Reduce the 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 use your brakes so much that they would get hot and no longer operate efficiently.

On a long uphill grade, shift down and reduce your speed to around 45 mph (70 km/h) to reduce the possibility of engine and transmission overheating.

CAUTION

• When towing a trailer on steep grades (in excess of 6 %) pay close attention to the engine coolant temperature gauge to ensure the engine does not overheat. If the needle of the coolant temperature gauge moves across the dial towards "H (HOT) (or 260 ºF/130 ºC)", pull over and stop as soon as it is safe to do so, and allow the engine to idle until it cools down. You may proceed once the engine has cooled sufficiently.
• You must decide the driving speed depending on trailer weight and uphill grade to reduce the possibility of engine and transmission overheating.

Parking on hills

Generally, if you have a trailer attached to your vehicle, you should not park your vehicle on a hill. People can be seriously or fatally injured, and both your vehicle and the trailer can be damaged if unexpectedly roll down hill.

WARNING

Parking on a hill

Parking your vehicle on a hill with a trailer attached could cause serious injury or death, should the trailer break loose.

However, if you ever have to park your trailer on a hill, here's how to do it:

1. Pull the vehicle into the parking space.

   Turn the steering wheel in the direction of the curb (right if headed down hill, left if headed up hill).

2.  Set the parking brake and shut off the vehicle.
3.  Place chocks under the trailer wheels on the down hill side of the wheels.
4.  Start the vehicle, hold the brakes, shift to neutral, release the parking brake and slowly release the brakes until the trailer chocks absorb the load.
5.  Reapply the brakes, reapply the parking brake.
6. Shut off the vehicle and release the vehicle brakes but leave the parking brake set.

WARNING

Parking brake

It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the parking brake is not firmly set.

If you have left the engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly. You or others could be seriously or fatally injured.

When you are ready to leave after parking on a hill

1. Apply your brakes and hold the brake pedal down while you:

• Start your engine;
• Shift into gear; and
• Release the parking brake

2. Slowly remove your foot from the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.