Trailer Towing - Suzuki LT-F400 Owner's Manual

TRAILER TOWING

You may use your LT-F400/F to tow a
light trailer, but always observe the
requirements and recommendation in
this section.
CAUTION
Towing a trailer during the break-
in period can damage your ATV.
Trailer towing adds stress to the
engine, drive train, and brakes.
Never tow a trailer during the first
10 hours that you ride your ATV.
TRAILER TOWING EQUIPMENT
Use a trailer and trailer towing equip-
ment that are compatible. Use only a
No.1 trailer hitch ball (48 mm in diam-
eter). Never use a trailer hitch bracket
that provides a trailer coupler location
lower than the center of the rear
wheels. We strongly advise you to
use a genuine Suzuki trailer or an
equivalent ATV trailer.
VEHICLE/TRAILER LOADING
To load your vehicle and trailer prop-
erly, you must know how to measure
Gross Trailer Weight and Trailer
Tongue Weight.
Gross Trailer Weight is the weight of
the trailer plus cargo in it. You can
measure Gross Trailer Weight by put-
ting each wheel of the fully loaded
trailer on a bathroom scale. Add the
weights shown on the scales.
Tongue Weight is the downward force
exerted on the hitch by the trailer cou-
pler when the trailer is fully loaded
and the coupler is at its normal towing
height. This weight can be measured
using a bathroom scale.
The weight of your loaded trailer
(Gross Trailer Weight) should never
exceed 180 kg (400 lbs) when towing
on uneven surfaces. When towing at
low speed along a straight level path,
you may tow up to the vehicle towing
limit of 450 kg (992 lbs). Spread the
cargo in your trailer so that the
Tongue Weight is about 10% of the
Gross Trailer Weight. You can do this
by placing about 60% of the total
cargo weight in the front half of the
trailer. Make sure the cargo weight is
even between the right and left sides
of the trailer.
 WARNING
Overloading your trailer can be
hazardous.
An overloaded trailer can affect
the handling of the ATV.
Never overload your trailer.
5-32