2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Pickup Owner's Manual - Page 382

If you have a 5-speed manual transmission and you are towing a trailer, it's better not to use FIFTH (5) gear. Just drive in FOURTH (4) gear (or, as you need to, a lower gear). If you have a 6-speed manual transmission and you are towing a trailer, it's better not to use SIXTH (6) gear. Drive in FIFTH (5) gear (or, as you need to, a lower gear). When towing at high altitude on steep uphill grades, consider the following: Engine coolant will boil at a lower temperature than at 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, preferably on level ground, with the automatic transmission in PARK (P) for a few minutes before turning the engine off. For manual transmissions, let the engine run while parked, preferably on level ground, with the transmission out of gear and the parking brake applied, for a few minutes before turning the engine off. If you do get the overheat warning, see Engine Overheating on page 5-35. Parking on Hills {CAUTION: You really should not park your vehicle, with a trailer attached, on a hill. If something goes wrong, your rig could start to move. People can be injured, and both your vehicle and the trailer can be damaged. But if you ever have to park your rig on a hill, here's how to do it: 1. Apply your regular brakes, but don't shift into PARK (P) yet for an automatic transmission, or into gear for a manual transmission. 2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer wheels. 3. When the wheel chocks are in place, release the regular brakes until the chocks absorb the load. 4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then apply your parking brake and shift into PARK (P) for an automatic transmission, or REVERSE (R) for a manual transmission. 4-92