Kia Niro Owner's Manual page 283

Driving your vehicle
Reference weight and distance when towing a trailer
Item
With brake system
Maximum trailer weight
Without brake system
Maximum permissible static vertical load on the cou -
pling device
Recommended distance from rear wheel centre to
coupling point
Weight of the trailer
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
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
Smartstream G1.6 GDi HEV
DCT
1,300 kg (2,866 lbs.)
600 kg (1,323 lbs.)
100 kg (220 lbs.)
880 mm (34.6 inch)
they aren't, you may be able to correct
them simply by moving some items
around in the trailer.
WARNING
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.
NOTICE
With increasing altitude the engine per -
formance decreases. From sea level for
every 1,000 m, 10% of vehicle/trailer
weight (trailer weighter + gross vehicle
weight) must be deducted.
If the battery SOC is very low, the vehicle
may not be able to launch. Please
charge the battery before you drive.
Trailer towing
Smartstream G1.6 GDi PHEV
DCT
6 55
6