Fleetwood Expedition 2009 Service Manual page 25

• Do not exceed Maximum Tongue Weight as
listed on the Federal Certification Tag.
Heavier tongue weights can change your
vehicle's handling and response, can cause
a vehicle to crash, and will restrict your cov-
erage under the Ownercare Warranty.
• Do not tow anything weighing more tlum
the GTW listed on the Federal Certification
Tag. Heavier towed loads can exceed your
chassis' ability to pull and stop the load and
cause a vehicle crash, damage the motor
home structure or drive train, and restrict
your coverage under the Fleetwood or chas-
sis
manufacturer's wan'Qllty. Changing the
trailer hitch will not increase the tow capac-
ity of the illataI' home.
• Consult the Chassis Operator'sIOwner's
GuideiManua4 and U.S. state and Canadian
pl'ovinciallaws for towing weight limits and
for guidelines for installing supplemental
braking systems that operate with your motor
home's brakes.
• Towing equipment to consider includes a
weight distribution system, a sway control
system, a brake controller, and a supple-
mentol brake control system. The weight of
youI' towed load in comparison to the tow-
ing capacity of your motor home should be
evaluated during this consultation.
Installation of tow equipment must be per-
formed by a competent installer. Make sure
the illStallation follow the tow equipment
manufacturer's instmctions.
A.
WARNING
Do not exceed the rated load of the motor home, or
the rated load of any axle. Exceeding the GVWR,
GAWR, GTW or GCWR of your motor home can
cause handling problems, a vehicle crash, damage
your motor home and void your warranties.
On The Road
The way your motor home handles and responds
will be affected by the way the towed unit is
loaded. If the tongue weight is too light in rela-
tions to the GTW, handling and response will
change and your motor home will operate less
safely. Careful load planning and safe experi-
mentation with different loading pattems in
what you are towing can avoid this risk and
make your driving and towing experience safer
and more enjoyable.
Your motor home is equipped with some of the
equipment required to tow a trailer, automobile
dolly, or other towed load.
The equipment supplied with your motor home
is called the "hitch receiver". This component is
attached to the motor home frame. The square
tube opening "receives" any of a wide variety of
hitch head assemblies. The "hitch head" is the
component that includes the hitch ball.
Hitch head assemblies are available in both
"Weight-Distributing" (load-equalizing) and
"Weight -Carrying" types. A weight-distributing
hitch uses spring bars attached to the trailer
tongue A-frame assembly to transfer some of
the trailer tongue weight to both motor home
axles.
A weight-carrying hitch head assembly does not
use spring bars. All of the tongue weight of the
trailer bears down on the hitch assembly which
loads the motor home rear axle. For this reason,
the maximum load you can tow with a weight
canying hitch head assembly is limited.
In addition to weight-carrying and weight-dis-
tributing, your hitch may also have a dinghy
towing rating. This rating will apply should you
tow a motor vehicle with all four wheels down.
05-3