towing CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2005 1.G User Guide

{CAUTION:
Shifting the transfer case to NEUTRAL can cause
your vehicle to roll even if the transmission is in
PARK (P), or if you have a manual transmission,
even if you are in gear. You or someone else
could be seriously injured. Be sure to set the
parking brake before placing the transfer case in
NEUTRAL. SeeParking Brake on page 2-51.
N (Neutral):Shift to this setting only when your vehicle
needs to be towed. SeeRecreational Vehicle Towing
on page 4-63orTowing Your Vehicle on page 4-63.
2H (Two-Wheel High):This setting is used for driving
in most street and highway situations. Your front
axle is not engaged in two-wheel drive. This setting also
provides the best fuel economy.4H (Four-Wheel High):Use this setting when you
need extra traction, such as on snowy or icy roads or in
most off-road situations. This setting also engages
your front axle to help drive your vehicle. This is the best
setting to use when plowing snow.
You can shift from 2H to 4H or 4H high to 2H while the
vehicle is moving. Your front axle will engage faster
if you take your foot off of the accelerator for a couple
of seconds after you shift. In extremely cold weather,
it may be necessary to stop or slow the vehicle to shift
into four-wheel high.
When Using the Manual Transfer Case

Shifting should be made using quick motions.
Shifting slowly may make it more difficult to shift.
You may notice that it is harder to shift when the
vehicle is cold. After the vehicle warms up the
shifting will return to normal.
While in 4H or 4L you may experience reduced
fuel economy.
Avoid driving in four-wheel drive on clean, dry
pavement. It may cause your tires to wear
faster, and make your transfer case harder to shift
and run noisier.
2-39

Automatic Transfer Case
The transfer case buttons
are located to the left of
the instrument panel
cluster.
Use these switches to shift into and out of
four-wheel drive.
Recommended Transfer Case Settings
Driving
ConditionsTransfer Case Settings
2
mAUTO
4WD4m4nN
Normal YES
Variable YES
Severe YES
Extreme YES
Vehicle in
Tow*YES
*See “Recreational Vehicle Towing” in the Index for
further information.
2-41

You can choose among four driving settings:
AUTO 4WD:This setting is ideal for use when road
surface traction conditions are variable. When driving
your vehicle in AUTO four-wheel drive, the front axle is
engaged, but the vehicle’s power is sent to the rear
wheels. When the vehicle detects a loss of traction, the
system will automatically engage four-wheel drive.
Driving in this mode results in slightly lower fuel
economy than Two-Wheel High.
2
m(Two-Wheel High):This setting is used for driving
in most street and highway situations. Your front axle
is not engaged in two-wheel drive. This setting also
provides the best fuel economy.
{CAUTION:
Shifting the transfer case to NEUTRAL can cause
your vehicle to roll even if the transmission is in
PARK (P). You or someone else could be
seriously injured. Be sure to set the parking
brake before placing the transfer case in
NEUTRAL. SeeParking Brake on page 2-51.
N (NEUTRAL):Shift the vehicle’s transfer case to
N (NEUTRAL) only when towing your vehicle.
SeeRecreational Vehicle Towing on page 4-63or
Towing Your Vehicle on page 4-63for more information.
4
m(Four-Wheel High):Use this setting when you
need extra traction, such a on snowy or icy roads or in
most off-road situations. This setting also engages your
front axle to help drive your vehicle. This is the best
setting to use when plowing snow.
4
n(Four-Wheel Low):This setting also engages your
front axle and delivers extra torque. You may never need
Four-Wheel Low. It sends maximum power to all four
wheels. You might choose Four-Wheel Low if you are
driving off-road in deep sand, deep mud, deep snow, and
while climbing or descending steep hills. When operating
in Four-Wheel Low, the gear ratio provides additional
torque when compared to four-wheel high. The
transmission gear shift feel will be exaggerated.
Indicator lights in the switches show which setting your
transfer case is in. The indicator lights will come on
briey when you turn on the ignition and one will stay on.
If the lights do not come on, you should take your
vehicle to your dealer for service. An indicator light
will ash while the transfer case is being shifted.
2-42

Electronic Transfer Case
If your four-wheel-drive
vehicle has the electronic
transfer case, the
transfer case switches are
located to the left of the
instrument panel cluster.
Use these switches to shift into and out of
four-wheel drive.
Recommended Transfer Case Settings
Driving ConditionsTransfer Case Settings
2m4m4nN
Normal YES
Severe YES
Extreme YES
Vehicle in Tow* YES
*SeeRecreational Vehicle Towing on page 4-63or
Towing Your Vehicle on page 4-63for further
information.
2-46

