1998 Chevrolet Express Van Owner's Manual - Page 198

Making Turns NOTICE: Making very sharp turns while trailering could cause the trailer to come in contact with the vehicle. Your vehicle could be damaged. Avoid making very sharp turns while trailering. When towing a trailer, the 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 When you're turning with a trailer, make wider turns than they would get hot and no longer work well. normal. Do this so your trailer won't strike soft shoulders, On a long uphill grade, shift down andreduce your curbs, road signs, trees or other objects. Avoid jerky or speed to around 45 mph (70 k d h ) to reduce the sudden maneuvers. Signal well in advance. possibility of engine and transmission overheating. lhrn Signals When Towing a Trailer When you tow a trailer, your vehicle has to have extra wiring and a heavy-duty turn signal flasher (included in the optional trailering package). The 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 at high altitude steep uphill grades, on consider the following: Engine coolant will boil at a lower temperature thanat normal altitudes. If you turn your engine off immediately after towing at high altitude on steep uphill grades, your vehicle may show signs similar to engine overheating.To avoid this, let the engine run while parked (preferablyon level ground) with the automatic transmission in PARK (P) for a few minutes before tumine the engine off. If you do get the overheat warning, see "Engine Overheating"in the Index. 4-35