Pontiac 2009 Vibe Owner's Manual page 253

Following Distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the
vehicle ahead as you would when
driving your vehicle without a trailer.
This can help you avoid situations
that require heavy braking and
sudden turns.
Passing
More distance in front is needed to
pass when towing a trailer. And,
because the tow vehicle and trailer
are longer, you will need to go
farther beyond the passed vehicle
before you can return to your lane.
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering
wheel with one hand. Then, to move
the trailer to the left, just move that
hand to the left. To move the trailer
to the right, move your hand to the
right. Always back up slowly and, if
possible, have someone guide you.
Making Turns
Notice: Making very sharp turns
while trailering could cause
the trailer to come in contact with
the vehicle. The vehicle could
be damaged. Avoid making very
sharp turns while trailering.
When you are turning with a trailer,
make wider turns than normal.
Do this so your trailer will not strike
soft shoulders, curbs, road signs,
trees or other objects. Avoid jerky or
sudden maneuvers. Signal well in
advance.
Turn Signals When Towing a
Trailer
When you tow a trailer, your vehicle
may need a different turn signal
flasher and/or extra wiring. Check
with your dealer/retailer. The arrows
on the instrument panel flash
whenever you signal a turn or lane
change. Properly hooked up, the
trailer lamps also flash, telling other
drivers you are about to turn, change
lanes or stop.
Vehicle Service and Care
When towing a trailer, the arrows
on the instrument panel will flash for
turns even if the bulbs on the trailer
are burned out. Thus, you may think
drivers behind you are seeing your
signal when they are not. It is
important to check occasionally to be
sure the trailer bulbs are still working.
Driving On Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower
gear before you start down a long or
steep downgrade. If you do not shift
down, you might have to use your
brakes so much that they would get
hot and no longer work well.
On a long uphill grade, shift down
and reduce your speed to around
45 mph (70 km/h) to reduce the
possibility of the engine and the
transmission overheating.
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