Towing A Trailer - Honda 1997 Prelude Owner's Manual

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.
Driving
The total weight of the trailer and
everything loaded in it must not
exceed 1,000 Ibs (450 kg).
The "tongue load" should never
exceed 110 Ibs (50 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
Ibs (225 kg), the tongue load
should be 50 Ibs (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 224).
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.