Driving with a Trailer

Towing a trailer requires a certain amount of experience. Before you set off, you need to become familiar with your trailer. Get used to maneuvering and braking with the additional weight of the trailer. Always remember that the vehicle you are driving is actually much longer and less responsive than your vehicle alone.

Before driving, check the hitch and trailer platform, safety chains, electrical connectors, lights, tires and brakes.

During the trip, check from time to time that the load is securely fastened and that the trailer lights and brakes still work.

Range

Keep a distance from the vehicle ahead of at least twice the distance you would keep when driving a vehicle without a trailer. This can help you avoid situations requiring sudden braking or a sudden change of direction.

exceeding

You will need a greater distance to pass when towing a trailer. And since your vehicle is much longer, you will have to travel farther beside the vehicle being passed before returning to your lane.

Provide Regression

Hold the bottom of the steering wheel with one hand. Then, to move the trailer to the left, move your hand to the left. To move the trailer to the right, move your hand to the right. Always back up slowly and, if possible, ask someone to guide you.

turns

When turning with a trailer, turn wider than usual. Do this so that your trailer does not hit road shoulders, curbs, posts, trees or other objects. Avoid sharp or sudden movements. Signal your maneuver in advance.

Turn signal indicators

When you tow a trailer, your vehicle must have headlights, turn signals and additional wiring. The green arrows located on the instrument cluster will flash each time you signal a change of direction or lane. When properly connected, the lights of your trailer will also flash to warn other drivers that you are about to turn, change lanes or stop.

When towing a trailer, the green arrows on the instrument panel will flash when you signal a change of direction, even if the trailer lights have burned out. You may therefore think that drivers behind you see your signals when in fact they do not. It is important to check from time to time that the trailer lights still work. You should also check that they light up each time you disconnect and reconnect the wiring.

WARNING

Do not connect the trailer lighting system directly to the vehicle lighting system. Use only a harness from approved trailer wiring.

If you do not use an approved trailer wiring harness, this may damage your vehicle's electrical system and/or injure people.

For more information, we recommend that you contact an authorized HYUNDAI dealer.

Mountain Driving

Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear before a long or steep descent. If you do not downshift, you risk using your brakes, which may overheat and stop working effectively.

On a long uphill grade, shift to a lower gear and reduce speed to approximately 70 km/h (45 mph) to reduce the risk of engine and transmission overheating.

If your trailer exceeds the maximum weight of a trailer without brakes and you have an automatic transmission, you should drive in D (Drive) when towing a trailer. Driving your vehicle in D (Drive) when towing a trailer reduces heat generation and increases the service life of your transmission.

NOTICE

To prevent engine and/or transmission overheating:

• When towing a trailer on steep slopes (more than 6%), pay special attention to the engine coolant temperature gauge so that the engine does not overheat. If the gauge needle reaches the "H" (HOT) position, pull off the road and stop as soon as it is safe, and let the engine idle until it cools. You may continue driving once the engine has cooled sufficiently.
• You must adjust your driving speed according to the weight of the trailer and the slope.

Parking on a Slope

As a general rule, it is not recommended to park a vehicle on a slope when a trailer is attached to it.

If you must park your trailer on a slope anyway, proceed as follows:

1. Stop the vehicle in the parking space. Turn the steering wheel toward the curb (to the right if your vehicle faces downhill from the slope, and to the left in the other case).

2. Shift the gear selector to P (Park, for automatic transmissions) or N (Neutral, for manual transmissions).

3. Apply the parking brake and turn the ignition off.

4. Place wheel chocks under the trailer wheels.

5. Start the vehicle, apply the brake, shift to neutral, release the parking brake first, then slowly release the brake until the trailer chocks take the load.

6. Apply the brake and the parking brake.

7. Shift the gear selector to P (Park) for vehicles with an automatic transmission, or to 1st gear for vehicles with a manual transmission, when parking on a level surface or uphill. When parking downhill, shift to R (Reverse) for vehicles with a manual transmission.

8. Turn the ignition off, then release the vehicle brake, but leave the parking brake applied.

WARNING

To avoid serious injury or death.

It is dangerous to exit the vehicle when the parking brake is applied incorrectly or the vehicle is not in Park. If the engine is left running, the vehicle may suddenly move. You or other people may be seriously injured or killed.

When you are about to leave the vehicle after parking on a slope

1. With the automatic transmission in P (Park) or the manual transmission in neutral, press the brake pedal and keep it depressed until you:

• Start the engine;
• Shift into gear; and
• Release the parking brake.

2. Slowly release the brake pedal.

3. Move slowly until the trailer is released from the chocks.

4. Stop and ask someone to collect and remove the chocks.