Chevrolet 1994 Lumina Owner's Manual page 127

Your Chevrolet can tow a trailer if it is
equipped with proper trailer towing
equipment. 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, transaxle, 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.
0
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.
You can ask a hitch dealer about sway
controls.
Don't tow a trailer at all during the
first 1,000 miles (1 600
km)
your new
vehicle is driven. Your engine, axle or
other parts could be damaged.
Then, during the fist 500 miles
(800 km) that you tow a trailer, don't
drive over 50 mph (80 h / 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.
Obey speed limit restrictions when
towing a trailer. Don't drive faster than
the maximum posted speed for trailers
or no more than 55 mph (90
km/h)
to
save wear on your vehicle's parts.
Three important considerations have to do
with weight:
Weight of the Trailer
How heavy can a trailer safely be?
It should never weigh more than 1,000
pounds (450 kg). But even that can be too
heavy.
It depends on how you plan to use your
rig. For example, speed, altitude, road
grades, outside temperature and how
much your vehicle is used to pull a trailer
are all important. And, it can also depend
on any special equipment that you have
on your vehicle.
You can ask your dealer for our trailering
information or advice, or you can write us
at:
Chevrolet Customer Assistance
Department
P.O. Box 7047
Troy, MI 48007-7047
In Canada, write to:
General Motors of Canada Limited,
Customer Assistance Center
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario LlH 8P7.
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