Towing A Trailer - Mercedes-Benz G-Class Owner's Manual

Towing a trailer

206
Towing a trailer
Notes on towing a trailer
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
The braking system can overheat if you leave
your foot on the brake pedal while driving.
This increases the braking distance and could
even cause the braking system to fail. There
is a risk of an accident.
Never use the brake pedal as a footrest. Do
not simultaneously depress both the brake
pedal and the accelerator pedal while driving.
G
WARNING
You could lose control of the vehicle/trailer
combination if it begins to swerve. The vehi-
cle/trailer combination could even overturn.
There is a risk of an accident.
On no account should you attempt to
straighten out the vehicle/trailer combina-
tion by increasing speed. Decrease your
speed and do not countersteer. Brake if nec-
essary.
G
WARNING
If the ball coupling has not been correctly fit-
ted and has not been secured with the bolt
supplied and the corresponding spring cotter,
the trailer can detach. There is a risk of an
accident.
Always fit and secure the ball coupling as
described. Before beginning each journey,
make sure that the fitted ball coupling is
secured with the bolt supplied and the corre-
sponding spring cotter.
You will find the applicable permissible val-
ues, which must not be exceeded, in the vehi-
cle documents. You will find the values
approved by the manufacturer on the vehicle
identification plates and those for the towing
vehicle in the "Technical data" section
( Y page 336).
Couple and uncouple the trailer carefully. If
you do not couple the trailer to the towing
vehicle correctly, the trailer could become
detached.
Make sure that the following values are not
exceeded:
the permissible trailer drawbar noseweight
R
the permissible trailer load
R
the permissible rear axle load of the towing
R
vehicle
the maximum permissible gross vehicle
R
weight of both the towing vehicle and the
trailer
When towing a trailer, your vehicle's handling
characteristics will be different in comparison
to when driving without a trailer.
The vehicle/trailer combination:
is heavier
R
is restricted in its acceleration and gradi-
R
ent-climbing capability
has an increased braking distance
R
is affected more by strong crosswinds
R
demands more sensitive steering
R
has a larger turning circle
R
This can impair the vehicle's handling char-
acteristics.
When towing a trailer, always adjust your
speed to the current road and weather con-
ditions. Do not exceed the maximum permis-
sible speed for your vehicle/trailer combina-
tion.
General notes
! Use a drawbar noseweight as close to the
maximum permissible noseweight as pos-
sible. Do not use a noseweight of less than
80 kg; otherwise, the trailer may come
loose.
Note that the payload and the rear axle load
are reduced by the actual payload.
i
When towing a trailer, set the tyre pres-
sure on the rear axle of the towing vehicle