1994 Oldsmobile Silhouette Owner's Manual - Page 157

During your trip, check occasionally to be sure that the load is secure, and that the lights and any trailer brakes arestill working. back up slowly and, if possible, have someone guide you. signal when they are not. important It's to check occasionally to be sure the trailer bulbs are still working. Making Turns When you're turning with a trailer, make wider turns than normal. Do this so your trailer won't strikesoft shoulders, curbs, roadsigns, trees, or other objects. Avoid jerky or sudden maneuvers. Signal well in advance. Driving On Grades Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear before you start down a long or steep downgrade. If you don't shift down, you might have to useyour brakes so much that theywould get hot andno longer work well. On along uphill grade, shift down and reduce your speed to around45 mph (70 l w h ) to reduce the possibility of engine and transaxleoverheating. If you are towing a trailer that weighs more than 1,000 pounds (454 kg), and you have an automatic transaxle with Overdrive, you may prefer to drive in D instead of Overdrive (or, asyou need to, a lower gear). Thiswill minimizeheat build-up and extend the of your life transaxle. Following Distance Stay at least twice as far behind the vehicle ahead asyou would when driving your vehicle without atrailer. This canhelp you avoid situations that require heavy braking and sudden turns. Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer n When you tow a trailer, your vehicle has to have a different turn signal flasher You'll need more passing distance up and extrawiring. The green arrows on ahead whenyou're towing atrailer. And, because you're good deal longer, your instrument panel will flash a whenever you signal a turn or lane you'll need togo much fartherbeyond the passed vehicle before you can return change. Properly hooked up, thetrailer lights will also flash, telling other to your lane. drivers you're about to turn, change lanes or stop. Backing Up When towing a trailer,the green arrows Hold the bottomof the steering wheel on your instrument panel will flash for with one hand. Then, move the to turns even if the bulbson thetrailer are trailer to theleft, just move that hand to burned out. Thus, may think you the left.To move the trailerto theright, drivers behind you are seeing your move your hand to the right. Always Passing