2022 ALFA ROMEO STELVIO Owners Manual

127

TRAILER TOWING
In this section you will find safety tips and
information on limits to the type of towing you can
reasonably do with your vehicle. Before towing a
trailer, carefully review this information to tow
your load as efficiently and safely as possible.
To maintain the New Vehicle Limited Warranty
coverage, follow the requirements and
recommendations in this manual concerning
vehicles used for trailer towing.
COMMON TOWING DEFINITIONS
The following trailer towing related definitions will
assist you in understanding the following
information:
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)
The GVWR is the total allowable weight of your
vehicle. This includes driver, passengers, cargo
and tongue weight. The total load must be limited
so that you do not exceed the GVWR

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page 126.
Gross Trailer Weight (GTW)

The GTW is the weight of the trailer plus the weight
of all cargo, consumables, and equipment
(permanent or temporary) loaded in or on the trailer
in its "loaded and ready for operation" condition.
The recommended way to measure GTW is to put
your fully loaded trailer on a vehicle scale. The
entire weight of the trailer must be supported by
the scale.
Gross Combination Weight Rating
(GCWR)
The GCWR is the total allowable weight of your
vehicle and trailer when weighed in combination.
Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR)
The GAWR is the maximum capacity of the front
and rear axles. Distribute the load over the front
and rear axles evenly. Make sure that you do not
exceed either front or rear GAWR

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Tongue Weight (TW)
The tongue weight is the downward force exerted
on the hitch ball by the trailer. You must consider
this as part of the load on your vehicle.
Trailer Frontal Area
The frontal area is the maximum height multiplied
by the maximum width of the front of a trailer.
Weight-Carrying Hitch
A weight-carrying hitch supports the trailer tongue
weight, just as if it were luggage located at a hitch
ball or some other connecting point of the vehicle.
These kinds of hitches are the most popular on
the market today and they are commonly used to
tow small and medium sized trailers.
Weight-Distributing Hitch
A weight-distributing hitch system works by
applying leverage through spring (load) bars. They
are typically used for heavier loads to distribute
trailer tongue weight to the tow vehicle's front
axle and the trailer axle(s). When used in
accordance with the manufacturer's directions, it
provides for a more level ride, offering more
consistent steering and brake control thereby
enhancing towing safety. The addition of a
friction/hydraulic sway control also dampens
sway caused by traffic and crosswinds and
contributes positively to tow vehicle and trailer
stability. Trailer Sway Control and a
weight-distributing (load equalizing) hitch are
recommended for heavier Tongue Weights (TW)
and may be required depending on vehicle and
trailer configuration/loading to comply with Gross
Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) requirements.
WARNING!
Do not load your vehicle any heavier than the
GVWR or the maximum front and rear GAWR. If
you do, parts on your vehicle can break, or it
can change the way your vehicle handles. This
could cause you to lose control. Overloading
can shorten the life of your vehicle.
WARNING!
It is important that you do not exceed the
maximum front or rear GAWR. A dangerous
driving condition can result if either rating is
exceeded. You could lose control of the vehicle
and have a collision.
WARNING!
An improperly adjusted weight-distributing
hitch system may reduce handling, stability,
braking performance, and could result in a
collision.
Weight-distributing hitch systems may not be
compatible with surge brake couplers.
Consult with the hitch and trailer
manufacturer or a reputable Recreational
Vehicle dealer for additional information.
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TRAILER HITCH CLASSIFICATION
The following chart provides the industry standard for the maximum trailer weight a given trailer hitch class can tow and should be used to assist you in
selecting the correct trailer hitch for your intended towing condition.
TRAILER TOWING WEIGHTS (MAXIMUM TRAILER WEIGHT RATINGS)
Trailer towing is not permissible with the 2.9L engine.
Trailer Hitch Classification Definitions
ClassMax. Trailer Hitch Industry Standards
Class I - Light Duty 2,000 lb (907 kg)
Class II - Medium Duty 3,500 lb (1,587 kg)
Class III - Heavy Duty 6,000 lb (2,722 kg)
Class IV - Extra Heavy Duty 10,000 lb (4,535 kg)
Refer to the “Trailer Towing Weights (Maximum Trailer Weight Ratings)” chart for the Maximum Gross Trailer Weight (GTW) towable for your given
drivetrain.
All trailer hitches should be professionally installed on your vehicle.
Engine/TransmissionMaximum GTWMaximum Trailer TW (See Note)
2.0L Engine 3,000 lb (1360 kg) 300 lb (136 kg)
Refer to local laws for maximum trailer towing speeds.

