Driving with a Trailer
Towing a trailer requires experience.
Get familiar with handling and braking with the added trailer weight. The vehicle is now longer and not as responsive as the vehicle is by itself.
Check all trailer hitch parts and attachments, safety chains, electrical connectors, lamps, tires, and mirror adjustments. If the trailer has electric brakes, start the vehicle and trailer moving and then apply the trailer brake controller by hand to be sure the brakes are working.
During the trip, check regularly to be sure that the load is secure, and the lamps and trailer brakes are working properly.
See also:
Turn and Lane-Change
Signals
An arrow on the instrument panel
cluster flashes in the direction of the
turn or lane change.
Move the lever all the way up or
down to signal a turn.
Raise or lower the lever until the
arr ...
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
A computer system called OBD II (On-Board Diagnostics-Second Generation)
monitors the operation of the vehicle to ensure emissions are at acceptable
levels, to produce a cleaner environment. This li ...
Driving on Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear before starting down a long or steep
downgrade. If the transmission is not shifted down, the brakes might have to be
used so much that they would get hot and n ...