trailer HONDA PRELUDE 1990 Owners Manual

Towing a Trailer

Your car is designed primarily to carry passengers and a normal
amount of luggage. Although your car is capable of towing a trailer,
there will be an effect on handling, performance, braking, general
vehicle and tire durability and fuel economy. The weight of the trailer plus its cargo must not exceed a total
of 1,000 Ibs. (450 kg).
The gross vehicle weight must not exceed the Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating (GVWR) indicated on the Certification label (see page 127). The gross vehicle weight is the total weight of the
car, driver, passengers, luggage, hitch and trailer tongue load.
The total weight supported by each axle must not exceed the Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR). The front and rear GAWR's
are shown on the Certification label (page 127). The
distribution of luggage and passengers in the car, as well as the
tongue load and hitch weight should also be considered in terms of the GAWR, which is the maximum amount of weight that
should be supported over the front and the rear axles. You
should have your car and trailer weighed at a commercial
weighing station to check both the GVWR and GAWR's to
confirm that the total weight and weight distribution are within safe driving limits.
The maximum trailer tongue load must not exceed 100 Ibs. (45 kg). Cargo should be distributed so that the tongue load is
approximately 10% of the total weight of the trailor and its
cargo. This is done by distributing approximately 60% of cargo weight toward the front of the trailer and 40% toward the rear. Never load the trailer so that the back is heavier than the front.
This will seriously affect vehicle handling. Be sure the cargo is
secured so that it will not move during driving. TONGUE LOAD
TRAILER WEIGHT
Maximum: 100 Ibs (45 kg)
Maximum: 1,000 Ibs (450 kg)

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Towing a Trailer (cont'd)

Hitches

Use only a hitch recommended by your Honda dealer. The hitch

should be bolted securely to the car and installed by a qualified

technician. Do not use a hitch designed for temporary installation
and never use one that attaches only to the bumper.
Trailer Brakes and safety chains
The Honda Automobile Division recommends that trailers equippedwith brakes, should conform to any applicable federal and stateregulations, When using a trailer equipped with electric brakes, a
trailer brake controller that connects to the car's electrical system is recommended. Installing a brake controller that connects to the car's
brake hydraulic system could result in brake fluid contamination or
leaks, A safety chain must always be used between the car and the
trailer. Leave sufficient slack in the chain so that it does not bind in
sharp turns. The chain should cross under the trailer tongue to prevent the tongue from dropping to the ground.

Tires
Make sure your car's are properly inflated. Adjust tire pressure

to the recommended tire pressure indicated on the label attached to
the edge of the driver's door.The trailer tires should be of the proper size, load rating and inflated to the pressure recommended
by the trailer manufacturer.
Trailer Lights
Trailer light must comply with federal, state and local regulations. See your local recreation vehicle dealer or rental agency for the

correct type of lighting and wiring for your trailer, Check for correct
operation of the turn signals and stop lights each time you hitch up.

CAUTION:

Connections to your car's electrical system should be made by
your Honda dealer or a qualified electrician.Improper installation

may damage your vehicle's electrical system and cause a

malfunction of the lights.
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Break-in Schedule

Do not tow a trailer during the 600 mile (1,000 km) break-in period:

see page 2.

Maintenance
If you tow a trailer, your vehicle will require more frequent
maintenance due to the additional load. Refer to the "Maintenance
Schedule under severe driving conditions" on page 80 for specific
information.

