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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. So please read this
section carefully before pulling a
trailer.
Load-pulling components such as
the engine, transmission, rear axle,
wheel assemblies and tires are
forced to work harder against the
drag of the added weight. The engine
is required to operate at relatively
higher speeds and under greater
loads, generating extra heat. The
trailer also adds considerably to wind
resistance, increasing the pulling
requirements.
The vehicle has Trailer Sway
Control (TSC). See “Trailer Sway
Control (TSC)” in StabiliTrak
®
System on page 4-7 for more
information.
Pulling A Trailer
Here are some important points:
• There are many different
laws, including speed limit
restrictions, having to do with
trailering. Make sure the rig will
be legal, not only where you
live but also where you will
be driving. A good source for
this information can be state or
provincial police.
• Do not tow a trailer at all during
the first 500 miles (800 km)
the new vehicle is driven.
The engine, axle or other
parts could be damaged.
• Then, during the first 500 miles
(800 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.
• Vehicles can tow in D (Drive).
Shift the transmission to a lower
gear if the transmission shifts too
often under heavy loads and/or
hilly conditions.
• Obey speed limit restrictions
when towing a trailer. Do not drive
faster than the maximum posted
speed for trailers, or no more than
55 mph (90 km/h), to save wear
on the vehicle’s parts.
• Do not tow a trailer when the
outside temperature is above
100°F (38°C).
Three important considerations have
to do with weight:
• The weight of the trailer
• The weight of the trailer tongue
• The total weight on the
vehicle’s tires
4-36 Driving Your Vehicle