1995 Buick Riviera Owner's Manual - Page 176

Your vehicle can tow a trailer if it isequipped with the 3800 6 3 6 ) engine or Supercharged (L67) engine and proper trailer towing equipment. To identify what the vehicle trailering capacity is foryour vehicle, you should read the information in "Weight of the Trailer" that appears later in this section. But trailering is different than just driving your vehicle by itself. Trailering means changes in handling, durability, and fuel economy. Successful, safe trailering takes correct equipment, and it has to be used properly. That's the reason for this part. In it aremany time-tested, important trailering tips and safety rules. Many of these are important for your safety and that of your passengers. So please read this section carefully before you pull a trailer. Load-pulling components such as the engine, transaxle, wheel assemblies, and tires are forced to work harder against the drag of the added weight. The engine is required to operate at relatively higher speeds and under greater loads, generating extra heat. What's more,the trailer adds considerably to wind resistance, increasing the pulling requirements. If You Do DecideTo Pull A Trailer If you do, here are some important points. There are many Merent laws, including speed limit restrictions, having to do with trailering. Make sure your rig will be legal, not only where you live but also where you'll be driving. A good source for this information can be state or provincial police. Consider using a sway control. You can ask a hitch dealer about sway controls. Don't tow a trailer at all during the first 1,000miles (1 600 k ) m your new vehicle is driven. Your engine, axle or other parts could be damaged. Then, during the first 500 miles (800 k ) you m that . / and ) tow a trailer, don't drive over 50 mph (80 b m h don't make starts at full throttle. This helps your engine and otherparts of your vehicle wear in at the heavier loads. Obey speed limit restrictions when towing a trailer. Don't drive faster than the maximum posted speed for trailers (or no more than 55 mph (90 km/h)) to save wear on your vehicle's parts.