1999 Subaru Legacy Owner's Manual - Page 282

Starting and operating In the event your vehicle gets a flat tire when towing a trailer, ask a commercial road service to repair the flat tire. If you carry a regular size spare tire in your vehicle or trailer as a precaution against getting a flat tire, be sure that the spare tire is firmly secured. J Trailer towing tips When towing a trailer, steering, stability, stopping distance and braking performance will vary from normal operation. For safety's sake, you should employ extra caution when towing a trailer and you should never speed. You should also keep the following tips in mind: Sufficient time should be taken to learn the "feel" of the vehicle/trailer combination before starting out on a trip. In an area free of traffic, practice turning, stopping and backing up. You should allow for considerably more stopping distance when towing a trailer. Avoid sudden braking because it may result in skidding or jackknifing and loss of control. Avoid abrupt starts and sudden accelerations. If your vehicle has a manual transmission, always start out in first gear and release the clutch at moderate engine RPM. Avoid uneven steering, sharp turns and rapid lane changes. Slow down before turning. Make a longer than normal turning radius because the trailer wheels will be closer than the vehicle wheels to the inside of the turn. In a tight turn, the trailer could hit your vehicle. Crosswinds will adversely affect the handling of your vehicle and trailer, causing sway. Crosswinds can be due to weather conditions or the passing of large trucks or buses. If swaying occurs, firmly grip the steering wheel and slow down immediately but gradually. When passing other vehicles, considerable distance is required because of the added weight and length caused by attaching a trailer to your vehicle. Before going down a steep hill, slow down and shift into low gear in order to utilize the engine braking effect and prevent overheating of your - CONTINUED - 7-51