Towing a Trailer
Your Honda is designed primarily to
carry passengers and their cargo.
You can use it to tow a trailer if you
carefully observe some general rules.
The total weight of the trailer and
everything loaded in it must not
exceed 1,000 lbs (450 kg).
The "tongue load" should never
exceed 100 lbs (45 kg). This is the
amount of weight the trailer puts
on the hitch when it is fully-loaded.
As a rule of thumb, the tongue
load should be 10 percent of the
total trailer package.
For example, if the trailer and its
load weigh 500 lbs (225 kg), the
tongue load should be 50 lbs (22.5
kg). Adjust the trailer's cargo to
change the tongue load. Start by
putting approximately 60 percent
of the cargo toward the front and
40 percent toward the rear. Never
load the trailer so the back is
heavier than the front. This takes
weight off your car's rear axle and
reduces traction.
The combined weight of the car,
all passengers and their luggage,
and tongue load must not exceed
the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating.
The GVWR is printed on the
Certification label attached to the
driver's doorjamb (see page
240
).
The combined weight of the car,
all passengers and their luggage,
and tongue load also must not
exceed the Gross Axle Weight
Rating. The GAWR is also shown
on the Certification label. It tells
you the maximum load for the
front and rear axles. It is possible
that your towing package does not
exceed the GVWR but does
exceed the GAWR. Improper
trailer loading, and/or too much
luggage in the trunk can overload
the rear axle. Redistribute the load
and check the axle weights again.
Driving