NOTE:
The trailer tongue weight must be considered as part of the combined weight of occupants and cargo, and should never exceed the weight referenced on
the Tire and Loading Information placard.
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TRAILER AND TONGUE WEIGHT
Never exceed the maximum tongue weight
stamped on your fascia/bumper or trailer hitch.
Weight Distribution
Consider the following items when computing the
weight on the rear axle of the vehicle:
The tongue weight of the trailer.
The weight of any other type of cargo or
equipment put in or on your vehicle.
The weight of the driver and all passengers.

NOTE:Remember that everything put into or on the trailer
adds to the load on your vehicle. Also, additional
factory-installed options or dealer-installed
options must be considered as part of the total
load on your vehicle. Refer to the “Tire And Loading
Information” placard for the maximum combined
weight of occupants and cargo for your vehicle.

TOWING REQUIREMENTS
To promote proper break-in of your new vehicle
drivetrain components, the following guidelines
are recommended:
WARNING!

Always load a trailer with 60% of the weight in
the front of the trailer. This places 10% of the
GTW on the tow hitch of your vehicle. Loads bal -
anced over the wheels or heavier in the rear
can cause the trailer to sway severely side to
side which will cause loss of control of the vehi -
cle and trailer. Failure to load trailers heavier in
front is the cause of many trailer collisions.

WARNING!
Improper towing can lead to a collision. Follow
these guidelines to make your trailer towing as
safe as possible:
Make certain that the load is secured in the
trailer and that it will not shift during travel.
When trailering cargo that is not fully
secured, dynamic load shifts can occur that
may be difficult for the driver to control. You
could lose control of your vehicle and have a
collision.
When hauling cargo, or towing a trailer, do
not overload your vehicle or trailer.
Overloading can cause a loss of control, poor
performance, or damage to brakes, axle,
engine, transmission, steering, suspension,
chassis structure, or tires.
Safety chains must always be used between
your vehicle and trailer. Always connect the
chains to the frame or hook retainers of the
vehicle hitch. Cross the chains under the
trailer tongue and allow enough slack for
turning corners.
Vehicles with trailers should not be parked
on a grade. When parking, apply the parking
brake on the tow vehicle. Put the tow vehicle
transmission in PARK. Always block or
"chock" the trailer wheels.
GCWR must not be exceeded.
Total weight must be distributed between
the tow vehicle and the trailer such that the
following four ratings are not exceeded:
• GVWR
• GTW
• GAWR
• Tongue weight rating for the trailer hitch
utilized.
CAUTION!
Do not tow a trailer at all during the first
500 miles (805 km) the new vehicle is
driven. The engine, axle or other parts could
be damaged.
WARNING!
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Towing Requirements — Tires
Do not attempt to tow a trailer while using a
compact spare tire.
Do not drive more than 50 mph (80 km/h)
when towing while using a full size spare tire.
Proper tire inflation pressures are essential to
the safe and satisfactory operation of your
vehicle.
Check the trailer tires for proper tire inflation
pressures before trailer usage.
Check for signs of tire wear or visible tire
damage before towing a trailer.
Replacing tires with a higher load carrying
capacity will not increase the vehicle's GVWR
and GAWR limits.
For proper tire inflation procedures
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page 216.
Towing Requirements — Trailer Brakes
Do not interconnect the hydraulic brake
system or vacuum system of your vehicle with
that of the trailer. This could cause inadequate
braking and possible personal injury.
An electronically actuated trailer brake
controller is required when towing a trailer with
electronically actuated brakes. When towing a
trailer equipped with a hydraulic surge
actuated brake system, an electronic brake
controller is not required.
Trailer brakes are recommended for trailers
over 1,000 lb (453 kg) and required for trailers
in excess of 2,000 lb (907 kg).
Towing Requirements — Trailer Lights
And Wiring
Whenever you pull a trailer, regardless of the
trailer size, stoplights and turn signals on the
trailer are required for motoring safety.
The Trailer Tow Package may include a four- and
seven-pin wiring harness. Use a factory approved
trailer harness and connector.

NOTE:
Do not cut or splice wiring into the vehicle’s wiring
harness.
The electrical connections are all complete to the
vehicle but you must mate the harness to a trailer
connector. Refer to the following illustrations.

