Driving with a Trailer

Driving with a trailer requires experience. Before taking a trailer on public roads, it is advisable to practice towing on quiet roads. Become familiar in advance with the feel, handling and braking with the additional trailer load. Also always remember that your vehicle with a trailer is much longer and less maneuverable than without one.

Before each trip, check the trailer hitch, safety chains, trailer plug connections, trailer lights, tires and mirror adjustment. If the trailer is equipped with electric brakes, slowly drive forward and apply the brake manually to make sure the brake functions normally. Also check that the electrical connections are working.

From time to time while driving, check that the trailer load is secured and that the trailer lights and trailer brakes are working properly.

vehicle ground clearance

When towing, keep a safe distance at least twice as large as you would when driving without a trailer. Avoid sudden braking and sharp steering movements.

Overtaking

Remember that passing with a trailer takes more time, and because of the length of the combination you need to travel a greater distance before you can return to your lane.

Reversing

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 use mirrors if possible.

Drive Shafts

When cornering with a trailer, a larger turning radius is required than normal. This is necessary so that the trailer does not hit curbs, road signs, trees or other objects. Avoid sudden or sharp steering maneuvers. Signal direction changes early.

Turn Signals when Towing a Trailer

The vehicle must be equipped with a modified turn signal relay and additional wiring to operate the trailer. The green indicator in the instrument cluster flashes whenever the turn signal is activated for a turn or lane change. If the trailer lights are connected correctly, they also flash. The flashing lights on the trailer indicate to other road users that you are turning, changing lanes or intend to stop.

The green indicator in the instrument cluster flashes even when the trailer light bulbs are burned out. Therefore, you may assume that following traffic has noticed the flashing when it has not. It is especially important to periodically test the trailer lighting function. Check the trailer lighting function every time after you attach the trailer to the towing vehicle.

Never connect trailer lights directly to the vehicle wiring. Use only approved wiring harnesses with special trailer connectors.

Have the wiring harness installed by a specialized workshop. Kia recommends visiting a Kia dealer or service partner.

WARNING

Using an unapproved trailer wiring harness may damage the vehicle's electrical system and/or cause injury.

Driving on Slopes and Grades

Before a long downhill, reduce speed and shift to a lower gear. If you do not downshift, the engine brake will not be sufficiently effective. The brakes may overheat and become too hot, so the braking effect may fade.

Before a long uphill climb, shift to a lower gear and reduce speed to approx. 70 km/h to avoid engine and transmission overheating.

If the weight of your trailer exceeds the maximum gross trailer weight for trailers without brakes, and your vehicle is equipped with a dual clutch automatic transmission, you must drive in D when towing a trailer.

When driving with a trailer in Drive (D), heat generation in the transmission is lower and transmission service life is increased.

DANGER

• Pay close attention to the coolant temperature gauge if you are towing a trailer up a steep grade (more than 6%). Continue driving so the engine does not become too hot. If the coolant temperature rises and the pointer reaches "H - HOT" (130 °C), stop at the next safe opportunity and let the engine cool at idle. You may continue driving once the engine has cooled sufficiently.
• Adjust your driving speed depending on the trailer weight and the steepness of the grade to prevent engine overheating and transmission overheating.
• On vehicles with a dual clutch transmission, the clutch may overheat when towing a trailer or when driving up a steep grade. If the clutch overheats, the fail-safe mode is activated. In fail-safe mode, the gear indicator in the instrument cluster flashes and a warning signal sounds. In this case, a warning message is displayed on the LCD and driving becomes unstable. If you ignore this warning, driving performance may continue to deteriorate. To return to normal driving conditions, stop the vehicle and wait several minutes, then press the brake pedal firmly for a long time before continuing.

Parking on slopes

If you park your vehicle on a slope with a trailer attached, the vehicle must be turned off. People may be seriously or fatally injured, and your vehicle and trailer may be damaged if it rolls down the hill unexpectedly.

WARNING

Parking on a Hill

Parking a vehicle with a trailer on a slope may cause serious or fatal injuries if the trailer separates from the vehicle.

If it is necessary to park the combination on a slope, please do the following:

1. Drive the vehicle into the parking space. Turn the steering wheel toward the curb (to the right if the vehicle faces downhill, to the left if it faces uphill).

2. On a vehicle with a manual transmission, shift into neutral. If the vehicle has a dual clutch automatic transmission, place the selector lever in the Park (P) position.

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 vehicle, press the brake pedal, shift into neutral, release the parking brake, and slowly release the brake pedal until the wheel chocks take the load of the trailer.

6. Press the brake again, apply the parking brake, and shift into reverse (manual transmission) or Park (automatic transmission/dual clutch).

7. Turn off the vehicle and release the vehicle brakes. Make sure the parking brake is applied.

WARNING

Parking brake

It can be dangerous to leave the vehicle when the parking brake is not properly applied.

If the engine is still running, the vehicle may move off suddenly. In this case, there is a serious danger of fatal injury to you and to bystanders.

Starting from a parked position on an incline

1. For vehicles with a manual transmission, shift to neutral; for vehicles with an automatic transmission/dual clutch transmission, move the selector lever to the Park position (P). Press the brake pedal, then perform the following steps:

• Start the engine.
• shift into gear and
• Release the parking brake.

2. Slowly release the brake pedal.

3. Drive forward slowly until the trailer is clear of the brake shoes.

4. Stop and have another person remove the wheel chocks.