tow HUMMER H2 2008 Owner's Guide

Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle..........4-2
Defensive Driving...........................................4-2
Drunk Driving.................................................4-2
Control of a Vehicle........................................4-3
Braking.........................................................4-3
Antilock Brake System (ABS)...........................4-4
Braking in Emergencies...................................4-5
Traction Control System (TCS).........................4-5
Locking Rear Axle..........................................4-6
StabiliTrak
®System........................................4-7
Steering........................................................4-9
Off-Road Recovery.......................................4-11
Passing.......................................................4-12
Loss of Control.............................................4-12
Off-Road Driving...........................................4-13
Assist Steps.................................................4-32
Driving at Night............................................4-32
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads..................4-33
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.......................4-34
Highway Hypnosis........................................4-34Hill and Mountain Roads................................4-35
Winter Driving..............................................4-36
If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud,
Ice, or Snow.............................................4-39
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out.................4-40
Recovery Loops...........................................4-40
First Aid Kit and Tool Kit...............................4-42
Front Mounted Receiver.................................4-43
Power Winch Platform...................................4-43
Loading Your Vehicle....................................4-44
Towing..........................................................4-51
Towing Your Vehicle.....................................4-51
Recreational Vehicle Towing...........................4-51
Selectable Extended Rear Ride Height.............4-53
Electronically Controlled Air Suspension
System....................................................4-54
Towing a Trailer...........................................4-55
Trailer Recommendations...............................4-67
Section 4 Driving Your Vehicle
4-1

Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out
First, turn the steering wheel left and right to clear
the area around the front wheels. The traction control
system activates when the system senses that the
wheels are spinning. SeeTraction Control System (TCS)
on page 4-5. Then, shift back and forth between
REVERSE (R) and a forward gear, spinning the wheels
as little as possible. To prevent transmission wear,
wait until the wheels stop spinning before shifting gears.
Release the accelerator pedal while you shift, and
press lightly on the accelerator pedal when the
transmission is in gear. By slowly spinning the wheels in
the forward and reverse directions, you will cause a
rocking motion that could free your vehicle. If that does
not get your vehicle out after a few tries, it might
need to be towed out. Or, you can use the recovery
loops. If your vehicle does need to be towed out,
seeTowing Your Vehicle on page 4-51.
Recovery Loops
{CAUTION:
These loops, when used, are under a lot of
force. Keep people away from the vicinity of
the loops and any chains or cables during use.
Always pull the vehicle straight out. Never pull
on the loops at a sideways angle. The loops
could break off and you or others could be
injured from the chain or cable snapping back.
Notice:Never use the recovery loops to tow the
vehicle. Your vehicle could be damaged and it would
not be covered by warranty.
4-40

Front Mounted Receiver
Your vehicle is equipped with a front mounted receiver.
You can use the receiver with a power winch platform
(described later in this section) or with other
accessories.
Never use the front mounted receiver to tow a trailer.
You can use the front mounted receiver to tow your
vehicle behind another. SeeRecreational Vehicle
Towing on page 4-51.
Power Winch Platform
You can use the power winch platform (if equipped)
with an aftermarket winch. Connect the winch to
the platform and wiring to the vehicle following the
winch manufacturer’s guidelines.
Notice:Do not use the winch platform to winch at
a tension of more than 9,000 lbs. (4 082 kg). This
would damage your vehicle’s frame. This damage
would not be covered by your vehicle’s warranty.
If you are using a winch to pull out another vehicle,
follow the winch manufacturer’s guidelines and observe
the following to prevent damage to your vehicle:
If possible, have your vehicle anchored from the
opposite side of the winch to a solid, immovable
object.
If winching from the front, use both of the rear
recovery loops. If winching from the rear, use both
of the front recovery loops.
Put your transmission in NEUTRAL (N).
Use your regular brakes to hold your vehicle in
place and block the wheels to keep the vehicle
from moving.
4-43

Steps for Determining Correct Load Limit
1.Locate the statement “The combined weight
of occupants and cargo should never
exceed XXX kg or XXX lbs” on your vehicle’s
placard.
2.Determine the combined weight of the driver
and passengers that will be riding in your
vehicle.
3.Subtract the combined weight of the driver
and passengers from XXX kg or XXX lbs.
4.The resulting gure equals the available
amount of cargo and luggage load capacity.
For example, if the “XXX” amount equals
1400 lbs and there will be ve 150 lb
passengers in your vehicle, the amount of
available cargo and luggage load capacity is
650 lbs (1400−750 (5 x 150) = 650 lbs).
5.Determine the combined weight of luggage
and cargo being loaded on the vehicle.
That weight may not safely exceed the
available cargo and luggage load capacity
calculated in Step 4.
6.If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, the load
from your trailer will be transferred to your
vehicle. Consult this manual to determine how
this reduces the available cargo and luggage
load capacity of your vehicle.
SeeTowing a Trailer on page 4-55for important
information on towing a trailer, towing safety
rules and trailering tips.
4-46

