Installntion
of
tow
equipment must
be
per-
formed
by
a competent
illstaller.
Make sure
the
illstallntioll follow the
tow
equipmellt
mallufactnrer's
illStrUCtiOIlS.
A.
WARNING
Do
not exceed the
rated
load
of the motor home, or
the
rated
load
of any
axle.
Exceeding
the
GVWR,
GAWR,
GTW or GCWR of your motor
home
can
cause handling problems, a vehicle
crash,
damage
your motor home
and
void
your warranties.
The way your motor home handles and responds
will be affected by the way the towed unit is
loaded.
If
the tongue weight is too light in rela-
tions to the GTW, handling and response will
change and your motor home will operate less
safely. Careful load planning and safe experi-
mentation with different loading patterns in
what
you are towing can avoid this risk and
make your driving and towing experience safer
and more enjoyable.
Your motor home is equipped with some
of
the
equipment required to tow a trailer, automobile
dolly, or other towed load.
The equipment supplied with your motor home
is called the
"hitch receiver". This component is
attached to the motor home frame. The square
tube opening
"receives" any
of
a wide variety
of
hitch head assemblies. The "hitch head" is the
On
The
Road
component that includes the hitch ball.
Hitch head assemblies are available in both
"Weight-Distributing" (load-equalizing) and
"Weight-Carrying" types. A weight-distributing
hitch uses spring bars attached to the trailer
tongue A-frame assembly to transfer some
of
the trailer tongue weight to both motor home
axles.
A weight -carrying hitch head assembly does not
use spring bars. All
of
the tongue weight
of
the
trailer bears down on the hitch assembly which
loads the motor home rear axle. For this reason,
the maximum load you can tow with a weight
carrying hitch head assembly is limited.
In addition to weight-carrying and weight-dis-
tributing, your hitch may also have a dinghy
towing rating. This rating will apply should you
tow a motor vehicle with all four wheels down.
The ratings associated with the particular hitch
receiver supplied with your motor home are
noted on the weight tag and on a label affixed to
the hitch receiver.
It
is important that the devices which attach to
the hitch receiver equipped with your motor
home are rated to equal or exceed the loads
of
your towed trailer, automobile dolly,
or
other
towed load.
Typical hitch system components are shown in
the following illustration.
Hitch Ball
Safety
Chain I
Rece~
~
C 4P
~
I
Chain Loop
.....--
__
Chain Bracket Receiver Tube
Typical Hitch System Components
Weight-Carrying Hitch
Head
Assembly
I
Weight-Distributing Hitch
---___
Head Assembly
05-3
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