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Tongue Load
The weight that the tongue of a fully
loaded trailer puts on the hitch
should be approximately 10% of the
total trailer weight.
Too much tongue load reduces front-
tire traction and steering control. Too
little tongue load can make the trailer
unstable and cause it to sway.
To achieve a proper tongue load,
start by loading 60% of the load
toward the front of the trailer and 40%
toward the rear, then re-adjust the
load as needed.
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
(GVWR) － The maximum allowable
weight of the vehicle, all occupants,
all accessories, all cargo, and the
tongue load is 5,534 lbs (2,510 kg).
Gross Axle Weight Ratings
(GAWR) － The maximum allowable
weight of the vehicle, all occupants,
all accessories, all cargo, and the
tongue load must not exceed 2,921
lbs (1,325 kg) on the front axle, and
2,679 lbs (1,215 kg) on the rear axle.
Gross Combined Weight Rating
(GCWR) － The maximum allowable
weight of the fully loaded vehicle and
trailer is 6,593 lbs (2990 kg).
2011 ZDX
Towing a Trailer
Checking Loads
The best way to confirm that all loads
are within limits is to check them at a
public scale. For public scales in your
area, check your local phone book,
or contact your trailer dealer or
rental agency for assistance.
If you cannot get to a public scale,
you can estimate the total trailer
weight by adding the weight of your
trailer (as quoted by the
manufacturer) with everything in or
on the trailer.
If you normally pull the same load
each time you tow a trailer, you can
use a suitable scale or a special
tongue load gauge to check the
tongue load the first time you set up
a towing combination (a fully loaded
vehicle and trailer), then recheck the
tongue load whenever the conditions
change.
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