1997 Chevrolet Lumina Owner's Manual - Page 188

Your vehicle can tow a trailer if is equipped with it proper towing equipment. To identify what the vehicle trailering capacity is for your vehicle, you should read the information in "Weight of the Trailer" that appears later in this section. But traileringis different thanjust driving your vehicle by itself. Trailering means changes in handling, durability and fuel economy. Successful, safe trailering takes correct equipment, and has to be it used properly. That's the reason for this part. In are many it time-tested, important trailering tips and safety rules. Many of these are important for your safety and that of your passengers. So please read this section carefully before you pull a trailer. Load-pulling components such as the engine, transaxle, wheel assemblies and tires forced to work harder are against the drag the added weight. engine is of The required to operateat 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 Decide To Pull A Trailer If you do, here are some important points: 0 There are many different laws, including speed limit restrictions, having to do with trailering. Make sure your rig willbe legal, not only where you live but also where you'll be driving.A good source for this information can be state provincial police. or Consider using a sway control. can ask a hitch You dealer about sway controls. Don't tow a trailer all during thefirst 1,000 miles at (1 600 k ) m your new vehicleis driven. Your engine, axle or other parts couldbe damaged. Then, during thefirst 500 miles (800 km) that you tow a trailer, don't drive over mph (80 kmh) and 50 don't make starts at full throttle. This helps your engine and other parts of your vehicle wear the at in heavier loads. Obey speed limit restrictions when towing a trailer. Don't drive faster than the maximum posted speed for trailers (or no more than mph (90 kmh)) to 55 save wearon your vehicle's parts. 0 0 0 0 4-32