Merritt GOOSENECK LIVESTOCK TRAILER, Owner'S Manual

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WHEELS AND TIRES
8-2
Trailers Over 10,000 Pounds GVWR
NOTE: These trailers are not required to have a tire information placard on the vehicle.
Determine the empty weight of your trailer by weighing the trailer using a public scale or other means. This step
does not have to be repeated.
Locate the GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) of the trailer on your trailer's federal VIN Tag.
Subtract the empty weight of your trailer from the GVWR stated on the VIN label. That weight is the maximum
available cargo capacity of the trailer and may not be safely exceeded.
TIRE SAFETY
Everything Rides On It
The National Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has published a brochure (DOT HS 809 361) that discusses all
aspects of Tire Safety, as required by CFR 575.6. This brochure is reproduced in part below. It can be obtained and
downloaded from NHTSA, free of charge, from the following web site:
www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/TireSafety/ridesonit/tires_index.html
Studies of tire safety show that maintaining proper tire pressure, observing tire and vehicle load limits (not carrying
more weight in your vehicle than your tires or vehicle can safely handle), avoiding road hazards, and inspecting tires
for cuts, slashes, and other irregularities are the most important things you can do to avoid tire failure, such as tread
separation or blowout and flat tires. These actions, along with other care and maintenance activities, can also:
Improve vehicle handling, Help protect you and others from avoidable breakdowns and accidents, Improve fuel
economy, Increase the life of your tires.
This information presents a comprehensive overview of tire safety, including information on the following topics:
Basic tire maintenance, Uniform Tire Quality Grading System, Fundamental characteristics of tires, Tire safety tips.
Use this information to make tire safety a regular part of your vehicle maintenance routine. Recognize that the time
you spend is minimal compared with the inconvenience and safety consequences of a flat tire or other tire failure.
Safety First–Basic Tire Maintenance
Properly maintained tires improve the steering, stopping, traction, and load-carrying capability of your vehicle.
Underinflated tires and overloaded vehicles are a major cause of tire failure. Therefore, as mentioned above, to avoid
flat tires and other types of tire failure, you should maintain proper tire pressure, observe tire and vehicle load limits,
avoid road hazards, and regularly inspect your tires.
Finding Your Vehicle's Recommended Tire Pressure and Load Limits
Tire information and vehicle certification labels contain information on tires and load limits. These labels indicate
the vehicle manufacturer's information including: Recommended tire size, Recommended tire inflation pressure,
Vehicle capacity weight (VCW–the maximum occupant and cargo weight a vehicle is designed to carry), Front and
rear gross axle weight ratings (GAWR– the maximum weight the axle systems are designed to carry).Federal tag is
permanently attached to the vehicle near the front left side.
Understanding Tire Pressure and Load Limits
Tire inflation pressure is the level of air in the tire that provides it with load-carrying capacity and affects the overall
performance of the vehicle. The tire inflation pressure is a number that indicates the amount of air pressure