Turn Signals When Towing a TrailerWhen you tow a trailer, your vehicle may need a differentturn signal flasher and/or extra wiring. Check with yourdealer. The arrows on your instrument panel will flashwhenever you signal a turn or lane change. Properlyhooked up, the trailer lamps will also flash, telling otherdrivers you’re about to turn, change lanes or stop.When towing a trailer, the arrows on your instrumentpanel will flash for turns even if the bulbs on the trailerare burned out. Thus, you may think drivers behindyou are seeing your signal when they are not. It’simportant to check occasionally to be sure the trailerbulbs are still working.Driving on GradesReduce speed and shift to a lower gear before you startdown a long or steep downgrade. If you don’t shiftdown, you might have to use your brakes so much thatthey would get hot and no longer work well.On a long uphill grade, shift down and reduce yourspeed to around 45 mph (70 km/h) to reduce thepossibility of the engine and the transmissionoverheating.Parking on Hills{CAUTION:You really should not park your vehicle, with atrailer attached, on a hill. If something goeswrong, your rig could start to move. Peoplecan be injured, and both your vehicle and thetrailer can be damaged.But if you ever have to park your rig on a hill,here’s how to do it:1. Apply your regular brakes, but don’t shift intoPARK (P) for an automatic transmission or into gearfor a manual transmission.When parking uphill, turn your wheels away fromthe curb. When parking downhill, turn your wheelsinto the curb.2. Have someone place chocks behind the trailerwheels.3. When the chocks are in place, release the regularbrakes until the chocks absorb the load.4-43
