Weight of the Trailer Tongue; Total Weight on Your Vehicle’s Tires- Page 223

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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.

If you’re using a weight

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carrying hitch, the trailer

tongue (A) should weigh 10 percent of the total loaded
trailer weight (B). If you have a weight

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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

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Loading Information label at the rear edge of the

driver’s door, 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.