Trailer Hitches; Maintenance When Trailer Towing - Mitsubishi Endeavor Owner's Manual

After you've loaded your trailer, weigh the trailer and then the
tongue, separately, to see if the weights are proper.
Keep the trailer tongue load at 10 % of the loaded trailer
weight for dead weight hitches. Tongue loads can be adjusted
by proper distribution of the load in the trailer. This can be
checked by separately weighing the loaded trailer and then the
tongue.
Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR)
The GAWRs are printed on the certification label which is riv-
eted on the door sill on the driver's side.
Refer to "Vehicle labeling" on page 9-2.

Trailer hitches

Choose a proper hitch and ball, and make sure it is installed at a
height that is compatible with the trailer.
Use a good equalizing hitch which uniformly distributes the
trailer tongue load throughout the frame.
WARNING
!
If you make any holes in the body of your vehicle for
installing a trailer hitch, be sure to seal the holes
later when you remove the hitch. If you don't seal
them, deadly carbon monoxide (CO) from your
exhaust can enter your vehicle. Refer to "Exhaust
system" on page 7-34.
NOTE
Mitsubishi recommends that sway control be used when-
ever you are towing, to improve towing stability.
For details, please consult your authorized Mitsubishi
Motors dealer.
Safety chains
A safety chain must always be used between the towing vehi-
cle and the trailer. Leave sufficient slack in the chain for turns.
The chain should cross under the trailer tongue to prevent the
tongue from dropping to the ground in case it becomes dam-
aged or separated.
For correct safety chain procedures, consult your authorized
Mitsubishi Motors dealer.
CAUTION
!
Never tow a trailer without using a safety chain
securely attached to both the trailer and the vehicle.
If the coupling unit or hitch ball experiences a prob-
lem, the trailer may separate from your vehicle.

Maintenance when trailer towing

Your vehicle will need service more often when you're towing
a trailer. Refer to "WARRANTY AND MAINTENANCE
MANUAL". Especially important in trailer operation are auto-
matic transaxle fluid, engine oil, rear axle oil, belt, cooling sys-
tem and brake system. Each of these is covered in this manual.
For details, please refer to the "Vehicle care maintenance" sec-
tion.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and bolts are tight.
Driving safety
4
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