Towing A Vehicle Or Trailer ("Towed Load Or Towed Unit"); Suggested Owners Manual Addendum For Weight Distribution Hitches - Fleetwood Expedition 2009 Service Manual

On The Road
A
WARNING
The heaviest loaded motor home with all passengers,
goods, water, driver and towed vehicle must not
exceed any of the following:
1. The gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR).
2. The gross combination weight rating (GCWR).
3. The fronVrear gross axle weight ratings (GAWRs).
4. The individual tire and wheel ratings.
Towing
a
Vehicle or Trailer
("Towed Load or Towed Unit")
v"1
NOTE
I
Some states and provinces require brakes and safety
chains when towing vehicles. Consult the proper
authorities in the states or provinces through which
you will be traveling.
When you use your motor home to tow, remem-
ber that you must stop the towed load with your
motor home's brakes. This is critical on hills and
in the mountains where you may encounter sharp
curves and possibly irregular road sutfaces.
Check your motor home Chassis Operator's/
Owner's Guide/Manual for the maximum
weight your motor home can pull and stop on
both level and steep roads.
v"1
NOTE
I
In most cases the GCWR of the chassis and the fin-
ished motor home are the same. In some cases, due
to the equipped hitch receiver, the GCWR may be
reduced. Please refer to the Federal Certification Tag
posted in your motor home for the rated GCWR.
If the Chassis Operator's/Owner's
Guide/Manual equipped with your motor home
does not provide specific information on towing
weight limits, it is strongly recommended that the
towed vehicle or trailer be equipped with a prop-
erly installed and operating supplemental brake
control system that operates in combination with
the brakes on your motor home. The supplemen-
tal brakes will NOT allow you to tow more than
the listed GCWR for your motor home. If you
cannot stop, you will crash.
05-2
You must not exceed the tire capacities or the
weight factors listed below if you expect to tow
something behind your motor home, either with
or without a dolly. The factors are:
• GCWR - Gross Combined Weight Rating
• MGTW - Maximum Gross Towed Weight
• MTW - Maximum Tongue Weight
• GAWR - Gross Axle Weight Rating
The ratings for the above factors are all
listed on the Federal Certification Tag
posted inside the motor home.
• Tire Capacity
The tire capacity is dependent upon the
inflation pressure set at the load applied.
Suggested Owners Manual
addendum for weight distribution
hitches.
A major weight distributing hitch manufacturer
provides the following information in their
installation and operation instructions:
" ... Severe bumps and badly undulating road can
damage your towing vehicle, hitch, and trailer,
and should be negotiated at a slow steady
speed."
A weight-distributing hitch that has been prop-
erly adjusted for operation on relatively level
road surfaces may, cause the weight distribution
hitch to produce enough force to bend the trailer
"A" frame, hitch head assembly, hitch receiver,
or motor home frame when operated over severe
bumps and badly undulating road surfaces.
Contact your weight distributing hitch manufac-
turer for fut1her information. Frame damage
resulting from this type of operation may void
portions of your warranty.
If you expect to tow with your motor home, there
are additional guidelines that you must follow:
• Do not use a load equalizing hitch if your
hitch head receiver rating is below 10,000
lbs. capacity. It could cause structural
damage to the motor home frame compo-
nents.