Suzuki 2010 Grand Vitara User Manual

Page 241

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6-4

VEHICLE LOADING AND TOWING

79K21-03E

Tongue Weight

60A380

Tongue Weight is the downward force
exerted 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.

NOTE:
You can usually get tongue weight to be
about 10% of gross trailer weight by plac-
ing about 60% of the total cargo weight in
the front half of the trailer. You should mea-
sure gross trailer weight and tongue weight
before towing, however, to make sure that
your load is properly distributed.

Gross Vehicle Weight

60A379

Gross Vehicle Weight is the weight of the
fully loaded vehicle (including all the occu-
pants, accessories and cargo plus the
trailer tongue weight). The gross vehicle
weight must never exceed the Gross Vehi-
cle Weight Rating (GVWR) listed on the
Safety Certification Label.

Gross Axle Weight

60A382

Gross Axle Weight (Front and Rear) is the
weight supported by an individual axle with
the vehicle fully loaded and the trailer con-
nected. Gross axle weight for the front and
rear axles must never exceed the Gross
Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) listed on the
Safety Certification Label.

WARNING

Improper distribution of cargo in your
trailer may result in poor vehicle han-
dling and swaying of the trailer.
Always make sure that trailer tongue
weight is about 10% of gross trailer
weight. Failure to observe this
requirement may result in an acci-
dent.

Trailer Towing: 5, 11, 13

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