technical data Citroen C4 PICASSO 2009 1.G Owner's Manual

188
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P R A C T I C A L I N F O R M A T I O N
TOWING A TRAILER, A CARAVAN, ETC.
Towbar suited to the attachment of a
trailer or caravan with additional sig-
nalling and lighting.
Your vehicle is primarily designed
for transporting people and luggage,
but it may also be used for towing a
trailer. We recommend the use of genuine
CITROËN towbars and their har-
nesses that have been tested and
approved from the design stage
of your vehicle, and that the fi t-
ting of the towbar is entrusted to a
CITROËN dealer.
If the trailer is not fi tted by a
CITROËN dealer, it is imperative
that it is fi tted using the electrical
pre-equipment installed at the rear
of the vehicle, in accordance with
the manufacturer's instructions. Driving advice
Distribution of loads

 Distribute the load in the trailer
so that the heaviest items are as
close as possible to the axle and
the nose weight approaches the
maximum permitted without ex-
ceeding it.
Air density decreases with altitude,
thus reducing engine performance.
Above 1 000 metres, the maximum
towing load must be reduced by
10 % and so on for every 1 000 me-
tres of altitude.
Refer to the "Technical Data" section
for details of the weights and towing
loads which apply to your vehicle.
Side wind

 Take into account the increased
sensitivity to side wind.
 To lower the engine speed, re-
duce your speed.
The maximum towing load on a long
slope depends on the gradient and
the ambient temperature.
In all cases, pay attention to the
coolant temperature.

 If the warning lamp and
the STOP warning lamp
come on, stop the vehicle
and switch off the engine
as soon as possible.
Braking
Towing a trailer increases the brak-
ing distance.
Tyres

 Check the tyre pressures of the
towing vehicle and of the trailer,
observing the recommended
pressures.
Lighting

 Check the electrical signalling on
the trailer.
The rear parking assistance will
be deactivated automatically if an
original CITROËN towbar is used.
Driving with a trailer subjects the
towing vehicle to more signifi cant
stress and its driver must be particu-
larly careful.
Cooling
Towing a trailer on a slope increases
the temperature of the coolant.
As the fan is electrically controlled,
its cooling capacity is not dependent
on the engine speed.