Subaru 2002 Impreza - Manual (Page 264)

IMPREZA(NA) A1830BE-A (ENGLISH)
8
Driving tips
8-33
– CONTINUED –
J Connecting a trailer
B Trailer brakes
If your trailer’s total weight (trailer weight plus its
cargo weight) exceeds 1,000 lbs (453 kg), the trailer
is required to be equipped with its own brake sys-
tem. Electric brakes or surge brakes are recom-
mended, and must be installed properly. Check that
your trailer’s brakes conform with Federal, state/
province and/or other applicable regulations. Your
SUBARU’s brake system is not designed to be
tapped into the trailer’s hydraulic brake system.
Please ask your SUBARU dealer and professional
trailer supplier for more information about the trail-
er’s brake system.
WARNING
D Adequate size trailer brakes are required
when the trailer and its cargo exceed 1,000 lbs
(453 kg) total weight.
D Do not directly connect your trailer’s
hydraulic brake system to the hydraulic brake
system in your vehicle. Direct connection
would cause the vehicle’s brake performance
to deteriorate and could lead to an accident.
B Trailer safety chains
In case the trailer hitch connector or hitch ball
should break or become disconnected, the trailer
could get loose and create a traffic safety hazard.
For safety, always connect the towing vehicle and
trailer with trailer safety chains. Pass the chains
crossing each other under the trailer tongue to pre-
vent the trailer from dropping onto the ground in
case the trailer tongue should disconnect from the
hitch ball. Allow sufficient slack in the chains taking
tight-turn situations into account; however, be care-
ful not to let them drag on the ground.
For more information about the safety chain connec-
tion, refer to the instructions for your hitch and trailer.
WARNING
Always use safety chains between your ve-
hicle and the trailer. Towing trailer without
safety chains could create a traffic safety haz-
ard if the trailer separates from the hitch due
to coupling damage or hitch ball damage.