weight OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA 1998 User Guide

Three important considerations have to do with weight:
the weight of the trailer,
0 the weight of the trailer tongue
and the weight on your vehicle’s tires.
Weight of the Trailer
How heavy can a trailer safely be?
It should never weigh more than
5,000 lbs. (2 270 kg).
But even that can be too heavy.
It depends on how you plan to use your rig. For
example, speed, altitude, road grades, outside
temperature and how much your vehicle is used to pull a
trailer are all important. And, it can also depend on any
special equipment that you have on your vehicle.
You can ask your retailer for our trailering information
or advice, or you can write
us at:
Oldsmobile Customer Assistance
P.O. Box 30095
Lansing,
MI 48909
In Canada, write to:
General Motors
of Canada Limited
Customer Communication Centre
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario L1H 8P7
Weight of the Trailer Tongue
The tongue load (A) of any trailer is an important
weight to measure because it affects the total or gross
weight
of your vehicle. The Gross Vehicle Weight
(GVW) includes the curb weight of the vehicle, any
cargo you may carry in it, and the people who will be
riding in the vehicle. And if you will tow
a trailer, you
must add the tongue load to the GVW because your
vehicle will be carrying that weight, too. See “Loading
Your Vehicle” in the Index for more information about
your vehicle’s maximum load capacity.
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Total Weight on Your Vehicle’s Tires
Be sure your vehicle’s tires are inflated to the upper
limit for cold tires. You’ll find these numbers on the
CertificatiodTire label on the driver‘s door edge, above
the door latch or see “Tire Loading”
in the Index. Then
be sure you don‘t go over the
GVW limit for your
vehicle, including the weight
of the trailer tongue.
A B
If you’re using a weight-carrying hitch, the trailer
tongue
(A) should weigh 10 percent of the total loaded
trailer weight
(B). If you’re using a weight-distributing
hitch, the trailer tongue (A) should weigh 12 percent of
the total loaded trailer weight
(B).
After you‘ve loaded your trailer, weigh the trailer and
then the tongue, separately, to see if the weights are
proper. If they aren’t,
you may be able to get them right
simply by moving
some items around in the trailer.
Hitches
It’s important to have the correct hitch equipment.
Crosswinds, large trucks going by and rough roads are
a few reasons why you’ll need the right hitch. Here are
some rules to follow:
0 If you’ll be pulling a trailer that, when loaded, will
weigh more than
2,000 lbs. (900 kg), be sure to use
a properly mounted, weight-distributing hitch and
sway control
of the proper size. This equipment is
very important for proper vehicle loading and good
handling
when you‘re driving.
0 Will you have to make any holes in the body of your
vehicle when you install
a trailer hitch?
If you do, then be sure to seal the holes later when
you remove the hitch.
If you don‘t seal them, deadly
carbon monoxide
(CO) from your exhaust can get
into your vehicle (see “Carbon Monoxide?’
in the
Index). Dirt and water can,
too.
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Driving with a Trailer
If you have a rear-most window open and you
pull
a trailer with your vehicle, carbon monoxide
(CO) could come into your vehicle. You can’t see
or smell CO. It can cause unconsciousness or
death. (See “Engine Exhaust”
in the Index.) To
maximize your safety when towing a trailer:
Have your exhaust system inspected for leaks,
and make necessary repairs before
starting on your trip.
Keep the rear-most windows closed.
0 If exhaust does come into your vehicle
through
a window in the rear or another
opening, drive with your front, main
heating or cooling system on and with the
fan on any speed. This will bring fresh,
outside air into your vehicle.
Do not use
MAX A/C because it only recirculates the
air inside your vehicle. (See “Comfort
Controls” in the Index.) Towing
a trailer requires a certain amount
of experience.
Before setting out for the open road, you’ll want to get
to know your rig. Acquaint yourself with the feel
of
handling and braking with the added weight of the
trailer. And always keep
in mind that the vehicle you are
driving is now
a good deal longer and not nearly as
responsive as your vehicle is
by itself.
Before you start, check the trailer hitch and platform
(and attachments), safety chains, electrical connector,
lamps, tires and mirror adjustment.
If the trailer has
electric brakes, start your vehicle and trailer moving and
then apply the trailer brake controller by hand to be sure
the brakes are working.
This lets you check your
electrical connection at the same time.
During your
trip, check occasionally to be sure that the
load is secure,
and that the lamps and any trailer brakes
are still working.
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Exit Lighting .................................. 2-34
Express-Down Window
.......................... 2-25
Fabric Cleaning
............................... 6-46
Filling a Portable Fuel Container
.................... 6-8
Filling Your
Tank ................................ 6-6
Filter.