NOTE:

Disconnect trailer wiring connector from the
vehicle before launching a boat (or any other
device plugged into vehicle’s electrical
connect) into water.
Be sure to reconnect once clear from water
area.
Then, during the first 500 miles (805 km)
that a trailer is towed, do not drive over
50 mph (80 km/h) and do not make starts at
full throttle. This helps the engine and other
parts of the vehicle wear in at the heavier
loads.
CAUTION!
WARNING!
Do not connect trailer brakes to your
vehicle's hydraulic brake lines. It can
overload your brake system and cause it to
fail. You might not have brakes when you
need them and could have an accident.
Towing any trailer will increase your stopping
distance. When towing, you should allow for
additional space between your vehicle and
the vehicle in front of you. Failure to do so
could result in an accident.
CAUTION!

If the trailer weighs more than 1,000 lb (453 kg)
loaded, it should have its own brakes and they
should be of adequate capacity. Failure to do
this could lead to accelerated brake lining wear,
higher brake pedal effort, and longer stopping
distances.

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Four-Pin Connector
Seven-Pin Connector
TOWING TIPS
Before setting out on a trip, practice turning,
stopping, and backing up the trailer in an area
located away from heavy traffic.
Automatic Transmission
Select the DRIVE range when towing. The
transmission controls include a drive strategy to
avoid frequent shifting when towing. However, if
frequent shifting does occur while in DRIVE, you
can use the AutoStick shift control to manually
select a lower gear.

NOTE:
Using a lower gear while operating the vehicle
under heavy loading conditions will improve
performance and extend transmission life by
reducing excessive shifting and heat buildup. This
action will also provide better engine braking.
Cruise Control — If Equipped
Do not use on hilly terrain or with heavy loads.
When using the Cruise Control, if you
experience speed drops greater than 10 mph
(16 km/h), disengage until you can get back to
cruising speed.
Use Cruise Control in flat terrain and with light
loads to maximize fuel efficiency.
INSTALLING THE RECEIVER
To properly install the receiver, see the following
directions:
1. Retrieve the receiver from the luggage compartment.
2. Push the receiver into the trailer hitch, and secure by inserting the locking pin into the
trailer hitch.
3. Insert the safety split ring into the hole on the locking pin.

NOTE:
Ensure that the locking pin is removed from the
trailer hitch before installing the receiver.
Trailer Hitch And Receiver
1 — Ground
2 — Park
3 — Left Stop/Turn
4 — Right Stop/Turn
1 — Backup Lamps
2 — Running Lamps
3 — Left Stop/Turn
4 — Ground
5 — Battery
6 — Right Stop/Turn
7 — Electric Brakes
1 – Receiver
2 – Locking Pin
3 – Safety Split Ring
A – Trailer Hitch
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CONNECTING THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
To connect the trailer’s electrical system, see the
following directions:
1. Remove the socket protective cover.
2. Completely insert the plug into the socket.Electrical Tow Connector
REMOVING THE RECEIVER
When the receiver is no longer needed,
disconnect the electrical connections and
remove it from its position using the following
directions:
1. Remove the safety split ring from the locking pin.
2. Pull the locking pin out of the trailer hitch.
3. Remove the receiver from the trailer hitch.
SUGGESTIONS FOR
DRIVING
SAVING FUEL
The following suggestions may help you save fuel
and lower the amount of harmful emissions
released into the atmosphere.
Vehicle Maintenance
Checks and operations should be carried out in
accordance with the Maintenance Plan

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page 191.
Tires
Check the tire pressures at least once every four
weeks: if the pressure is too low, consumption
levels increase as resistance to rolling is higher.

NOTE:
Tire pressure that is too high can cause prema -
ture tire wear, reduced control, etc. Unnecessary Loads
Do not travel with an overloaded liftgate. The
weight of the vehicle and its arrangement greatly
affect fuel consumption and stability.
Electric Devices
Use electrical systems only for the amount of
time needed. The rear window defroster,
additional headlights, windshield wipers and
heater blower fan require a considerable amount
of energy; increasing the current uptake
increases fuel consumption (by up to +25% when
city driving).
Climate Control System
Using the climate control system will increase
consumption: use standard ventilation when the
temperature outside permits.
Devices For Aerodynamic Control
The use of non-certified devices for aerodynamic
control may adversely affect air drag and
consumption levels.
DRIVING STYLE
Starting
Do not warm up the engine at low or high revs
when the vehicle is stationary; this causes the
engine to warm up more slowly, thereby
increasing fuel consumption and emissions. It is
therefore advisable to drive off immediately,
slowly, avoiding high speeds: by doing this the
engine will warm up more quickly.
Pin
NumberFunction
1 Lights ground (Lights GND)
2 Position light, side marker
lights, and license plate light
3 Left turn signal and stop light
4 Right turn signal and stop light
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Unnecessary Actions
Avoid revving up when starting at traffic lights or
before stopping the engine. This action is
unnecessary and causes increased fuel
consumption and pollution.
Gear Selection
Use a high gear when traffic and road conditions
allow it. Using a low gear for faster acceleration
will increase fuel consumption. Improper use of a
high gear increases consumption, emissions and
engine wear.
Maximum Speed
Fuel consumption considerably increases as
speed increases. Maintain a constant speed,
avoiding unnecessary braking and acceleration,
which cost in terms of both fuel consumption and
emissions.
Acceleration

