2014 Cadillac ATS Owner Manual - Page 285

Driving and Operating The trailer tongue (1) should weigh 10 percent of the total loaded trailer weight (2). After loading the trailer, weigh the trailer and then the tongue, separately, to see if the weights are proper. If they are not, adjustments might be made by moving some items around in the trailer. 9-71 Towing Equipment Hitches Use the correct hitch equipment. See your dealer or a hitch dealer for assistance. . Safety Chains Always attach chains between the vehicle and the trailer. Cross the safety chains under the tongue of the trailer to help prevent the tongue from contacting the road if it becomes separated from the hitch. Leave enough slack so the rig can turn. Never allow safety chains to drag on the ground. Total Weight on Your Vehicle's Tires Be sure the vehicle's tires are inflated to the upper limit for cold tires. These numbers can be found on the Tire and Loading Information label. See Vehicle Load Limits on page 9-11. Make sure not to go over the GVW limit for the vehicle, including the weight of the trailer tongue. . The rear bumper on the vehicle is not intended for hitches. Do not attach rental hitches or other bumper-type hitches to it. Use only a frame-mounted hitch that does not attach to the bumper. Will any holes be made in the body of the vehicle when the trailer hitch is installed? If so, seal the holes when the hitch is removed. If the holes are not sealed, dirt, water, and deadly carbon monoxide (CO) from the exhaust can get into the vehicle. See Engine Exhaust on page 9-23. Trailer Brakes Does the trailer have its own brakes? Be sure to read and follow the instructions for the trailer brakes so they are installed, adjusted, and maintained properly. Because the vehicle has antilock brakes, do not tap into the vehicle's brake system. If this is done, both brake systems will not work well, or at all. Trailer Towing (With L4 Engine) The vehicle is neither designed nor intended to tow a trailer.