1998 Buick Century Owner's Manual - Page 213

Your vehicle can tow a trailerif it is equipped with the proper trailertowing equipment. To identify what the vehicle trailering capacity for your vehicle, you is should read the information in "Weight of the Trailer" that appears laterin this section. But trailering is different than just driving your vehicle by itself. Trailering means changes in handling, durability and fuel economy. Successful, safetrailering takes correct equipment, and it has to be used properly. That's the reason for this part. In it aremany time-tested, important trailering tips and safety rules. your safety and that of Many of these are important for your passengers. So please read this sectioncarefully before you pull a trailer. Load-pulling components such as the engine, transaxle, wheel assemblies and tires are forced towork harder against the drag of the added weight. The engineis required to operate at relatively higher speeds and under greater loads, generating extra heat. What's more, the trailer adds considerably to wind resistance, increasing the pulling requirements. If You Do DecideTo Pull A Trailer If you do, here are some important points: There are many different laws, including speed limit restrictions, having to do with trailering. Make sure your rig will be legal, notonly where you live but also where you'll be driving. A good source for this information can be state orprovincial police. Consider using a sway control. You can ask a hitch dealer about sway controls. Don't tow a trailer at all during the first 1,000 miles (1 600 km) your new vehicle is driven. Your engine, axle or other parts could damaged. be Then, during the first 500 miles (800 km) that you tow a trailer, don't drive over 50 mph (80 k d h ) and don't make starts at full throttle. This helps your engine and other parts of your vehicle wear in at the heavier loads. Obey speed limit restrictions when towing a trailer. Don't drive fasterthan the maximum posted speed for trailers (or no more than 55 mph (90 kmh)) to save wear on your vehicle's parts. 4-31