Tips for towing a trailer or vehicle

1. Before towing, check the hitch and safety chain connections, and make sure the trailer running lights, brake lights and turn signals operate properly.

2. Always drive at a moderate speed (less than 100 km/h).

3. Towing a trailer requires more fuel than normal driving.

4. To ensure engine braking effectiveness and battery charging, do not use fifth gear (manual transmission) or overdrive (automatic transmission).

5. Always secure items in the trailer to prevent cargo shifting during travel.

6. Check the condition and air pressure of all trailer tires and your vehicle tires. Low tire pressure can seriously affect handling.

Also check the spare tire.

7. The vehicle/trailer combination is more affected by crosswinds and buffeting. When passing a large vehicle, maintain a steady speed and keep the vehicle moving straight ahead. If the wind is too strong, reduce speed to get out of the air turbulence from other vehicles.

8. When parking the vehicle and trailer, especially on a hill, always observe all normal precautions. Turn the front wheels into the curb, firmly apply the parking brake and shift the transmission into 1st gear or Reverse (manual transmission) or Park (automatic transmission). In addition, place wheel chocks at each trailer tire.

9. If the trailer has electric brakes, start the vehicle and trailer moving, then manually activate the trailer brake controller to make sure the brakes work. This also allows you to check the electrical connections.

10. During the trip, check the cargo securing from time to time and check the operation of the trailer lights and brakes.

11. Avoid sudden starts, rapid acceleration or abrupt stops.

12. Avoid sharp turns and quick lane changes.

13. Do not hold the brake pedal down for too long or press it too often. This may overheat the brakes, reducing braking system effectiveness.

14. When descending a grade, shift to a lower gear and use engine braking. When climbing a long grade, shift to a lower gear and reduce speed to reduce the possibility of overloading and/or overheating the engine.

15. If you need to stop while driving uphill, do not hold the vehicle in place by pressing the accelerator. This may overheat the automatic transmission. Use the parking brake or the foot brake.

When towing, check the transmission fluid more often.

CAUTION:

If the engine overheats while towing (temperature gauge near the red zone), take the following measures to reduce or eliminate the problem.

1. Turn off the air conditioner.

2. Reduce highway speed.

3. Select a lower gear when climbing a grade.

4. When stopped and in motion, shift the gear selector to "P" (Park) or "N" (Neutral), and the engine should idle at a high speed.