Accelerating violently severely affects consumption
and emissions: acceleration should be gradual and
should not exceed the maximum torque.

CONDITIONS OF USE
Cold Starting
Short trips and frequent cold starts will not allow
the engine to reach optimum operating
temperature. This results in a significant increase
in consumption levels (from +15 to +30% in city
driving) and emissions.
Traffic And Road Conditions
High fuel consumption is caused by heavy traffic,
for instance when traveling in traffic with frequent
use of low gears or in cities with many traffic
lights. Winding mountain roads and rough road
surfaces also adversely affect consumption.Stops In Traffic
During prolonged stops (e.g. railway crossings),
turn off the engine.
PERFORMANCE — QUADRIFOGLIO
This vehicle is equipped with an engine capable
of delivering exceptionally fast acceleration and
speed:
Peak power: 505 HP at 6,500 RPM.
Peak torque: 443 ft-lb at 2,500–5,000 RPM.
Top speed: 176 mph (283 km/h).

Acceleration from 0 to 60 mph (0 to 100 km/h):
3.6 seconds.

For safe driving, it is essential, particularly during
the first days of use, to get to know the car by
driving carefully and gradually discovering its
performance.
Brakes
The car braking system may be available with four
carbon ceramic material brake discs, one on
each wheel.
In order to guarantee the maximum braking
capacity for the first use, Alfa Romeo performs a
"run-in" procedure for discs and pads directly at
the factory.
The use of carbon ceramic material brake discs
guarantees braking features (better
deceleration/pedal load ratio, braking distances,
fading resistance) proportional to the dynamic
features of the car in addition to considerably
decreasing the unsprung component weight.
The materials used and the structural features of
the system could generate unusual noises which
have absolutely no adverse effect on correct
operation and reliability of the braking system. Greater pressure may need to be applied to the
brake pedal the first time to keep the same
braking capacities in presence of condensation
or salt on the braking surfaces, for example after
washing or if the car is not used for a long time.

NOTE:
Given the high technological level of this system,
any servicing on it must be performed by an
authorized dealer which exclusively has the skills
needed for the repair and maintenance opera
-
tions.
In case of intensive, high-performance use of the
car, have the efficiency of the carbon ceramic
material braking system inspected as shown on
the Maintenance Plan at an authorized dealer.
Driving On Race Tracks
Before driving on a track using a racing style, it is
necessary to:
Attend a race track driving course.
Check the liquid levels in the engine
compartment
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page 191.
Have the car inspected at an authorized
dealer.
Remember that the car was not designed to be
driven exclusively on the race track and that this
use increases stress and component wear.

NOTE:
Quadrifoglio front brakes are equipped with
Non-Asbestos Organic (NAO) type pads. These
pads are NOT suitable for high thermal loads (for
example track use). If you plan to use vehicle on
a track it is recommended to use the optional
CCM Brakes (Carbon Ceramic Brake disc).
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Preheating the carbon ceramic material brake
discs
The brake discs must be warmed up to make
them fully efficient. Perform the following
procedure to achieve optimal efficiency:
Brake nine times from 80 mph to 18 mph
(130 km/h to 30 km/h) with deceleration
equal to 0.7g (the longitudinal acceleration
value is shown on the instrument cluster
display by setting RACE mode and selecting
the “Performance” page) with 20 second
intervals between brake applications; keep the
car at a speed comprised between 37 mph
and 62 mph (60 km/h and 100 km/h) and do
not brake for 4 minutes to allow the brakes to
cool down.
Then brake three times from 124 mph to
18 mph (200 km/h to 30 km/h) with
deceleration equal to 1.1g (ABS operation)
with 30 second intervals between brake
applications; keep the car at a speed
comprised between 37 mph and 62 mph
(60 km/h and 100 km/h) and do not brake for
5 minutes to allow the brakes to cool down.
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