Total Weight on Your Vehicle s Tires; Hitches; Total Weight on Your Vehicle’s Tires- Page 204

4-35

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
Tire

-

Loading Information label (found inside 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.

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:

D

The rear bumper on your vehicle is not intended 
for hitches. Do not attach rental hitches or other
bumper

-

type hitches to it. Use only a frame

-

mounted

hitch that does not attach to the bumper.

D

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 “Carbon Monoxide” in the Index). 
Dirt and water can, too.