Chevrolet Silverado 2021 Series Trailering Manual page 9

TRAILERING BASICS – THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE YOU START
BEFORE YOU TRAILER
Safety Chains Always attach safety chains between your vehicle and your trailer
and cross them under the tongue of the trailer so that the tongue will be less likely
to drop if the trailer should separate from the hitch. Leave enough slack in the chains
so you can corner without the chains impeding the movement of the trailer. Do not
allow safety chains to drag on the ground.
Loading Your Trailer Load your conventional trailer to attain a 10–15% tongue
weight. Some specific trailer types (especially boat trailers) fall outside of this range.
In these cases, the recommended tongue weight listed in the trailer Owner's Manual
should be observed. A good rule of thumb is to distribute 60% of the load over the
front half of the trailer and evenly from side to side. Loads sitting either too far
forward or too far back in the trailer can create unstable trailering conditions — such
as trailer sway — at highway speeds and during heavy braking. Once the trailer has
been loaded and the weight is distributed properly, all cargo should be secured to
prevent the load from shifting.
Safety Checklist Before starting out on a trip, double-check the hitch and platform,
the hitch nuts and bolts, mirror adjustments, safety chains, and vehicle and trailer
lights. Make sure that a sway-control device is installed, if required, and that the
device is working properly. Check tire pressure on both the tow vehicle and the
trailer. If your trailer has electric brakes, test them by manually engaging the brake
controller while the vehicle is moving slowly. Check to see that the breakaway switch,
if available, is connected and functioning properly. Finally, make certain that all
loads are secure.
ON THE ROAD
Accelerating/Braking Avoid overworking your engine when trailering by applying
gradual pressure on the accelerator. Allow your vehicle to safely reach a comfortable
driving speed. Give yourself extra time and room when merging onto highways.
Braking when pulling a trailer requires extra distance. Allow ample room to come to a
safe stop. A good measure for determining a safe following distance is to allow one
vehicle and trailer length between you and the vehicle ahead of you for every 10 mph
of speed. When braking, use firm, steady pressure on the brake pedal.
Controlling Trailer Sway Sway refers to instability of the trailer relative to the tow
vehicle, and often results from improper weight distribution, excessive speed or
overloading. Other factors that can cause sway are crosswinds, poor vehicle
maintenance and road conditions. Trying to steer out of sway will likely make it
worse. Speed is a major contributor to trailer sway, so you need to slow the vehicle —
braking, however, could lead to a jackknife or other loss of control. To help control
sway, follow these steps:
• Hold the steering wheel as steady as possible
• Release the accelerator but do not touch the brake pedal
• Activate electric trailer brakes (if equipped) by hand, until the sway condition stops
• Use the vehicle brakes to come to a complete stop
You should pull your vehicle to the side of the road and attempt to determine the
cause of the instability. Check the cargo load for shifting and improper weight
distribution. Check tire pressure on the tow vehicle and trailer and the condition of
the suspension and shocks. If the sway was caused by strong winds, wait for
conditions to improve before continuing your trip.
Finally, some trailers can be equipped with anti-sway devices. Contact the
manufacturer of your trailer for availability.
Cornering The turning radius of a trailer is typically much smaller than that of your
vehicle; therefore, a trailer may hit soft shoulders, curbs, trees or other objects when
making tight turns. Taking turns sharply can also cause the trailer to strike against
and damage the tow vehicle. When approaching a sharp corner, brake sooner than
normal to reduce vehicle speed before entering the turn. Drive the vehicle slightly
past the normal turning point, then firmly turn the steering wheel. By cornering at a
wider angle, both the vehicle and the trailer should safely clear the inside of the turn.
Passing When passing, allow additional time and distance to safely pass the other
vehicle. Signal your intention to pass well in advance and, when reentering the lane
after passing, make certain your trailer is clear of the vehicle you have passed. Never
pass on hills or around curves.
Backing Up To back up a trailer, place one hand at the six o'clock position on the
steering wheel. 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. Back up slowly and move the
steering wheel in small increments to help maintain control. To assist in backing up,
it is helpful to have someone outside the vehicle to guide you. Make certain you can
see your spotter at all times.
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