Weight Of The Trailer Tongue - Buick 2006 LaCrosse Owner's Manual

Weight of the Trailer Tongue

The tongue load (A) of any trailer is an important weight
to measure because it affects the total or gross weight
of the vehicle. The Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW)
includes the curb weight of the vehicle, any cargo in
it, and the people who will be riding in the vehicle.
If there are a lot of options, equipment, passengers
or cargo in the vehicle, it will reduce the tongue weight
the vehicle can carry, which will also reduce the
trailer weight the vehicle can tow. And if you tow a
trailer, you must add the tongue load to the GVW
because the vehicle will be carrying that weight, too.
See Loading Your Vehicle on page 4-31 for more
information about the vehicle's maximum load capacity.
4-40
When using a weight-carrying hitch, the trailer tongue (A)
should weigh 10 percent to 15 percent of the total
loaded trailer weight (B).
After the trailer is loaded, weigh the trailer and the
tongue, separately, to see if the weights are proper.
The correct weight could be achieved simply by moving
some items around in the trailer.