On
The
Road
Towing a Vehicle
or
Trailer
("Towed
Load
or
Towed Unit")
v'1
NOTE I
Some states
and
provinces require brakes and safety
chains when towing vehicles. Consult the proper
authorities
in
the states
or
provinces through which
you will be traveling.
When you use your motor home
to
tow, remember
that you must stop the towed load with your motor
home's brakes. This
is
critical on hills and in the
mountains where you may encounter shmp
cW'ves
and possibly
iITegulm'
road surfaces. Check
yoW'
motor
home
Chassis
Operator's/Owner's
Guide/Mamml for the maximum weight your
motor home can pull and stop on both level and
steep roads.
If
the Chassis Operator's/Owuer's
Guide/MamuII equipped with your motor home
does not provide specific information on towing
weight limits, it
is
strongly recommended that the
towed vehicle
or
trailer
be
equipped with a properly
installed and operating supplemental brake control
system that operates in combination with the brakes
on your motor home. The supplemental brakes will
NOT
allow you
to
tow
more than the listed
GCWR for your motor home.
[fyou
cannot stop,
you will crash.
You must not exceed the tire capacities
or
the
weight factors listed below
if
you expect to tow
something behind
yoW'
motor home, either with
or
without a dolly.
The
factors are:
o
GCWR
- Gross Combined Weight
Rating
o
GTW
- Gross Towed Weight
o
MTW
-
Maximum
Tongue Weight
o
GAWR
- Gross
Axle
Weight
Rating
The
ratings for the above factors are all
listed on the Cargo Carrying Capacity label
posted inside the motor home.
o Tire Capacity
The
tire capacity
is
dependent upon the
inflation pressure set at the load applied.
If
you expect
to
tow with
yoW'
motor home, there
are additional guidelines that you must follow:
05-2
o
Do
not
use a load eqlmlizing hitch
if
your
hitch head receiver is below 10,000 lbs.
capacity.
It
could cause structural damage
to the motor
home
frame
components.
o Do
not
exceed Maximum Tongue Weight
as listed
on
the carrying capacity label.
Heavier tongue weights can change
your
vehicle's haadling
aad
response, can cause
a vehicle to crash,
and
will restrict
your
coverage under the Ownercare Warranty.
o Consult with
your
dealer
or
towing equip-
ment/trailer supplier to determine the
correct type
of
hitch
head
assembly
and
equipment
you
should
use
for
towing
and
leveling the load
you
intend to pull.
o Do
not
tow anything weighing more than the
GTW
listed
on
the Cargo Carrying Capacity
label. Heavier towed loads can exceed your
chassis' ability to pull
and
stop the load
and
cause a vehicle crash, damage the motor
home
struchtre
or
drive train,
and
restrict
your coverage under the Fleetwood
or
chas-
sis
manufacwer's
warranty. Chtmging the
trailer hitch will
not
increase the tow capac-
ity
of
the motor home.
o Consult the Chassis Operafor's/Owuer's
Guitle/Manual,
and
U.s. state
and
Canadian provincial laws
for
towing weight
limits
and
for
guidelines
for
installing sup-
plemental braking systems that operate with
your
motor home's brakes.
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
yoW'
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-
tion to the GTW, handling and response will
change and
yoW'
motor home wiIl operate less
safely. Careful load planning and safe experi-
mentation with different loading patterns in
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