Chevrolet 1979 Light Duty Truck Owner's Manual page 27

Information on trailer towing ability, special equipment required, and
optional equipment should be obtained from your dealer. (Ask for the
trailering brochure.) Or, write: Consumer Relations Department,
Chevrolet Motor Division, Detroit, Michigan 48202. (In Canada, write
to General Motors of Canada Limited, Customer Services Department,
Oshawa, Ontario L lJ 5Z6).
Tires
When towing trailers on dead-weight hitches, inflate tires to the
pressures shown on the Certification Label (on e ither the left door
latch post or the left door edge next to the driver) or,
the "Tire Inflation Pressure" charts (at the end of Section 5).
For trailers using weight-distributing hitches, increase front tire
pressu re 2 psi (14 kPa) above the pressure shown on the Certification
Label (or "Tire Inflation Pressure" charts). This increase should never
exceed the maximum pressure shown on the side of the tire.
It should be remembered that when a trailer is connected, the trailer
tongue weight is part of the load being carried by the vehicle and,
therefore, is included in the GVW of the vehicle.
MAI N TENANCE
More frequent service is required when using your vehicle to pull a
trailer.
Refer to Section A of the Maintenance Schedule folder for Automatic
Transmission Fluid, Engine Oil, and Rear Axle Lubricant change
requirements for trailering.
Now and then check that all trailer hitch bolts and nuts are tight. Also
see the Index in this manual and the Maintenance Schedule folder for
important facts on belts, cooling system care and brake adjustment.
Break-In Schedule
See the new vehicle break-in instructions in this manual. Also, we
recommend you drive your new vehicle for 500 miles (800 kilometres)
before trailer towing. At the end of this 500 mile break-in period, speeds
over 50 mph (80 km!h) and full throttle starts should be avoided
during the first 500 miles (800 kilometres) of trailer towing. If a new
engine, transmission or axle is installed in your vehicle the same care
should be observed.
CAUTIONS:
Brakes - To help avoid personal injury due to poor braking action:
•
Trailer brakes of adequate size are required on trailers over
pounds (450 kilograms) loaded weight.
•
If you use trailer brakes with this vehicle, follow the installation
and balance instructions of the trailer brake maker.
•
Do not tap into the vehicle's brake system if the trailer brake
system uses more than 0.02 cubic inch (0.3 centimetres) of fluid
from the vehicle's master cylinder. In this
fluid capacity will not be enough to operate both the vehicle and
trailer brakes under
all
kinds of use.
1-19
if
applicable
the vehicle's brake
case,
1,000