Towing
Towing Your Vehicle
Consult your dealer/retailer or a professional towing
service if you need to have your disabled vehicle towed.
SeeRoadside Assistance Program on page 7-6.
If you want to tow your vehicle behind another vehicle
for recreational purposes (such as behind a motorhome),
see “Recreational Vehicle Towing” following.
Recreational Vehicle Towing
Recreational vehicle towing means towing your vehicle
behind another vehicle – such as behind a motorhome.
The two most common types of recreational vehicle
towing are known as “dinghy towing” (towing your
vehicle with all four wheels on the ground) and “dolly
towing” (towing your vehicle with two wheels on
the ground and two wheels up on a device known as
a “dolly”).With the proper preparation and equipment, many
vehicles can be towed in these ways. See “Dinghy
Towing” and “Dolly Towing,” following.
Here are some important things to consider before you
do recreational vehicle towing:
What’s the towing capacity of the towing vehicle?
Be sure you read the tow vehicle manufacturer’s
recommendations.
How far will you tow? Some vehicles have
restrictions on how far and how long they can tow.
Do you have the proper towing equipment?
See your dealer or trailering professional for
additional advice and equipment recommendations.
Is your vehicle ready to be towed? Just as you
would prepare your vehicle for a long trip, you’ll
want to make sure your vehicle is prepared to be
towed. SeeBefore Leaving on a Long Trip on
page 4-34.
4-51

Dinghy Towing
Use the following procedure to tow your vehicle:
1. Shift the transmission to PARK (P).
2. Turn the engine off, but leave the ignition in
ACCESSORY.
3. Firmly set the parking brake.
4. Securely attach the vehicle being towed to the
tow vehicle.
{CAUTION:
Shifting a full-time four-wheel-drive vehicle’s
transfer case into NEUTRAL can cause your
vehicle to roll even if the transmission is in
PARK (P). You or others could be injured.
Make sure the parking brake is rmly set
before you shift the transfer case to NEUTRAL.
5. Shift the transfer case to NEUTRAL (N). See
Full-Time Four-Wheel Drive on page 2-36for
the proper procedure to select the NEUTRAL
position for your vehicle.6. Release the parking brake only after the vehicle
being towed is rmly attached to the towing
vehicle. You can use your vehicle’s front mounted
receiver with the proper accessories to tow it.
See “Front Mounted Receiver” underIf Your Vehicle
is Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice, or Snow on page 4-39.
7. Turn the ignition to ACCESSORY.
8. Disconnect the battery if you are going to tow for
long distances or long periods of time.
When towing your vehicle for extended periods of time,
start your vehicle as often as possible to prevent
battery drain. This should only be done when the tow
vehicle is parked.Dolly Towing
Your vehicle cannot be dolly towed. If you must tow
your vehicle behind another, use the dinghy towing
procedure listed previously.
Notice:Dolly towing your vehicle will damage
drivetrain components. Do not dolly tow your
vehicle.
4-52

Selectable Extended Rear
Ride Height
If your vehicle has this feature it comes as part of the
electronically controlled air suspension system.
The selectable rear ride height allows you to raise the
rear of the vehicle about 2 inches (5 cm) over the normal
ride height. This can be helpful when driving off-road
where you may need more ground clearance to clear
an obstacle.
The button that controls this
feature is located on the
instrument panel to the
right of the steering wheel.
To use this feature, ensure that the following conditions
are met:
The engine must be running.
All doors must be fully closed. The suspension will
not raise or lower if a door is open.
The vehicle speed must be less than 40 mph
(64 km/h). The system will not activate otherwise.Press the height control button to raise the rear of the
vehicle.
A light in the button will begin to ash as the rear of the
vehicle rises. Once the extended height has been
reached (this may take up to a minute), the warning
light will stop ashing and will stay lit while the vehicle is
at the extended height.
To lower the vehicle to the normal ride height, press the
button again. The light in the button will ash as the
suspension lowers. When the light in the button stops
ashing and goes out, the suspension has reached
the normal ride height.
This feature will lower the vehicle to the normal height if
vehicle speed exceeds 40 mph (64 km/h).
You may also want to use this feature when ascending,
descending or cresting a steep hill as this can help
prevent the rear bumper from dragging on the base of
the hill or prevent the vehicle from grounding out
(high centering) on the crest of the hill.
Do not use this feature when towing a trailer.
4-53

