The Citizen, 2008-04-10, Page 18PAGE 18. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 2008.Make sure your vehicle is up to the taskHitching a boat-trailer or camper
to a vehicle not only dramatically
increases the workload placed on its
engine, transmission, suspension
and brakes, but it is expected to
cope with these additional burdens
during the heat of summer, often on
roads made busy by holiday week-
end travelers.
To be safe, rather than sorry, and
ensure you arrive at your summer
destination you need to know your
vehicle is up to the towing task
you’re asking of it and that it has
been properly maintained to ensure
reliability.
The starting point should be
selecting a vehicle that can get the
job done.
An underpowered, and even
worse, under braked vehicle is an
accident waiting to happen, and so
is a vehicle whose suspension isn’t
up to the job of delivering stability
while towing. Vehicle, trailer and
RV manufacturers have the knowl-
edge to help you choose a suitable
vehicle and any special towing
option packages you’ll need.
But often your current vehicle can
be upgraded to include these fea-
tures by fitting aftermarket products
such as heavy duty or load-leveling
type suspension components,
wiring for trailer lighting and brake
systems, provisions to mount the
correct hitch, and such things as oil
and transmission fluid coolers.
Before setting off on a towing
holiday, with either a new or older
vehicle, however, a full mainte-
nance and inspection should be per-
formed, even if it’s a bit ahead of
schedule.
An oil and filter change is essen-
tial, but the fluid in either manual or
automatic transmissions and in the
rear end of rear-drive vehicles
should also be replaced.
Much of the additional strain of
trailer towing is directed at the auto-
matic transmission. Generating heat
is one of the unfortunate byproducts
of an automatic transmission’s
operation, and too much of it is one
of the leading reasons they develop
problems.
To help extend fluid life virtually
every automatic transmission comes
with its own fluid cooler, which is
usually incorporated into the engine
coolant radiator. This keeps the
fluid within a reasonable operating
range under ideal conditions, but
trailer towing can send temperatures
soaring.
Changing the fluid regularly, or
switching (where possible) to some
of the new high tech fluids on the
market can help, but what you may
need is an auxiliary fluid cooler.
You can also have a similar type
of auxiliary radiator installed to
cool your engine’s lubricating oil,
which can also become overheated
and break down, due to the
increased heat generated by trailer
towing. Ask an expert about these
units.
The cooling system should be
pressure checked for leaks and all
hoses, connections and fan and
water pump drive belts checked.
Coolant is often referred to as anti-
freeze, but that is only one of its
roles. Its chemical makeup prevents
corrosion and provides consistent
performance at the high tempera-
tures generated by today’s engines.
The braking system will be heav-
ily stressed by even a relatively light
trailer and should be inspected for
both pad and brake shoe wear, but
also to detect rusted or damaged
mechanical components. Brake
lines should be inspected, and brake
fluid changed if required. Old brake
fluid can contain moisture which
can boil in the lines under heavy or
extended braking and cause brake
failure.
The battery and charging system
and the trailer wiring connections
should also be looked at. Hot sum-
mer weather is actually harder on
battery health than the cold of win-
ter. Fitting a heavy duty battery to
meet additional lighting loads is
often a good idea.
The additional weight of a trailer
can put severe loads on a vehicle’s
suspension so the steering system,
shock absorbers/struts and suspen-
sion bushings need to be in top
shape to ensure control. An inspec-
tion will also reveal any damaged or
worn suspension components.
Tire condition should obviously
be checked, and tires inflated to the
recommended pressures. Low tire
pressures cause overheating and
eventual tire failure, as well as short
life and added fuel costs.
Unevenly inflated tires can caus
the trailer to wander. Look for signs
of unusual tread wear, and such
things as cuts or cracks in the side-
walls.
Needless to say you should carry
a spare tire, and the equipment –
jack, proper sized lug nut wrench -
you need to replace a tire. Lubricate
the lug nuts occasionally to ensure
they aren’t frozen in place with rust.
Filters should also be inspected
and if necessary replaced. A dirty
air filter can both rob power that’s
needed to handle the additional
strain of towing, but also seriously
reduce fuel economy. When you are
traveling you may be forced to refu-
el at rather dubious places, so a
fresh fuel filter will keep any dirt
from affecting your fuel injection
system.
Even lubrication of minor moving
parts pays dividends. Under-lubri-
cated and sticky release mecha-
nisms have been known to allow
hoods to fly open at highway
speeds.
And don’t forget the trailer or
camper needs maintenance as well.
Good advice before setting out on
the season’s first trip is to hook up
and check and lubricate all the con-
nections. Then ensure all the run-
ning, brake and signal lights are
working, and look over the wiring
harness for loose connections or
dragging wires. Electrical connec-
tors should be treated against corro-
sion.
Give the trailer’s frame a visual
once-over, looking for cracks, par-
ticularly around suspension mount-
ing points and welds. Keeping the
trailer clean and painted will help
when it comes to spotting problems.
A pre-trip inspection should include
making sure the hitch is solidly
attached with fasteners correctly
torqued and all fittings properly
adjusted.
OOnn tthhee RRooaadd
J.L. McCUTCHEON
MOTORS
Downtown BRUSSELS
519-887-6856 or 1-888-351-9193
LUBE, OIL &
FILTER
$2995
and up
10 Point Check
Includes...
❀❀ Test Antifreeze PH
❀❀ Check Cooling System Leaks
❀❀ Check Wiper Blades
❀❀ Top Up Washer Fluid
❀❀ Check Air Conditioning Performance
❀❀ Check Air Filter
❀❀ Check Fan Belts
❀❀ Check Rad Hoses
❀❀ Check Tires
❀❀ Check all Lights
$1295
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Receive 10%off parts & labour
www.mccutcheonmotors.ca
Toll Free
1.800.320.0666
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huronfuelinjection.com
Highway #4 South
Clinton
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“FUEL INJECTION SYSTEMS”
519.482.7971
Servicing Diesel Pumps and Injectors
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