Kia SORENTO HEV 2023 Manual page 501

Driving your vehicle
Weight of the trailer
OUM076210L
A: Tongue Load
B: Total Trailer Weight
What is the maximum safe weight of a
trailer? It should never weigh more than
the maximum trailer weight with trailer
brakes. But even that can be too heavy.
It depends on how you plan to use your
trailer. For example, speed, altitude, road
grades, outside temperature and how
often your vehicle is used to pull a trailer
are all important. The ideal trailer weight
can also depend on any special equip-
ment that you have on your vehicle.
Weight of the trailer tongue
OUM076211L
A: Gross Axle Weight
B: Gross Vehicle Weight
The tongue load of any trailer is an
important weight to measure because it
affects the total gross vehicle weight
(GVW) of your vehicle. This weight
includes the kerb weight of the vehicle,
any cargo you may carry in it, and the
people who will be riding in the vehicle.
And if you tow a trailer, you must add
the tongue load to the GVW because
your vehicle will also be carrying that
weight.
The trailer tongue should weigh a maxi-
mum of 10% of the total loaded trailer
weight, within the limits of the maximum
trailer tongue load permissible.
After you've loaded your trailer, weigh
the trailer and then the tongue, sepa-
rately, to see if the weights are proper. If
they aren't, you may be able to correct
them simply by moving some items
around in the trailer.
WARNING
Trailer
僅 Never load a trailer with more weight
in the rear than in the front. The front
should be loaded with approximately
60% of the total trailer load; the rear
should be loaded with approximately
40% of the total trailer load.
僅 Never exceed the maximum weight
limits of the trailer or trailer towing
equipment. Improper loading can
result in damage to your vehicle and/
or personal injury. Check weights and
loading at a commercial scale or high-
way patrol office equipped with
scales.
僅 An improperly loaded trailer can
cause loss of vehicle control.
Trailer towing
6
6 201