You can chose among three driving settings:
2
m(Two-Wheel High):This setting is for driving in
most street and highway situations. Your front axle is not
engaged in two-wheel drive.
{CAUTION:
Shifting the transfer case to NEUTRAL can cause
your vehicle to roll even if the transmission is in
PARK (P). You or someone else could be
seriously injured. Be sure to set the parking
brake before placing the transfer case in
NEUTRAL. SeeParking Brake on page 2-51.
(N) NEUTRAL:Shift the vehicle’s transfer case to
NEUTRAL only when towing your vehicle. See
Recreational Vehicle Towing on page 4-63orTowing
Your Vehicle on page 4-63for more information.
4
m(Four-Wheel High):This setting engages your
front axle to help drive your vehicle. Use four-wheel high
when you need extra traction, such as on snowy or icy
roads, or in most off-road situations.4
n(Four-Wheel Low):This setting also engages your
front axle to give you extra traction. You may never need
Four-Wheel Low. It sends the maximum power to all four
wheels. You might choose Four-Wheel Low if you were
driving off-road in sand, mud or deep snow and while
climbing or descending steep hills. When operating in
Four-Wheel Low, the gear ratio provides additional torque
when compared to four-wheel high. The transmission
gear shift feel will be exaggerated.
Indicator lights in the switches show you which setting
you are in. The indicator lights will come on briey when
you turn on the ignition and the last chosen setting will
stay on. If the lights do not come on, you should take your
vehicle in for service. An indicator light will ash while
shifting. Fast ashing means the conditions were not met
to make the desired shift, typically the vehicle was
going too fast, the automatic transmission was not in
neutral, or the clutch pedal was not fully depressed.
Slow ashing means the shift is in progress. It will stay on
when the shift is completed. If for some reason the
transfer cannot make a requested shift, it will return to
the last chosen setting.
2-47

All-Wheel Drive
If your vehicle has the SS package, it may be equipped
with all-wheel drive. With this feature, engine power
is sent to all four wheels all the time.
This is like four-wheel drive, but there is no separate
lever or switch to engage or disengage the front axle.
It is fully automatic, and adjusts itself as needed for
road conditions.
Parking Brake
To set the parking brake, hold the regular brake pedal
down with your right foot. Push down the parking
brake pedal with your left foot.
A chime will activate and the warning light will ash
when the parking brake is applied and the vehicle
is moving at least 3 mph (5 km/h) for at least
three seconds.To release the parking brake, hold the regular brake
pedal down. Pull the bottom edge of the lever, located
above the parking brake pedal, with the parking
brake symbol, to release the parking brake.
If the ignition is on when the parking brake is released,
the brake system warning light will go off.
Notice:Driving with the parking brake on can
overheat the brake system and cause premature
wear or damage to brake system parts. Verify that
the parking brake is fully released and the brake
warning light is off before driving.
If you are towing a trailer and are parking on any hill,
seeTowing a Trailer on page 4-69.
2-51

Shifting Into Park (P)
(Automatic Transmission)
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if
the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake rmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
If you have left the engine running, the vehicle
can move suddenly. You or others could be
injured. To be sure your vehicle will not move,
even when you are on fairly level ground, use
the steps that follow. With four-wheel drive, if
your transfer case is in NEUTRAL, your vehicle
will be free to roll, even if your shift lever is in
PARK (P). So, be sure the transfer case is in a
drive gear — not in NEUTRAL. If you are pulling
a trailer, seeTowing a Trailer on page 4-69.1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot and
set the parking brake.
2. Move the shift lever into the PARK (P) position by
pulling the shift lever toward you and moving it up
as far as it will go.
3. If your vehicle has four-wheel drive, be sure the
transfer case is in a drive gear – not in
NEUTRAL (N).
4. Turn the ignition key to LOCK.
5. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can
leave your vehicle with the ignition key in your
hand, your vehicle is in PARK (P).
2-52

Parking Your Vehicle
(Manual Transmission)
{CAUTION:
Shifting the transfer case to NEUTRAL can
cause your vehicle to roll even if the manual
transmission is in gear. Your or someone else
could be seriously injured. Be sure to set the
parking brake before placing the transfer case
in NEUTRAL. SeeParking Brake on page 2-51
for more information.
Before you get out of your vehicle, move the shift lever
into REVERSE (R), and rmly apply the parking
brake. Once the shift lever has been placed into
REVERSE (R) with the clutch pedal pressed in, you can
turn the ignition key to LOCK, press the key release
button, remove the key and release the clutch.
If you are parking on a hill, or if you are pulling a trailer,
seeTowing a Trailer on page 4-69.
Parking Over Things That Burn
{CAUTION:
Things that can burn could touch hot exhaust
parts under your vehicle and ignite. Do not
park over papers, leaves, dry grass or other
things that can burn.
2-55

{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle
if the automatic transmission shift lever is not
fully in PARK (P) with the parking brake rmly
set. Your vehicle can roll. Do not leave your
vehicle when the engine is running unless you
have to. If you have left the engine running,
the vehicle can move suddenly. You or others
could be injured. To be sure your vehicle will
not move, even when it is on fairly level
ground, always set the parking brake and
move the automatic transmission shift lever to
PARK (P), or the manual transmission shift
lever to NEUTRAL.
{CAUTION:
Four-wheel drive vehicles with the transfer
case in NEUTRAL will allow the vehicle to roll,
even if your automatic transmission shift lever
is in PARK (P). So, be sure the transfer case is
in a drive gear — not in NEUTRAL. Always set
your parking brake.
Follow the proper steps to be sure your vehicle
will not move. SeeShifting Into Park (P)
(Automatic Transmission) on page 2-52.
If you are pulling a trailer, seeTowing a Trailer on
page 4-69.
2-57

Outside Camper-Type Mirrors
If your vehicle is equipped with this style camper-type
mirrors, they can be adjusted so you can have a
clear view of the objects behind you.
Pull out the mirror head to extend it for better visibility
when towing a trailer.If your vehicle is equipped
with this style camper-type
mirrors, they can be
adjusted so you can have
a clear view of the
objects behind you.
Adjust the mirror by turning it left or right. Once the
mirror is adjusted to the correct position, tighten the set
screw to hold the mirror in place. These mirrors can
also be manually folded in.
On the lower portion of the mirror is a convex mirror.
A convex mirror’s surface is curved so you can see more
from the driver’s seat.
2-64