CHEVROLET 2012 Colorado - Manual (Page 240)

Black plate (58,1) Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual - 2012
9-58 Driving and Operating
For information on towing a disabled
vehicle, see Towing the Vehicle on
page 10‑91. For information on
towing the vehicle behind another
vehicle such as a motor home, see
Recreational Vehicle Towing on
page 10‑91.
Driving Characteristics
and Towing Tips
Pulling A Trailer
Here are some important points:
. 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.
. Consider using a sway control.
See “Hitches” in Towing
Equipment on page 9‑66.
. Do not tow a trailer at all during
the first 800 km (500 miles) the
new vehicle is driven. The
engine, axle or other parts could
be damaged.
. Then, during the first 800 km
(500 miles) that a trailer is
towed, do not drive over 80 km/h
(50 mph) and do not make starts
at full throttle. This helps the
engine and other parts of the
vehicle wear in at the heavier
loads.
. Vehicles with automatic
transmissions can tow in
D (Drive), but you may want to
shift to a lower gear selection if
the transmission shifts too often
(e.g., under heavy loads and/or
hilly conditions). If the vehicle
has a manual transmission it is
better not to use the
highest gear.
Three important considerations
have to do with weight:
. The weight of the trailer
. The weight of the trailer tongue
. The weight on the vehicle's tires
Driving with a Trailer
{
WARNING
When towing a trailer, exhaust
gases may collect at the rear of
the vehicle and enter if the
liftgate, trunk/hatch, or rear-most
window is open.
Engine exhaust contains Carbon
Monoxide (CO) which cannot be
seen or smelled. It can cause
unconsciousness and even death.
(Continued)