Towingavehicle Or Trailer ("Towed Load Or Towed Unit") - Fleetwood Bounder 2011 Owner's Manual

On The Road
A
WARNING
The heaviest loaded motor home with all passengers,
goods, water,
driver
and towed vehicle must not
exceed any of the following:
1. The gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR).
2. The gross combination weight rating (GCWR).
3. The front/rear gross axle weight ratings (GAWRs).
4. The individual tire and wheel ratings.
Towing
a
Vehicle or Trailer
("Towed Load or Towed Unit")
.II
NOTE
I
Some states and provinces require brakes and safety
chains when towing vehicles. Consult the proper
authorities in the states or provinces through which
you will be traveling.
When you use your motor home to tow, remember
that you must stop the towed load with your motor
home's brakes. This is critical on hills and in the
monntains where you may encounter sharp curves
and possibly irregular road smiaces. Check your
motor home Chassis Operator's/Owner's
Guide/Manual for the maximum weight your
motor home can pull and stop on both level and
steep roads.
./1
NOTE
1
In most cases the GCWR of the chassis and the fin-
ished motor home are the same. In some cases, due
to the equipped hitch receiver, the GCWR may be
reduced. Please refer to the Federal Certification Tag
posted in your motor home for the rated GCWR.
If the Chassis Operator's/Owner's Guide/Manual
equipped with your motor home does not provide
specific information on towing weight limits, it is
strongly recommended that the towed vehicle or
trailer be equipped with a properly installed and
operating supplemental brake control system that
operates in combination with the brakes on your
motor home. The supplemental brakes will NOT
allow you to tow more than the listed GCWR for
your motor home. If you cannot stop, you will
crash.
05-2
You must not exceed the tire capacities or the
weight factors listed below if you expect to tow
something behind your motor home, either with or
without a dolly. The factors are:
o
GCWR - Gross Combined Weight Rating
o
MGTW - Maximum Gross Towed Weight
o
MTW - Maximum Tongue Weight
o
GAWR - Gross Axle Weight Rating
The ratings for the above factors are all listed
on the Federal Certification Tag posted inside
the motor home.
o
Tire Capacity
The tire capacity is dependent upon the infla-
tion pressure set at the load applied.
If you expect to tow with your motor home, there
are additional guidelines that you must follow:
• Do not use a load equalizing hitch if your
hitch head receiver rating is below 10,000
lbs. capacity. It could cause structural
damage to the motor home frame
components.
o
Do not exceed Maximum Tongue Weight
as listed on the Federal Certification Tag
or
011
the tag
011
the trailer hitch. Heavier
tOllgue weights call challge your vehicle's
handling and response, cal! cause a vehicle
to crash, and will restrict your coverage
under the Ownercare Warranty.
o
Do /lot tow a/lything weighillg more than the
GTW listed on the Federal Cel1ificatioll Tag.
Heavier towed loads call exceed your chas-
sis' ability to pull alld stop the load and
cause a vehicle crash, damage the motor
home structure or drive traill, and restrict
your coverage under the Fleetwood or chas-
sis manufacturer's wa17'aJlty. Changing the
trailer hitch will not increase the tow capac-
ity of the motor home.
o
Consult the Chassis Operator's/Owner's
Guide/Manual, and U.S. state and
Canadian provincial laws for towing weight
limits and for guidelines for installing sup-
plemental braking systems that operate with
your motor home's brakes.