Towing A Trailer - Honda 1996 Prelude Owner's Manual

The combined weight of the car,
all passengers and their luggage,
and tongue load must not exceed
the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating.
The GVWR is printed on the
Certification label attached to the
driver's doorjamb (see page 206).
The combined weight of the car,
all passengers and their luggage,
and tongue load also must not
exceed the Gross Axle Weight
Rating. The GAWR is also shown
on the Certification label. It tells
you the maximum load for the
front and rear axles. It is possible
that your towing package does not
exceed the GVWR but does
exceed the GAWR. Improper
trailer loading, and/or too much
luggage in the trunk can overload
the rear axle. Redistribute the load
and check the axle weights again.
Improperly loading your car and
trailer can seriously affect its
steering and braking
performance, causing a crash
in which you can be seriously
injured.
Check the loading of your car
and trailer carefully before
starting to drive.
The best way to confirm that your
total towing package is within these
specifications is to get it weighed.
Load the car and trailer as you
normally would while towing, and
take them to a public scale. Have
them check the total weight and the
weight at each axle, then compare
the weights to the specifications.

Towing a Trailer

Trailer Hitches
Your Honda dealer, or the Honda
Customer Relations Zone Office, can
give you advice on the proper hitch
for your car. Never use a hitch that
mounts only to the rear bumper. The
bumper is not designed to handle
that type of load. The hitch should
bolt to the underbody of the car and
distribute the load over a wide area.
Always have a trailer hitch installed
by a qualified technician.
NOTICE
A trailer hitch that is not adequate for
the size of the trailer, or a hitch that is
improperly installed, can cause damage
to the underside of your car.
Driving