General Information; Trailer Towing - Opel Automobile Owner's Manual

Towing

General information

The factory-fitted towing equipment is
folded up under the rear bumper
fascia.
Entrust retrofitting of towing
equipment to a workshop. It may be
necessary to make changes that
affect the cooling system, heat
shields or other equipment. Only use
towing equipment that has been
approved for your vehicle.
Installation dimensions of factory-
fitted towing equipment 3 204.
Driving characteristics and
towing tips
Before attaching a trailer, lubricate
the coupling ball. However, do not do
so if a stabiliser, which acts on the
coupling ball, is being used to reduce
snaking movements.
For trailers with low driving stability
and trailers with a permitted gross
vehicle weight of more than 1400 kg
the use of a stabiliser is strongly
recommended when driving above
80 km/h (50 mph).
If the trailer starts snaking, drive more
slowly, do not attempt to correct the
steering and brake sharply if
necessary.
When driving downhill, drive in the
same gear as if driving uphill and
drive at a similar speed.
Adjust tyre pressure to the value
specified for full load 3 191.

Trailer towing

Trailer loads
The permissible trailer loads are
vehicle and engine-dependent
maximum values which must not be
exceeded. The actual trailer load is
the difference between the actual
gross weight of the trailer and the
actual coupling socket load with the
trailer coupled.
The permissible trailer loads are
specified in the vehicle documents. In
general, they are valid for gradients
up to max. 12 %
Driving and operating
The permitted trailer load applies up
to the specified incline and up to an
altitude of 1000 metres above sea
level. Since engine power decreases
as altitude increases because of the
air becoming thinner, therefore
reducing climbing ability, the
permissible gross train weight also
decreases by 10 % for every 1000
metres of additional altitude. The
gross train weight does not have to be
reduced when driving on roads with
slight inclines (less than 8 %, e.g.
motorways).
The permissible gross train weight
must not be exceeded. This weight is
specified on the identification plate
3 181.
Vertical coupling load
The vertical coupling load is the load
exerted by the trailer on the coupling
ball. It can be varied by changing the
weight distribution when loading the
trailer.
The maximum permissible vertical
coupling load (85 kg) is specified on
the towing equipment identification
plate and in the vehicle documents.
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