1998 Chevrolet Prizm Owner's Manual - Page 186

Safety Chains You should always attach chains between your vehicle and your trailer. Cross thesafety chains under the tongue of the trailerso that the tonguewill not drop to the road if it becomes separated from thehitch. Instructions about safety chains may be providedby the hitch manufacturer or by the trailer manufacturer. Follow the manufacturer's recommendation for attachingsafety chains anddo not attach them to the bumper. Always leave just enough slack so you can turn with your rig. on And, never allow safety chains to drag the ground. Will the trailer brake parts take 3,000 psi (20 650 kPa) of pressure? If not, the trailer brake system must not be used with your vehicle. If everything checks out this far, then make the brake fluid tapat the upper rear master cylinder port. But don't use coppertubing for this. If you do, it will bend and finally break off. Use steel brake tubing. Driving with a Trailer Towing a trailer requires a certain amount of experience. Before setting out forthe open road, you'll want to get to know 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 isnow a good deal longerand not nearly as responsive as your vehicle is by itself. Before you start, check the trailer hitch and platform (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 brakecontroller by hand to be sure the brakes are working. This lets check your you 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. Trailer Brakes Does your trailer have its brakes? Be sure read own to and follow the instructions for the trailer brakes so you'll be able toinstall, adjust and maintain them properly. If your vehicle has anti-lock brakes, don't try to tap into your vehicle's brake system. If you do, both brake systems won't work well or at all. Even if your vehicle doesn't have anti-lock brakes, don't tap into your vehicle's brake system if the trailer's brake system will use more than 0.02 cubic inch (0.3 cc) of fluid from your vehicle's master cylinder. If it does, both braking systems won't work well. You could even lose your brakes. 4-34