Air ..................................... 6-15
Finish Care
.................................... 6-49
Finish Damage
................................. 6-5 I
FirstGear ..................................... 2-18
Flashers. Hazard Warning
......................... 5-2
Flat Tire. Changing
............................. 5-22
Fluids and Lubricants
....................... 6-51. 7-45
FogLampSwitch
............................... 2-33
Foreign Countries. Fuel
........................... 6-5
Front
Axle ....................................... 6-21
Towing
..................................... 5-11
Turn Signal Lamp Bulb Replacement ............. 6-34
Fuel
.......................................... 6-3
Filling a Portable Container ...................... 6-8
Storage
Area
................................. 2-41
Filling Your Tank
.............................. 6-6
Foreign Countries
.............................. 6-5
Gage
....................................... 2-63
Engine Compartment .......................... 6-57
Instrument Panel
............................. 6-55
Fuses and Circuit Breakers ....................... 6-55
Fuse Block Gages
Engine Coolant Temperature
.................... 2-57
Engine Oil Pressure
........................... 2-60
Garage Door Opener
............................ 2-46
GasCap ....................................... 6-6
Gate
A-jar Light ................................ 2-62
GAWR
....................................... 4-42
Gear Positions
................................. 2-16
GloveBox
.................................... 2-37
Gross Axle Weight Rating
........................ 4-42
Gross Vehicle Weight Ratlng
...................... 4-42
Fuel
....................................... 2-63
GVWR
....................................... 4-42
Halogen Bulbs
................................ 6-33
Hazard Warning Flashers
.......................... 5-2
Bulb Replacement
............................ 6-33
High/Low Beam Changer
...................... 2-28
On Reminder
................................ 2-33
Wiring
..................................... 6-54
Hearing Impaired. Customer Assistance
.............. 8-4
Heated Front Seats ............................... 1-3
Heating ........................................ 3-5
Highway Hypnosis .............................. 4-35
Hill and Mountain
Roads ......................... 4-36
Hitches. Trailer
................................. 4-47
Hood .......................................... 6-8
Hydroplaning
.................................. 4-31
Head
Restraints ................................. 1-6
Headlamps
.................................... 2-32
Horn
......................................... 2-25
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Cleaning .................................... 6-50
Inflation ............................... 6.38. 7.39
Pressure
............................... 6.38. 7.39
Temperature
................................. 6-42
Traction .................................... 6-42
Treadwear
................................... 6-42
LJniform Quality Grading
....................... 6-41
Wear Indicators
.............................. 6-40
Inspection
and Rotation
........................ 6-39
Topstrap
..................................... 1-42
TorqueLock
................................... 2-21
Torque. Wheel
Nut ......................... 5.29. 6.60
Towing a Trailer ................................ 4-44
Towing Your Vehicle
............................. 5-8
Trai I er
Brakes
..................................... 4-48
Driving on Grades ............................ 4-5 I
Driving with a Trailer .......................... 4-49
Hitches
..................................... 4-47
Maintenance When Towing
..................... 4-52
Parking on Hills
.............................. 4-5 1
Safety Chains ................................ 4-48
Tongueweight
............................... 4-46
Total Weight on Tires .......................... 4-47
Towing
..................................... 4-44
Turn Signals
................................. 4-50
Weight
..................................... 4-46
Wiring Harness
............................... 4-53
Transfer Case
.................................. 6-20
Transmission
Fluid .............................. 6- I6
Transmission . Shifting ........................... 2- 16
Transmitters . Keyless Entry ........................ 2-6
Transportation. Courtesy
.......................... 8-6
Trip Compucer
................................... - 3-40
Odometer
................................... 2-52
Trip. Before Leaving
............................ 4-34
TTYUsers ..................................... 8-4
Turn and Lane Change Signals .................... 2-27
Turn Signals When Towing
a Trailer ................ 4-50
Underbody Flushing Service
..................... 7-42
Underbody Maintenance
.................... 6-5 1. 7-32
Universal Transmitter
............................ 2-46
Accessories
................................. 2-49
Erasing Channels
............................. 2-48
Operation
................................... 2-48
Programming ................................ 2-47
Rolling Codes
................................ 2-48
US/MET Button
................................ 2-38
vehicle Control
...................................... 4-6
Damage Warnings .............................. iv
Dimensions ................................. 6-61
Identification Number ......................... 6-53
Loading .................................... 4-42
Storage ..................................... 6-33
Ventilation System ............................... 3-5
Visors,
Sun .................................... 2-44
Voltmeter
..................................... 2-55
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