Towing Equipment 3; Caravan/Trailer Towing - Opel Combo Owner's Manual

126 Driving and operation
Towing equipment
3
Only use towing equipment that has been
approved for your vehicle. Entrust
retrofitting of towing equipment to a
workshop. It may be necessary to make
changes that affect the cooling system,
heat shields or other equipment.
Installation dimensions of towing
equipment 3 197.
Towing equipment with fixed coupling
ball bar 3
In the case of trailers/caravans with brake,
attach break-away stopping cable to eye
to right of coupling ball bar.

Caravan/trailer towing

1)
Caravan and trailer loads
The permissible caravan/trailer loads are
vehicle and engine-dependent maximum
values which must not be exceeded. The
actual caravan/trailer load is the difference
between the actual gross weight of the
caravan/trailer and the actual coupling
socket load with the caravan/trailer
coupled.
The permissible caravan/trailer loads are
specified in the vehicle documents. In
general, they are valid for gradients up to
max. 12 %.
1)
Observe national regulations.
The permitted caravan/trailer load applies
up to the specified incline and up to an
altitude of 1000 metres above sea level.
Since engine power decreases as altitude
increases because of the air becoming
thinner, therefore reducing climbing ability,
the permitted towing weight also
decreases by 10 % for every 1000 metres
of additional altitude. The towing weight
does not have to be reduced when driving
on roads with slight inclines (less than 8 %,
e. g. motorways).
The permissible gross train weight must not
be exceeded. This weight is specified on
the identification plate 3 182.
Coupling socket load
The coupling socket load is the load
exerted by the trailer/caravan on the
coupling ball. It can be varied by changing
the weight distribution when loading the
trailer/caravan.
The maximum permissible coupling socket
load (50 kg) is specified on the towing
equipment identification plate and in the
vehicle documents. Always aim for the
maximum load, especially in the case of
heavy caravans/trailers. The coupling
socket load should never fall below 25 kg.
When measuring the coupling socket load,
make sure that the drawbar of the loaded
trailer/caravan is at the same height as it
will be when the trailer/caravan is coupled
with the towing vehicle loaded. Particularly
important for trailers/caravans with
tandem axle.
Rear axle load during towing
The permissible axle loads must not be
exceeded.