2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Owner's Manual - Page 233

2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Manual

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Trailer Brakes Does your trailer have its own brakes? Be sure to read and follow the instructions for the trailer brakes so you'll be able to install, adjust and maintain them properly. Your vehicle has anti-lock brakes. Do not try to tap into your vehicle's brake system. If you do, both brake systems won't work well, or at all. Following Distance Stay at least twice as far behind the vehicle ahead as you would when driving your vehicle without a trailer. This can help you avoid situations that require heavy braking and sudden turns. Passing You'll need more passing distance up ahead when you're towing a trailer. And, because you're a good deal longer, you'll need to go much farther beyond the passed vehicle before you can return to your lane. Driving with a Trailer Towing a trailer requires a certain amount of experience. Before setting out for the open road, you'll want to get to know your rig. Acquaint yourself with the feel of handling and braking with the added weight of the trailer. And always keep in mind that the vehicle you are driving is now a good deal longer and not nearly as responsive as your vehicle is by itself. Before you start, check the trailer hitch and platform (and attachments), safety chains, electrical connector, lamps, tires and mirror adjustment. If the trailer has electric brakes, start your vehicle and trailer moving and then apply the trailer brake controller by hand to be sure the brakes are working. This lets you check your electrical connection at the same time. During your trip, check occasionally to be sure that the load is secure, and that the lamps and any trailer brakes are still working. Backing Up Hold the bottom of the steering wheel with one hand. Then, to move the trailer to the left, just move that hand to the left. To move the trailer to the right, move your hand to the right. Always back up slowly and, if possible, have someone guide you. 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 you're turning with a trailer, make wider turns than normal. Do this so your trailer won't strike soft shoulders, curbs, road signs, trees or other objects. Avoid jerky or sudden maneuvers. Signal well in advance. 4-38

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Trailer
Brakes
Does your trailer have its own brakes? Be sure to read
and follow the instructions for the trailer brakes
so
you’ll be able
to install, adjust and maintain them
properly.
Your vehicle has anti-lock brakes. Do not try to tap into
your vehicle’s brake
system.
If
you do, both brake
systems won’t
work
well, or at all.
Driving with a Trailer
Towing a
trailer
requires
a certain amount
of
experience.
Before setting out
for
the open road, you’ll want to get
to know your rig. Acquaint
yourself with the feel of
handling and braking with the added weight
of
the trailer.
And always keep in mind that the vehicle you are
driving is now
a good deal longer and not nearly as
responsive as
your vehicle is by itself.
Before you
start, check the trailer hitch and platform
(and attachments), safety chains, electrical connector,
lamps, tires and mirror adjustment.
If
the trailer has
electric brakes,
start
your vehicle and trailer moving and
then apply
the trailer brake controller by hand to be
sure the brakes are working. This lets you check your
electrical connection at the same time.
During your
trip, check occasionally to be sure that the
load is secure, and that the lamps and any trailer
brakes are still working.
4-38
Following Distance
Stay at least twice as
far
behind the vehicle
ahead
as
you would when driving your
vehicle
without
a
trailer.
This can help you avoid
situations
that
require
heavy braking and sudden
turns.
Passing
You’ll need more
passing
distance up ahead
when
you’re towing a
trailer.
And,
because
you’re
a
good
deal
longer, you’ll need to
go
much
farther
beyond
the
passed vehicle before
you
can
return
to
your
lane.
Backing
Up
Hold the bottom of the
steering
wheel
with
one
hand.
Then, to move the trailer
to
the
left,
just
move
that
hand
to the left. To move the
trailer to the
right,
move
your
hand to the right.
Always
back
up
slowly
and,
if
possible,
have someone
guide
you.
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
you’re turning with
a
trailer,
make
wider
turns
than normal.
Do
this
so
your
trailer
won’t
strike
soft
shoulders, curbs,
road
signs,
trees
or
other
objects.
Avoid jerky or sudden
maneuvers.
Signal
well
in
advance.