flash.
It then moves to the next sensor.
To cancel the process touch Stop.
The recommended tire pressure
must be entered for the trailer tires.
This allows the vehicle to alert when
the tire pressure is high or low.
TTPMS must learn the location of
the installed tire sensors to show
correct air pressure and
temperature for each tire. To set up,
use one of the following options or
see a tire or trailer dealer for
service. The learning process must
be repeated when the trailer tires
are rotated or replaced. See
“Editinga Trailer Profile”
later in this section
for tire pressure sensor relearn
information.
Tool Method: A TTPMS activation
tool can be purchased separately to
learn the sensor locations.
Manual Method: Without the tool,
the air pressure can be increased or
decreased in each tire for
10 seconds. Do not exceed the
maximum inflation pressure found
on the tire sidewalls. Make sure to
re-adjust tire pressure to the
recommended level when the
process is complete.
Sensor Learning Steps
To complete the sensor-to-vehicle
learn process:
1. Touch Start on the Learn Sensors screen. The horn
chirps twice and the Learning
Active screen appears on the
infotainment display.
2. Start with the driver side front trailer tire.
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3. Activate the tool near the valvestem or adjust the air pressure
of this tire until the horn chirps
and all working vehicle and
trailer lights flash.
The process stops without
saving the sensor locations if
this step takes more than
two minutes.
4. Move to the next tire and repeat Step 3 for each sensor.
The horn chirps twice when all
sensors are completed.
5. Return to the vehicle to complete the setup.
Maintenance Reminders
To set up maintenance reminders,
touch the Trailer Maintenance icon.
Select Yes to set up the
maintenance reminders for the
Trailer Profile. Follow the on-screen
prompts. The maximum number of
reminders is 50. Select No to return
to the previous screen.
Towing Assistance
If the Transparent Trailer feature is
available, touch the Towing
Assistance icon to set up
transparent trailer.
Touch Yes to begin set up or touch
No to return to the previous screen.
Follow the on-screen instructions.
A rear trailer camera must be
mounted on the trailer and
electrically connected to the vehicle
before transparent trailer feature
can be used. See Assistance
Systems for Parking or Backing
0 257.
Trailer dimensions must be in range
and transparent trailer must be
calibrated prior to use.
Transparent Trailer Setup
To complete setup for transparent
trailer: 1. Select the number of axles on the trailer. 2. Enter trailer dimensions
.Trailer Length: 300 cm
(118.1 in) 970 cm (381.8
in). Measure from center of
coupler to furthest rear
point on the trailer.
. Trailer Width: 120 cm (47.2
in) 260 cm (102.3 in).
Measure from left edge to
right edge.
. Trailer Height: 1 cm
(.39 in) –450 cm (177.1 in).
Measure from ground to
tallest point.
. Hitching Point Length: 180
cm (70.8 in) –970
cm (381.8 in). Measure from
center of coupler to middle
of tires.
. Trailer Tongue Length: 50
cm (119.6 in) –220
cm (86.6 in). Measure from
center of coupler to trailer
front wall.