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Towing a Trailer
NOTICE:
Pulling a trailer improperly can dam-
age your vehicle and result in costly
repairs not covered by your warranty,
To pull a trailer correctly, follow the
advice in this section, and see your
Geo dealer for important information
about towing a trailer with your
vehicle.
Your vehicle can tow a trailer. To identify
what the vehicle trailering capacity is for
your vehicle,
you
should read the
information in "Weight
of
the Trailer" that
appears later in this section.
But
trailering
is different than just driving your vehicle
by itself. Trailering means changes in
handling, durability, and fuel economy.
Successful, safe trailering takes correct
equipment, and it has to be used properly.
That's the reason for this section.
In
it are
many time-tested, important trailering
tips and safety rules. Many of these are
important for your safety and that of your
passengers. So please read this section
carefully before you pull a trailer.
Load-pulling components such as the
engine, transmission, wheel assemblies,
and tires are forced to work harder against
the drag of the added weight. The engine
is required to operate at relatively higher
speeds and under greater loads,
generating extra heat. What's more, the
trailer adds considerably to wind
resistance, increasing the pulling
requirements.
If You Do Decide to Pull a Trailer
If
you
do, here are some important points.
There are many different laws 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. You
can ask a hitch dealer about sway
controls.
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.
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