Before Towing

With the car and trailer completely loaded and parked on a level surface, confirm that the tongue loading is correct. If the car has an
abnormal nose-up or nose-down attitude, check for improper cargo

distribution. Check also for excessive cargo weight, worn
suspension or other causes and correct the problem before driving.
Be sure the cargo is secured so it will not shift while driving. Check
that your rearview mirrors conform to any federal, state, or local regulations. If not, install rearview mirrors designed for towing.Before towing a trailer, practice turning, stopping and reversing with
a trailor in an area away from traffic until you learn the technique.
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Towing a Trailer (cont'd)

Towing Safety

Stopping distance will be increased when towing a trailer. For
each 10 mph (16 km/h) of speed, allow at least two car lengths between you and the vehicle ahead. Avoid sudden braking
which may cause trailer jackknifing and loss of control.
Avoid jerky starts and sudden acceleration. If your car has amanual transmission, always start out in first gear and release
the clutch at moderate engine rpm.
Avoid rapid lane changing and sharp turns. The trailer could hit your car in a tight turn. Slow down before making a turn.
Remember, the total length of your car plus trailer will require a
wider turning circle.
Crosswinds may adversely affect handling of your car and
trailer, Use the rearview mirrors frequently to warn you of approaching large vehicles that may pass you causing your car
and trailer to sway. When being passed, firmly grip the steering wheel and be prepared to reduce speed immediately but
gradually. Never increase speed. Steer straight ahead.
Towing a trailer in bad weather will magnify any difficulty in
controlling the car caused by the weather itself. Avoid sudden maneuvers: slow down and use extra caution.
Be careful when passing other vehicles. Passing requires
considerable distance because of the added weight and length

of your trailer.ProCarManuals.comMain Menu t s

CAUTION:
Before starting out, check the operation of the lights and all car/
trailer connections. After driving a short distance, stop and
recheck the lights and connections.
Reversing is difficult and requires practice. While backing-up,
the trailer may pivot off-course. To correct for this, grip the bottom of the steering wheel and move your hand to the left to
move the trailer to the left, or to the right to move the trailer to
the right. Turn the steering wheel a little at a time, and keep the
speed very low. Have someon e guide you when backing.

To help
prevent overheating of the brakes, shift into a lower
gear to make use of engine braking before descending steep or
long grades. Do not make sudden downshifts. Pay strict attention to the coolant temperature gauge when
going up hills. Because of the added load of the trailer, your car's
engine may overheat on hot days. Turning off the air conditioner
will reduce the load on the cooling system.
On cars equipped with automatic transmission. —Do not hold the car stationary on an incline by using the accelerator pedal; this can cause the transmission fluid tooverheat. Instead, use the handbrake or footbrake.
—When towing trailers, avoid high transmission fluid temperatures (caused by the transmission frequently shiftingbetween 3rd and 4th gears) by driving in S3.

NOTE:

Be sure to check state and local laws concerning maximum speed or

other driving restrictions for cars towing trailers. If you are driving
across several states, check each state's requirements before

leaving home, because restrictions may vary.

Parking with a Trailer

Whenever parking your car on an incline with a trailer attached, first
place and seat chocks at each wheel of the car and trailer. This is in

addition to the normal parking preparations of firmly applying the parking brake and placing the transmission in first or reverse
(manual transmission) or P (automatic transmission).

CAUTION:
Parking on an incline is not recommended and should be done only
if it cannot be avoided. Follow all precautions mentioned above
and turn the wheels to point towards a curb if facing downhill,
away from a curb if facing uphill. When leaving an inclined parking place, move the car slightly to unseat the chocks. Then while
keeping the foot brakes firmly applied, have an assistant remove
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Maintenance Schedule and Records (cont'd)
Severe Driving Conditions
CAUTION:
The following items must be serviced more frequently on cars
normally used under severe driving conditions. Refer to the chart
below for the appropriate maintenance intervals. Severe driving conditions include:
A: Repeated short distance driving
B: Driving in dusty conditions
C: Driving in severe cold weather
D: Driving in areas using road salt or other corrosive materials
E: Driving on rough and/or muddy roads

F: Towing a trailer

R-Replace
I-Inspect
After inspection, clean, adjust, repair or replace if necessary.
Non-Scheduled Maintenance Record
Record additional maintenance for severe driving conditions or non-
scheduled maintenance on this page. (See page 78)ProCarManuals.comMain Menu t s