Towing Requirements

To promote proper break-in of your new vehicle drivetrain components, the following guidelines are recommended:

Refer to “Fluids, Lubricants, and Genuine Parts” in “Maintaining Your Vehicle” for the correct fluid type.

• Then, during the first 500 miles (805 km) that a trailer is towed, do not drive over 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.

• Make certain that the load is secured in the trailer and will not shift during travel. When trailering cargo that is not fully secured, dynamic load shifts can occur that may be difficult for the driver to control. You could lose control of your vehicle and have a collision.

• When hauling cargo or towing a trailer, do not overload your vehicle or trailer. Overloading can cause a loss of control, poor performance or damage to the brakes, axle, engine, transmission, steering, suspension, chassis structure or tires.

• Safety chains must always be used between your vehicle and trailer. Always connect the chains to the frame or hook retainers of the vehicle hitch.

Cross the chains under the trailer tongue and allow enough slack for turning corners.

• Vehicles with trailers should not be parked on a grade. When parking, apply the parking brake on the tow vehicle. Put the tow vehicle automatic transmission in PARK. With a manual transmission, shift the transmission into first gear. And with four-wheel-drive vehicles, make sure the transfer case is not in N (Neutral). Always, block or chock the trailer wheels.

• GCWR must not be exceeded.

• Total weight must be distributed between the tow vehicle and the trailer such that the following four ratings are not exceeded:
1. GVWR
2. GTW
3. GAWR

4. Tongue weight rating for the trailer hitch utilized (This requirement may limit the ability to always achieve the 10% to 15% range of tongue weight as a percentage of total trailer weight).