Weight
of
the Trailer Tongue
The tongue load
(A)
of
any trailer is
an important weight to measure
because it affects the total capacity
weight of your vehicle. The capacity
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
will
tow a
trailer, you must subtract the tongue
load
from
your vehicle’s capacity
weight because your vehicle
will
be
carrying
that -weight, too. See the
Index
under
Loading
Your
Vehicle
for
more information about your vehicle’s
maximum
load capacity.
The trailer tongue
(A)
should weigh
10%
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 limit for cold tires.
You
will
find
these numbers
on
the Certification
label at the rear edge of the driver’s
door or on the inside
of
the trunk lid.
See the
Index
under
Tire L0adin.g.
Then be sure you don’t go over the
GVW
limit for your vehicle.
Hitches
It’s important to have the correct hitch
equipment. Crosswinds, large trucks
going by, and rough roads are a few
reasons why you’ll need the right hitch.
Here are some rules to follow:
Will you have to
make
any holes in
the body of your vehicle when
you
install a trailer hitch? If
you
do, then
be sure to seal the holes later when
you remove the hitch.
If
you don’t
seal them, deadly carbon monoxide
(CO)
from
your exhaust can get into
your vehicle. (See the
Index
under
Carbon
Monoxide
in
Exhaust.
Dirt
and water can, too.
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