2008 Suzuki XL7 Owner's Manual - Page 163

DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE your rig. Acquaint yourself with the feel of handling and braking with the added weight of the trailer. And always keep in mind that the vehicle you are driving is now a good deal longer and not nearly as responsive as your vehicle is by itself. Before you start, check all trailer hitch parts 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 that the load is secure, and that the lamps and any trailer brakes are still working. Electronic Trailer Sway Control Electronic Trailer Sway Control is integrated into the Electronic Stability Control system of your vehicle. This feature detects the occurrence of trailer sway that may be caused by improper trailer weight balance, or excessive vehicle speed. When the system detects trailer sway, the Electronic Stability Control system may begin to apply the front brakes, without you pressing the brake pedal, to help you in stabilizing the vehicle. The Electronic Stability Control warning light will flash to indicate that you should reduce vehicle speed. If the trailer sway continues, Electronic Stability Control will reduce engine torque as a method to reduce the speed of the vehicle. Reducing the speed of the vehicle is necessary to reduce trailer sway. Electronic Trailer Sway Control is de-activated when Electronic Stability Control is turned off, and is re-activated when it is turned back on. Refer to "Electronic Stability Control (ESC)" in "Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle" in this section. 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. Passing You will need more passing distance up ahead when you are towing a trailer. And, because you are a good deal longer, you will need to go much farther beyond the passed vehicle before you can return to your lane. Backing Up Hold the bottom of the steering wheel with one hand. Then, to move the trailer to the left, just move that hand to the left. To move the trailer to the right, move your hand to the right. Always back up slowly and, if possible, have someone guide you. Making Turns CAUTION Making very sharp turns while trailering could cause the trailer to come in contact with the vehicle. Your vehicle could be damaged. Avoid making very sharp turns while trailering. When you are turning with a trailer, make wider turns than normal. Do this so your trailer will not strike soft shoulders, curbs, road signs, trees or other objects. Avoid jerky or sudden maneuvers. Signal well in advance. Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer When you tow a trailer, your vehicle has to have extra wiring. The arrows on your instrument panel will flash whenever you signal a turn or lane change. Properly hooked up, the trailer lamps will also flash, telling other drivers you are about to turn, change lanes or stop. When towing a trailer, the arrows on your instrument panel will flash for turns even if the bulbs on the trailer are burned out. Thus, you may think drivers behind you are seeing your signal when they are not. It's important to check occasionally to be sure the trailer bulbs are still working. 4-18