VEHICLE LOADING AND TOWING
Tires
When towing a trailer, it is very impor-
tant for your vehicle and trailer to
have properly inflated tires. Your vehi-
cle's tires should be inflated to the
laden pressures listed on your vehicles
Tire Inflation Pressure label. Inflate
trailer tires according to the specifica-
tions provided by the trailer manu-
facturer.
Mirrors
Check to see if your vehicle's mirrors
meet federal, state, and local require-
ments for mirrors used on towing vehi-
cles. If they do not, you must install
required mirrors before you tow.
Vehicle/Trailer Weight Limits
Before towing, you must make sure that
gross trailer weight, gross combined
weight, trailer tongue weight, gross vehi-
cle weight, and gross axle weight (front
and rear) are within specified limits as
described below. You can measure vehi-
cle and trailer weights using a vehicle
scale and can measure tongue weight
using a bathroom scale.
Gross Trailer Weight is the weight of the
trailer plus all cargo in it (measured with
the trailer disconnected from the towing
vehicle). Gross trailer weight must never
exceed:
2-Door Model - 1,000 pounds (450 kg)
4-Door Model - 1,500 pounds (680 kg)
If you have a 4-door model and intend to
tow a trailer having a gross trailer weight
greater than 1,000 pounds (450 kg), the
trailer must be equipped with trailer
brakes.
Gross Combined Weight is the weight of
the fully loaded vehicle (including driver,
passengers, and cargo) plus the weight
of the fully loaded trailer. Gross com-
bined weight must never exceed:
2-Door Model - 4,200 pounds
(1,905 kg)
4-Door Model - 4,600 pounds
(2,087 kg)
Tongue Weight is the downward force ex-
erted on the hitch by the trailer coupler,
with the trailer fully loaded and the
coupler at its normal towing height.
Cargo should be distributed so that
tongue weight is approximately 10% of
gross trailer weight.
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