Driving with a Trailer

Towing a trailer requires some experience. Before setting out on open roads, you should get to know your trailer. Become familiar with the handling and braking characteristics with the additional trailer weight. And always keep in mind that the vehicle you are driving is now longer and less responsive than your vehicle alone.

Before starting, check the hitch and trailer platform, safety chains, electrical connector(s), 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

Stay behind the vehicle ahead at a distance at least twice as great as when driving your vehicle without a trailer. This can help you avoid situations requiring sudden braking and sharp turns.

Passing

When towing a trailer, you will need a greater distance to pass other vehicles. Also, because of the increased vehicle length, you will need to move well beyond the other vehicle before you can return to your lane.

Backing Up

Hold the bottom of the steering wheel with one hand. 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 reverse slowly and, if possible, have someone guide you.

Making Turns

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

Turn Signals

When towing a trailer, your vehicle must be equipped with a different turn signal flasher and additional wiring. The green arrows on the instrument panel will flash whenever you signal a turn or lane change. When connected correctly, the trailer lights 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 during turns even if the trailer bulbs have burned out. You may therefore 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 wiring.

WARNING

Do not connect the trailer lighting system directly to your vehicle's electrical system. Use an approved trailer wiring harness. Failure to do so may result in damage to the vehicle 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 down a long or steep grade. If you do not downshift, you may have to brake so heavily that the brakes overheat and may fail to work effectively.

On a long uphill grade, shift to a lower gear 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 your vehicle has a dual-clutch transmission, you should drive in D (Drive) when towing a trailer.

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

NOTICE

To prevent overheating of the engine and/or transmission:

• When towing a trailer on steep grades (over 6%), pay close attention to the engine coolant temperature gauge to make sure the engine does not overheat. If the engine coolant temperature gauge pointer moves toward "H" (HOT), pull over and stop as soon as it is safe to do so, and let the engine idle while it cools down. You may continue driving after the engine has cooled sufficiently.
• If you tow a trailer at the maximum gross vehicle weight and the maximum trailer weight, the engine or transaxle may overheat. When driving under these conditions, let the engine idle until it cools down. Continue driving only after the engine or transaxle has cooled sufficiently.
• When towing a trailer, your vehicle speed may be much lower than the general traffic flow, especially when climbing a hill. Use the right-hand lane when towing a trailer uphill. Select your vehicle speed according to the maximum permitted speed for vehicles with trailers, the steepness of the grade, and the weight of your trailer.
• Vehicles with a dual clutch transmission towing a trailer up steep grades must remember that the transmission clutch may overheat.

If the clutch overheats, the fail-safe protection mode activates. When the fail-safe protection mode activates, the gear position indicator on the instrument panel flashes and a chime sounds.

At this time, a warning message appears on the LCD display, and driving may not be smooth.

If you ignore this warning, driving conditions may deteriorate.

To return to normal driving conditions, stop the vehicle on a level road and apply the brake pedal for several minutes before driving again.

Parking on Hills

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

However, if you ever have to park your trailer on a hill, follow these steps:

1. Drive the vehicle into the parking space.
Turn the steering wheel toward the curb (right if facing downhill, left if facing uphill).
2. Shift the vehicle into P (Park, for vehicles with a dual clutch transmission) or N (Neutral, for vehicles with a manual transmission).
3. Apply the parking brake and turn off the engine.
4. Place wheel chocks under the trailer wheels on the downhill side.
5. Start the engine, hold the brake pedal, shift to N, release the parking brake, and slowly release the brake pedal until the trailer chocks take the load.
6. Reapply the brake pedal and the parking brake.
7. Shift the gear selector to P (Park, for vehicles with a dual clutch transmission) or 1st gear (for vehicles with a manual transmission) when parked uphill, or to R (Reverse) when parked downhill.
8. Turn off the vehicle and release the vehicle brakes, but leave the parking brake applied.

WARNING

To avoid serious or fatal injury:

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

Ready to drive off after parking on a hill

1. With the gear selector in P (Park, for vehicles with a dual clutch transmission) or N (Neutral, for vehicles with a manual transmission), depress 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. Drive slowly until the trailer is on the wheel chocks.

4. Stop and ask someone to lift and remove the wheel chocks.