2008 Suzuki XL7 Owner's Manual - Page 159

DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE WARNING Things you put inside your vehicle can strike and injure people in a sudden stop or turn, or in a crash. • Put things in the cargo area of your vehicle. Try to spread the weight evenly. • Never stack heavier things, like suitcases, inside the vehicle so that some of them are above the tops of the seats. • Do not leave an unsecured child restraint in your vehicle. • When you carry something inside the vehicle, secure it whenever you can. • Do not leave a seat folded down unless you need to. Towing Towing Your Vehicle Consult your dealer or a professional towing service if you need to have your disabled vehicle towed. If you want to tow your vehicle behind another vehicle for recreational purposes (such as behind a motorhome), refer to "Recreational Vehicle Towing" following. Recreational Vehicle Towing Recreational vehicle towing means towing your vehicle behind another vehicle - such as behind a motorhome. The two most common types of recreational vehicle towing are known as "dinghy towing" (towing your vehicle with all four wheels on the ground) and "dolly towing" (towing your vehicle with two wheels on the ground and two wheels up on a device known as a "dolly"). With the proper preparation and equipment, many vehicles can be towed in these ways. See "Dinghy Towing" and "Dolly Towing", following. Here are some important things to consider before you do recreational vehicle towing: • What's the towing capacity of the towing vehicle? Be sure you read the tow vehicle manufacturer's recommendations. • How far will you tow? Some vehicles have restrictions on how far and how long they can tow. • Do you have the proper towing equipment? See your dealer or trailering professional for additional advice and equipment recommendations. • Is your vehicle ready to be towed? Just as you would prepare your vehicle for a long trip, you'll want to make sure your vehicle is prepared to be towed. Refer to "Before Leaving on a Long Trip" in this section. Dinghy Towing CAUTION Towing an all-wheel-drive vehicle with all four wheels or even only two wheels on the ground will damage drivetrain or transmission components. Towing a front-wheel-drive vehicle with all four wheels on the ground will damage drivetrain or transmission components. Do not tow an all-wheel-drive vehicle with two or four wheels on the ground or a front-wheel-drive vehicle if all four wheels will be on the ground. If you have an all-wheel-drive vehicle or a front-wheel-drive vehicle, it was not designed to be towed with all of its wheels on the ground. It can be towed with car carrier equipment. If you have a front- 4-14