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
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.
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 have 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.
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
Tire-Loading Information label at the rear edge
of
the
driver’s door or
see
“Loading Your Vehicle”
in
the Index.
Then be sure
you
don’t go over the
GVW
limit for your
vehicle, including the weight
of
the trailer tongue.
4-34
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