Driving your vehicle
505
Trailer towing
Weight of the trailer
A: Tongue Load
B: Total Trailer Weight
What is the maximum safe weight of a
trailer? It should never weigh more than
the maximum trailer weight with trailer
brakes. But even that can be too heavy.
It depends on how you plan to use your
trailer. For example, speed, altitude, road
grades, outside temperature and how
often your vehicle is used to pull a trailer
are all important. The ideal trailer weight
can also depend on any special equip
-
ment that you have on your vehicle.
Weight of the trailer tongue
A: Gross Axle Weight
B: Gross Vehicle Weight
The tongue load of any trailer is an
important weight to measure because it
affects the total gross vehicle weight
(GVW) of your vehicle. This weight
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 also be carrying that
weight.
The trailer tongue should weigh a maxi
-
mum of 10 % of the total loaded trailer
weight, within the limits of the maximum
trailer tongue load permissible.
After you've loaded your trailer, weigh
the trailer and then the tongue, sepa
-
rately, to see if the weights are proper. If
they aren't, you may be able to correct
them simply by moving some items
around in the trailer.
Item Smartstream G3.5 GDi
Maximumtrailer weight
With brake system 1,588 kg (3,500 lbs.)
Without brake system 454 kg (1,001 lbs.)
Maximum tongue weight 159 kg (250 lbs.)
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