Driving on Grades

Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear before starting down a long or steep downgrade. If the transmission is not shifted down, the brakes might have to be used so much that they would get hot and no longer work well.

The vehicle can tow in D (Drive). Use a lower gear if the transmission shifts too often.

When towing at high altitude on steep uphill grades, engine coolant will boil at a lower temperature than at normal altitudes. If the engine is turned off immediately after towing at high altitude on steep uphill grades, the vehicle may show signs similar to engine overheating. To avoid this, let the engine run while parked, preferably on level ground, with the transmission in P (Park) for a few minutes before turning the engine off. If the overheat warning comes on, see Engine Overheating on page 10‑20.

    See also:

    Automatic Transmission
    The automatic transmission has a shift lever located on the console between the seats. P (Park): This position locks the front wheels. It is the best position to use when starting the engine becaus ...

    Hitches
    Use the correct hitch equipment. See your dealer or a hitch dealer for assistance. ○ The rear bumper on the vehicle is not intended for hitches. Do not attach rental hitches or other bumper-t ...

    Fifth-Wheel and Gooseneck Trailering
    Fifth-wheel and gooseneck trailers can be used with many pickup models. These trailers place a larger percentage of the weight (kingpin weight) on the tow vehicle than conventional trailers. Make sure ...