2009 Hyundai Tucson Owner's Manual - Page 163

2 DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI 28 C190F01O-AAT ! Trailer or Vehicle Towing Tips WARNING: 1. Before towing, check hitch and safety chain connections as well as proper operation of the trailer running lights, brake lights, and turn signals. 2. Trailer towing requires more fuel than normal conditions. 3. To maintain engine braking efficiency, do not tow a trailer with the transaxle in fifth gear (manual transaxle) or overdrive (automatic transaxle). 4. Always secure items in the trailer to prevent load shift while driving. 5. Check the condition and air pressure of all tires on the trailer and your car. Low tire pressure can seriously affect the handling. Also check the spare tire. 6. The vehicle/trailer combination is more affected by crosswind and buffeting. When being passed by a large vehicle, keep a constant speed and steer straight ahead. If there is too much wind buffeting, slow down to get out of the other vehicle's air turbulence. 7. When parking your car and trailer, especially on a hill, be sure to follow all the normal precautions. Turn your front wheel into the curb, set the parking brake firmly, and put the transaxle in 1st or Reverse (manual) or Park (automatic). In addition, place wheel chocks at each of the trailer's tires. o Improperly loading your vehicle and trailer can seriously affect its steering and braking performance causing a crash which could cause serious injury or death. o Towing a trailer affected vehicle handling and braking. o Drive more slowly when towing a trailer and allow more distance when braking. o Be careful when driving in slippery and windy conditions. o Be careful when turning and while driving up and down hills. o Do not exceed 45 mph or the posted towing speed limit, whichever is lower. 8. 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. 9. During your trip, check occasionally to be sure that the load is secure, and that the lights and any trailer brakes are still working. 10. Avoid jerky starts, sudden acceleration or sudden stops. 11. Avoid sharp turns and rapid lane changes. 12. Avoid holding the brake pedal down too long or too frequently. This could cause the brakes to overheat, resulting in reduced braking efficiency. 13. When going down a hill, shift into a lower gear and use the engine braking effect. When ascending a long grade, downshift the transaxle to a lower gear and reduce speed to reduce chances of engine overloading and/or overheating. 14. If you have to stop while going uphill, do not hold the vehicle in place by pressing on the accelerator. This can cause the automatic transaxle to overheat. Use the parking brake or footbrake. 15.If the transaxle shifts frequently while going up a hill, shift down one gear.