Dri ving an d pa rki ng, Towing a trailer – Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class 2014 Owners Manual User Manual

Page 214

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R

you steer actively, e.g. swerve to avoid

an obstacle or change lanes quickly.

R

you cut the corner on a sharp bend.

Towing a trailer
When you attach a trailer, make sure you have

correctly established the electrical

connection. This can be accomplished by

checking the trailer lighting.

Towing a trailer

Notes on towing a trailer

Important safety notes

G

WARNING

If you rest your foot on the brake pedal while

driving, the braking system can overheat. This

increases the stopping distance and can even

cause the braking system to fail. There is a

risk of an accident.
Never use the brake pedal as a footrest. Never

depress the brake pedal and the accelerator

pedal at the same time.

G

WARNING

When the vehicle/trailer combination begins

to lurch, you could lose control of it. The

vehicle/trailer combination could even

rollover. There is a risk of an accident.
On no account should you attempt to

straighten up the vehicle/trailer combination

by increasing the speed. Reduce vehicle

speed and do not countersteer. Apply the

brake as necessary.

!

Depressing the brake pedal constantly

results in excessive and premature wear to

the brake pads.

Please observe the manufacturer's operating

instructions for the trailer coupling if a

detachable trailer coupling is used.
Couple and uncouple the trailer carefully. If

you do not couple the trailer to the towing

vehicle correctly, the trailer could become

detached.
Make sure that the following values are not

exceeded:

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the permissible trailer drawbar noseweight

R

the permissible trailer load

R

the permissible rear axle load of the towing

vehicle

R

the maximum permissible gross vehicle

weight of both the towing vehicle and the

trailer

The applicable permissible values, which

must not be exceeded, can be found:

R

in the vehicle documents

R

on the identification plates of the trailer tow

hitch, the trailer and the vehicle

If the values differ, the lowest value applies.
You will find the values approved by the

manufacturer on the vehicle identification

plates and those for the towing vehicle under

"Technical data" (

Y

page 376).

When towing a trailer, your vehicle's handling

characteristics will be different in comparison

with when driving without a trailer.
The vehicle/trailer combination:

R

is heavier

R

is restricted in its acceleration and

gradient-climbing capability

R

has an increased braking distance

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is affected more by strong crosswinds

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demands more sensitive steering

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has a larger turning radius

This could impair the handling

characteristics.
When towing a trailer, always adjust your

speed to the current road and weather

conditions. Do not exceed the maximum

permissible speed for your vehicle/trailer

combination.

212

Towing a trailer

Dri

ving

an

d

pa

rki

ng

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