Trailer towing tips

Trailer towing tips  - Trailer towing - Seating and Safety Restraints - Lincoln MKS Owners Manual - Lincoln MKS

• Practice turning, stopping and backing-up before starting on a trip to get the feel of the vehicle-trailer combination. When turning, make wider turns so the trailer wheels will clear curbs and other obstacles.
• To aid in engine/transmission cooling and A/C efficiency during hot weather while stopped in traffic, place the gearshift lever in P (Park).
• After you have traveled 50 miles (80 km), thoroughly check your hitch, electrical connections and trailer wheel lug nuts.
• If you are driving down a long or steep hill, shift to the “M” position, then use the paddle shifters to manually shift to a lower gear. Do not apply the brakes continuously, as they may overheat and become less effective. For more information on transmission operation and gear positions, see Automatic transmission operation in the Driving chapter.
• Vehicles with trailers should not be parked on a grade. If you must park on a grade, place wheel chocks under the trailer’s wheels.

    See also:

    Stopping and securing the vehicle
    1. Park on a level surface, set the parking brake and activate the hazard flashers. 2. Place the gearshift lever in P (Park) and turn the engine off. ...

    Front seats
    WARNING: Reclining the seatback can cause an occupant to slide under the seat’s safety belt, resulting in severe personal injuries in the event of a collision. WARNING: Do not pile cargo higher t ...

    Hitches
    Do not use a hitch that clamps onto the vehicle’s bumper; use a load-carrying hitch. You must distribute the load in your trailer so that 10–15% of the total weight of the trailer is on the tongue ...