If You Do Decide To Pull A Trailer

If you do, here are some important points:

• There are many different laws, including speed limit restrictions, having to do with trailering.

Make sure your rig will be legal, not only where you live but also where you’ll be driving.

A good source for this information can be state or provincial police.
• Consider using a sway control. See “Hitches” later in this section.
• Don’t tow a trailer at all during the first 500 miles (800 km) your new vehicle is driven.

Your engine, axle or other parts could be damaged.
• Then, during the first 500 miles (800 km) that you tow a trailer, don’t drive over 50 mph (80 km/h) and don’t make starts at full throttle.

This helps your engine and other parts of your vehicle wear in at the heavier loads.
• You can tow in DRIVE (D). You may want to shift the transmission to THIRD (3) or, if necessary, a lower gear selection if the transmission shifts too often (e.g., under heavy loads and/or hilly conditions).

Three important considerations have to do with weight:

• the weight of the trailer,
• the weight of the trailer tongue
• and the weight on your vehicle’s tires.

    See also:

    Making Turns
    Notice: Making very sharp turns while trailering could cause the trailer to come in contact with the vehicle. The vehicle could be damaged. Avoid making very sharp turns while trailering. When tu ...

    Park Tilt Mirrors
    If the vehicle is equipped with memory mirrors, there is an option to have the mirrors tilt down, when in R (Reverse), to more easily see the ground near the vehicle. When the vehicle is shif ...

    Engine Compartment Overview
    A. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . B. Electric Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View). See Cooling System . C. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil” under Engine Oil . D. Engine Oil Fill Cap. ...