Towing A Trailer - Honda Civic Coupe 2004 Owner's Manual

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Towing a Trailer

To safely tow a trailer, you should
observe the load limits, use the
proper equipment, and follow the
guidelines in this section.
Exceeding any load limit or
improperly loading your vehicle
and trailer can cause a crash in
which you can be seriously hurt
or killed.
Check the loading of your
vehicle and trailer carefully
before starting to drive.
194
Driving
Load Limits
Total Trailer Weight:
weight of the trailer and
everything loaded in it must not
exceed 1,000 lbs (450 kg). Towing
a load that is too heavy can
seriously affect your vehicle's
handling and performance. It can
also damage the engine and
drivetrain.
The total Tongue Load:
the tongue of a fully-loaded trailer
puts on the hitch should be
approximately 10 percent of the
trailer weight. Too little tongue
load can make the trailer unstable
and cause it to sway. Too much
tongue load reduces front-tire
traction and steering control.
The weight that