2009 Pontiac Vibe Owner's Manual - Page 250

9-78 Vehicle Service and Care • Then, during the first 500 miles (800 km) that trailer is towed, do not drive over 50 mph (80 km/h) and do not make starts at full throttle. This helps the engine and other parts of the vehicle wear in at the heavier loads. If You Do Decide To Pull A Trailer If you do, here are some important points: Weight of the Trailer How heavy can a trailer safely be? It should never weigh more than 1,500 lbs (680 kg). But even that can be too heavy. It depends on how you plan to use your rig. For example, speed, altitude, road grades, outside temperature and how much your vehicle is used to pull a trailer are all important. It can also depend on any special equipment that you have on your vehicle, and the amount of tongue weight the vehicle can carry. See "Weight of the Trailer Tongue" later in this section for more information. • There are many different laws, including speed limit restrictions, having to do with trailering. Make sure the rig will be legal, not only where you live but also where you will be driving. A good source for this information can be state or provincial police. • Obey speed limit restrictions when towing a trailer. Do not drive faster than the maximum posted speed for trailers, or no more than 55 mph (90 km/h), to save wear on the vehicle's parts. Three important considerations have to do with weight: • Consider using a sway control. Ask a hitch dealer about sway controls. • Do not tow a trailer at all during the first 1,000 miles (1 600 km) the new vehicle is driven. The engine, axle or other parts could be damaged. • the weight of the trailer • the weight of the trailer tongue • and the total weight on your vehicle's tires