Driving with a Trailer

Towing a trailer requires a certain amount of experience. Before driving on public roads, you should get to know your trailer. Familiarize yourself with the handling and braking feel with the additional trailer weight. And always remember that the vehicle you are driving is now longer and less responsive than your vehicle alone.

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

During the trip, periodically check that the cargo is securely fastened and that the trailer lights and brakes are still working.

Range

Keep at least twice the normal following distance behind the vehicle ahead, as you would when driving without a trailer. This will help you avoid situations that require sudden braking and sharp turns.

Passing

You will need more distance to pass when towing a trailer. Due to the increased length of the vehicle, you will need to travel much farther past the passed vehicle before you can return to your lane.

Backing Up

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

Making Turns

When turning with a trailer, make wider turns than usual. Do this so that your trailer does not strike soft shoulders, curbs, road signs, trees, or other objects. Avoid jerking or sudden maneuvers. Signal in advance.

Turn Signals

When you tow a trailer, your vehicle must have a trailer turn signal flasher and additional wiring. The green turn indicator arrows on the instrument panel will flash whenever you signal a turn or lane change. When properly connected, the trailer lights will also flash to warn other drivers that you are going to turn, change lanes, or stop.

When towing a trailer, the green turn indicator arrows on the instrument panel will flash when turning, even if the trailer lights have burned out. Therefore, you may think that drivers behind you can see your signals when, in fact, they cannot. It is important to check periodically that the trailer lights are still working. You should also check the lights each time you disconnect and then reconnect the wires.

WARNING

Do not connect the trailer lighting system directly to your vehicle's lighting system. Use an approved trailer wiring harness. Failure to do so may result in damage to the vehicle's electrical system and/or injury. Consult an authorized HYUNDAI dealer for assistance.

Driving on Hills

Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear before starting a long or steep descent. If you do not downshift, you may have to use the brakes so much that they overheat and may work inefficiently.

On a long upgrade, downshift and reduce speed to approximately 70 km/h to reduce the likelihood of engine and transmission overheating.

If your trailer weighs more than the maximum trailer weight without trailer brakes, and you have an automatic transmission/dual clutch transmission, you must drive in D (Drive) when towing a trailer.

Driving in D (Drive) when towing a trailer will minimize heat buildup and extend the service life of your transmission.

NOTICE

To prevent the engine and/or transmission from overheating:

• When towing a trailer on steep grades (over 6%), pay close attention to the engine coolant temperature gauge to ensure the engine does not overheat. If the coolant temperature gauge needle moves toward "130", stop as soon as it is safe to do so and let the engine idle until it cools down. You may continue after the engine has sufficiently cooled.
• If you tow a trailer at maximum gross vehicle weight and maximum trailer weight, the engine or transmission may overheat. When driving under these conditions, allow the engine to idle until it cools down. You may continue as soon as the engine or transmission has cooled sufficiently.
• When towing a trailer, your vehicle speed may be much lower than the general flow of traffic, especially when climbing a grade. Use the right lane when towing a trailer up a grade. Select your vehicle speed according to the maximum posted speed limit for vehicles with trailers, the steepness of the grade, and your trailer weight.
• Vehicles equipped with a dual clutch transmission, when towing a trailer on steep grades, should be aware that the clutch in the transmission may overheat. When the clutch overheats, the safe protection mode activates. If the protection mode is activated, the gear position indicator on the cluster flashes with an audible signal.

At this time, a warning message will appear on the LCD display and driving may not be smooth. If you ignore this warning, the driving condition may become worse.

To return to normal driving conditions, stop the vehicle on a level road surface and apply the parking brake for a few minutes before driving off.

Parking on Hills

As a general rule, if you have a trailer attached to your vehicle, you should not park the vehicle on a hill.

However, if you ever have to park your trailer on a hill, here is how to do it:

1. Drive the vehicle into a parking space.

Turn the steering wheel toward the curb (to the left if facing downhill, straight if facing uphill).

2. Shift the vehicle into P (Park, for automatic transmission/dual clutch transmission vehicles) or Neutral (for manual transmission vehicles).

3. Set the parking brake and turn off the vehicle.

4. Place wheel chocks under the trailer wheels on the downhill side.

5. Start the vehicle, hold the brake pedal, shift to Neutral, release the parking brake, and slowly release the brake pedal until the trailer tongue is held by the chocks and absorbs the load.

6. Reapply the brake pedal and the parking brake.

7. Move the shift lever to P (Park) for vehicles with an automatic transmission/dual clutch transmission, or to 1st gear for vehicles with a manual transmission, when parking uphill, and to R (Reverse) when parking downhill.

8. Turn off the engine and release the brake, but leave the parking brake engaged.

WARNING

To prevent serious or fatal injury:

• Do not leave the vehicle unless the parking brake is firmly set. If you leave the engine running, the vehicle may move suddenly. You and others may be seriously or fatally injured.
• Do not use the accelerator pedal to hold the vehicle on a hill.

Ready to Drive After Parking on a Hill

1. With the shift lever in P (Park) for vehicles with an automatic transmission/dual clutch transmission, or in N (Neutral) for vehicles with a manual transmission, press and hold the brake pedal until you:

• Start the engine;
• Engage a gear; and
• Release the parking brake.

2. Slowly release the brake pedal.

3. Move forward slowly until the trailer is free of the wheel chocks.

4. Stop and ask someone to pick up and store the wheel chocks.