Towing Equipment - Chevrolet 2011 Impala Owner's Manual

If towing a trailer, the tongue load
must be added to the GVW because
the vehicle will be carrying that
weight, too. See Vehicle Load Limits
on page 9 12 for more information
about the vehicle's maximum load
capacity.
Using a weight-carrying hitch,
the trailer tongue (A) should weigh
10 to 15 percent of the total loaded
trailer weight (B).
After loading the trailer, weigh
the trailer and then the tongue,
separately, to see if the weights are
proper. If they are not, adjustments
might be made by moving some
items around in the trailer.
Total Weight on the Vehicle's
Tires
Be sure the vehicle's tires are
inflated to the upper limit for cold
tires. These numbers can be found
on the Certification/Tire label. See
Vehicle Load Limits on page 9 12.
Make sure not to go over the GVW
limit for the vehicle, including the
weight of the trailer tongue.
Driving and Operating

Towing Equipment

Hitches
It is important to have the correct
hitch equipment. Crosswinds, large
trucks going by and rough roads are
a few reasons why the right hitch is
needed. Here are some rules to
follow:
The rear bumper on the vehicle
is not intended for hitches. Do
not attach rental hitches or other
bumper-type hitches to it. Use
only a frame-mounted hitch that
does not attach to the bumper.
Will any holes be made in the
body of the vehicle when the
trailer hitch is installed? If there
are, then be sure to seal the
holes later when the hitch is
removed. If the holes are not
sealed, dirt, water, and deadly
carbon monoxide (CO) from
the exhaust can get into the
vehicle. See Engine Exhaust on
page 9 24 in the Index for more
information.
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