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
Certification label inside of the trunk lid
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.
4-33
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