Driving with a Trailer

Towing a trailer requires experience. Get familiar with handling and braking with the added trailer weight. The vehicle is now longer and not as responsive as the vehicle is by itself.

Check all trailer hitch parts and attachments, safety chains, electrical connectors, lamps, tires and mirror adjustments. If the trailer has electric brakes, start the vehicle and trailer moving and then apply the trailer brake controller by hand to be sure the brakes are working.

During the trip, check regularly to be sure that the load is secure, and the lamps and trailer brakes are working properly.

    See also:

    Towing with a Stability Control System
    When towing, the sound of the stability control system might be heard. The system is reacting to the vehicle movement caused by the trailer, which mainly occurs during cornering. This is normal when t ...

    Trip/Fuel Menu Items
    (Trip/Fuel): Press this button to scroll through the following menu items: ODOMETER Press the trip/fuel button until ODOMETER displays. This display shows the distance the vehicle has been driven i ...

    Automatic Transmission
    If the vehicle is a hybrid, see the hybrid supplement for more information. Vehicles with an automatic transmission have an electronic shift position indicator within the instrument panel cluster. Th ...