1997 Pontiac Bonneville Owner's Manual - Page 209

Safety Chains You should always attach chains between your vehicle and your trailer. Cross the safety chains under the tongue of the trailer so that the tongue will not drop to the road if it becoma separated from the hitch. Instructions about safety chains may b'eprovided by the hitch manufacturer or by the trailer manufacturer. Follow the manufacturer's recommendation for attaching safety chains and donot attach them to the bumper. Always leave just enough slack so you can turn with yourrig. And, never allow safety chains to drag on the ground. Driving with a Trailer Towing atrailer 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 o f handling and braking with the added weight of the trailer. And always keep in mind that the vehicleyou are driving is now a good deal longer and not nearly as responsive as your vehicle is by itself. 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. Because you have anti-lock brakes, do not ty to tap into r your vehicle'sbrake system. If you do, bothbrake systems won't work well,or at all. 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 thatthe load is secure, and that the lamps and any trailer brakes are still working. 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. 4-36