In some instances the compressor may stop working
due to being overheated. This is normal. In the instance
of an abnormal overheat condition though the
compressor will stop working and the SERVICE
SUSPENSION SYSTEM will be displayed on the DIC.
SeeDIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-56for
more information.
Towing a Trailer
{CAUTION:
If you do not use the correct equipment and
drive properly, you can lose control when you
pull a trailer. For example, if the trailer is too
heavy, the brakes may not work well — or even
at all. You and your passengers could be
seriously injured. Pull a trailer only if you have
followed all the steps in this section. Ask your
dealer for advice and information about towing
a trailer with your vehicle.Notice:Pulling a trailer improperly can damage
your vehicle and result in costly repairs not covered
by your warranty. To pull a trailer correctly, follow
the advice in this part, and see your dealer for
important information about towing a trailer with
your vehicle.
To identify the trailering capacity of your vehicle, you
should read the information in “Weight of the Trailer” that
appears later in this section.
Trailering is different than just driving your vehicle by
itself. Trailering means changes in handling,
acceleration, braking, durability and fuel economy.
Successful, safe trailering takes correct equipment, and
it has to be used properly.
That is the reason for this part. In it are many
time-tested, important trailering tips and safety rules.
Many of these are important for your safety and that of
your passengers. So please read this section carefully
before you pull a trailer.
4-55

If You Do Decide To Pull A Trailer
If you do, here are some important points:
There are many different laws, including speed limit
restrictions, having to do with trailering. Make sure
your rig will be legal, not only where you live
but also where you’ll be driving. A good source for
this information can be state or provincial police.
Consider using a sway control. See “Hitches” later
in this section.
Do not tow a trailer at all during the rst 500 miles
(800 km) your new vehicle is driven. Your engine,
axle or other parts could be damaged.
Then, during the rst 500 miles (800 km) that you
tow a trailer, do not drive over 50 mph (80 km/h)
and do not make starts at full throttle. This
helps your engine and other parts of your vehicle
wear in at the heavier loads.
You can tow in DRIVE (D). You may want to shift
the transmission to THIRD (3) or, if necessary, a
lower gear selection if the transmission shifts
too often (e.g., under heavy loads and/or hilly
conditions). See “Tow/Haul Mode” following.Three important considerations have to do with weight:
the weight of the trailer
the weight of the trailer tongue
and the weight on your vehicle’s tires
Tow/Haul Mode
Tow/Haul mode is used when using your vehicle to pull a
large or heavy load or trailer. Tow/haul is also useful
while pulling a load in rolling terrain, in stop-and-go traffic,
or when you need improved low-speed control, such as
when parking. The purpose of the tow/haul mode is to do
the following:
Reduce the frequency and improve the predictability
of transmission shifts when pulling a heavy trailer or
a large or heavy load.
Provide the same solid shift feel when pulling a
heavy trailer or a large or heavy load as when the
vehicle is unloaded.
Improve control of vehicle speed while requiring less
accelerator pedal activity when pulling a heavy trailer
or a large or heavy load.
4-56

Tow/Haul mode is most effective when the vehicle and
trailer combined weight is at least 75 percent of the
vehicle’s Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR).
See “Weight of the Trailer” later in this section.
Press the button on the
instrument panel to the
right of the steering wheel
to enable the tow/haul
mode.
A light on the instrument
panel will illuminate to
indicate that tow/haul
mode has been selected.Press the button again to turn off Tow/Haul mode.
The indicator light on the instrument panel will turn off.
The vehicle will automatically turn off Tow/Haul mode
every time it is started.
Driving with Tow/Haul mode activated without a heavy
load or with no trailer will cause reduced fuel economy
and unpleasant engine and transmission driving
characteristics, but will not cause damage.
Grade Braking
Transmission Grade Braking works in Tow/Haul mode
to automatically downshift the transmission when
the driver is braking. The purpose is to aid in braking or
maintaining vehicle speeds on down-grades by
shifting to a lower gear to utilize engine braking.
4-57