Installation of tow equipment must be per-
formed by a competent installer. Make sure
the installation follow the tow equipment
manufacturer's instructions.
The way your motor home handles and responds
will be affected by the way the towed unit is
loaded. If the tongue weight is too light in rela-
tions to the GTW, handling and response will
change and your motor home will operate less
safely. Careful load planning and safe experi-
mentation with different loading patterns in
what you are towing can avoid this risk and
make your driving and towing experience safer
and more enjoyable.
Your motor home is equipped with some of the
equipment required to tow a trailer, automobile
dolly, or other towed load.
The equipment supplied with your motor home
is called the "hitch receiver". This component is
attached to the motor home frame. The square
tube opening "receives" any of a wide variety of
hitch head assemblies. The "hitch head" is the
component that includes the hitch ball.
Hitch head assemblies are available in both
"Weight-Distributing" (load-equalizing) and
"Weight-Carrying" types. A weight-distributing
hitch uses spring bars attached to the trailer
tongue A-frame assembly to transfer some of
the trailer tongue weight to both motor home
axles.
A weight-carrying hitch head assembly does not
use spring bars. All of the tongue weight of the
trailer bears down on the hitch assembly which
loads the motor home rear axle. For this reason,
the maximum load you can tow with a weight
carrying hitch head assembly is limited.
In addition to weight-carrying and weight-dis-
tributing, your hitch may also have a dinghy
towing rating. This rating will apply should you
tow a motor vehicle with all four wheels down.
The ratings associated with the particular hitch
receiver supplied with your motor home are
noted on the weight tag and on a label affixed to
the hitch receiver.
It is important that the devices which attach to
the hitch receiver equipped with your motor
home are rated to equal or exceed the loads of
your towed trailer, automobile dolly, or other
towed load.
Typical hitch system components are shown in
the following illustration.
Typical Hitch System Components
Receiver
Chain Loop
Chain Bracket
Receiver Tube
Safety Chain
Hitch Ball
Weight-Carrying Hitch
Head Assembly
Weight-Distributing Hitch
Head Assembly
05-3
On The Road
WARNING
Do not exceed the rated load of the motor home, or
the rated load of any axle. Exceeding the GVWR,
GAWR, GTW or GCWR of your motor home can
cause handling problems, a vehicle crash, damage
your motor home and void your warranties.
!
Summary of Contents for 2009 AMERICAN ALLEGIANCE
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