Cadillac 1975 Owner's Manual page 21

nection must be made to the rear outlet of the
brake master cylinder before the brake com¬
bination valve. Copper tubing is subject to
fatigue failure and must not be used in such
connections.
In general, direct connection of a trailer
hydraulic brake system to the vehicle brake
system will not meet these requirements, and,
therefore, must not be used.
For optimum brake performance, the brake
balance between the car and trailer must be
adjusted.
TIRES
When towing trailers, tires should be in¬
flated to the highest inflation pressure shown
on the placard affixed inside glove compart¬
ment door. The allowable passenger and
cargo load, also shown on the same placard, is
reduced by amount equal to the trailer tongue
load on the trailer hitch.
For trailers using load distributing hitches,
increase front tire inflation pressure 2 psi
above standard inflation pressure.
TRAILER TOWING TIPS
Towing a trailer with ease and safety re¬
quires a certain amount of experience before
setting out on the open road. Always re¬
member that the handling and braking charac¬
teristics of any car may be changed considera¬
bly by the added weight of the trailer. Until
you learn the "feel" and how to cope with
these changes, it is important to drive with
extra caution.
Before Starting—It is a good idea to prac¬
tice turning, stopping, and backing in an area
away from heavy traffic. This practice will
help you gain experience in handling the extra
weight and length of the trailer. Also, check
lights, tires, and mirror adjustment.
Starting—Carefully check mirrors to ob¬
serve traffic flow. It is a good idea to check the
brakes of the car and the trailer before turning
into traffic.
Turning—Remember that trailer wheels
will be closer than car wheels to the inside on
curves. Avoid soft shoulders, curbs, etc., by
driving slightly beyond your normal turning
point. Signal all turns. Avoid sudden maneuv¬
ers.
Passing—Allow extra distance for passing
another vehicle. After passing, be sure you
have ample clearance for trailer before return¬
ing to the driving lane. Always signal well in
advance of each move.
Following and Stopping—Remember trailer
weight may increase the distance required to
stop. For each 10 mph showing on the
speedometer, allow at least one length of your
car and trailer between you and the car ahead.
You will need this "cushion" of space for
emergencies and to allow faster traffic to pass
safely. Avoid high speeds and sudden stops,
and allow for unfavorable road conditions.
Backing—Skillful backing with a trailer re¬
quires practice. Try this easy method to help
control direction: Keep your hand at the bot¬
tom of steering wheel. To move trailer left,
move your hand to the left. To back to the
right, move hand to the right.
Down Grades — On long or steep down
grades, reduce speed and use a lower trans¬
mission range to assist braking as outlined in
the transmission section of this manual.
Long Up-Hill Grades—When ascending
long up-hill grades, the possibility of engine
overheating can be reduced by down-shifting
the transmission to DRIVE right or L (low).