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f i r n 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 Geo dealer. The green arrows on your
instrument panel will flash whenever you signal a turn
or lane change. Properly hooked up, the trailer lamps
will also flash, telling other drivers you're about to turn,
change lanes or stop.
When towing a trailer, the green arrows on your
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's
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 don't 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 45 mph
(70
k m / h )
to reduce the possibility of
engine and transaxle overheating.
If you are towing a trailer that weighs more than
1,000
lbs. (450 kg), and you have an automatic transaxle
with overdrive, you may prefer to drive in DRIVE (D)
rather than OVERDRIVE (or, as you need to, a
lower gear). Or, if you have a manual transaxle with
FIFTH ( 5 ) , it's better not to use FIFTH ( 5 ) . Just drive
in FOURTH (4) (or, as you need to, a lower gear).
Parking on Hills
You really should not park your vehicle, with
a trailer
attached, on a hill. If something goes wrong, your rig
could start to move. People can be injured, and both
your vehicle and the trailer can be
damaged.
But if you ever have to park your rig on a hill, here's
how to do it:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Apply your regular brakes, but don't shift into
PARK (P) yet, or into gear for a manual transaxle.
Have someone place chocks under the trailer wheels.
When the wheel chocks are in place, release the
regular brakes until the chocks absorb the load.
Reapply your regular brakes. Then apply your
parking brake, and then shift to PARK (P), or
REVERSE (R) for a manual transaxle.
Release the regular brakes.
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