2011 Subaru Forester Owner's Manual - Page 319

8-24 Driving tips nificant blind spot. . 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. ! Driving with a trailer . 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 revolution. . 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 the trailer to your vehicle. 1) 2) Left turn Right turn . Backing up with a trailer is difficult and takes practice. When backing up with a trailer, never accelerate or steer rapidly. When turning back, grip the bottom of the steering wheel with one hand and turn it to the left for a left turn, and turn it to the right for a right turn. . If the ABS warning light illuminates while the vehicle is in motion, stop towing the trailer and have repairs performed immediately by the nearest SUBARU dealer. ! Driving on grades . Before going down a steep hill, slow down and shift into lower gear (if necessary, use 1st gear) in order to utilize the engine braking effect and prevent overheating of your vehicle's brakes. Do not make sudden downshifts. . When driving uphill in hot weather, the air conditioner may turn off automatically to protect the engine from overheating. . When driving uphill in hot weather, pay attention to the following indicators because the engine and transmission are relatively prone to overheating. - Temperature gauge (if equipped) - Coolant temperature high warning light (if equipped) - AT OIL TEMP warning light (AT models) . If any of the following conditions occur, immediately turn off the air conditioner and stop the vehicle in the nearest safe location. Refer to "If you park your vehicle in case of an emergency" F9-2 and "Engine overheating" F9-13. - Temperature gauge needle approaches the OVERHEAT zone (if equipped). Refer to "Temperature gauge (models with type A combination meter)" F3-11. - Coolant temperature high warning light illuminates (if equipped). Refer to