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4. Coupling To Tow Vehicle
Follow all of the safety precautions and instructions in
this manual to ensure safety of persons, cargo, and
satisfactory life of the trailer.
4.1 Tow Vehicle And Hitch
If the vehicle and hitch are not properly selected and
matched to the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)
of your trailer, you can cause an accident that could
lead to death or serious injury. If you already have a
tow vehicle, know your vehicle tow rating and make
certain the trailer's rated capacity is less than or equal
to the tow vehicle's rated towing capacity.
^
Use of a tow vehicle with a towing capacity
less than the load rating of the trailer can
result in loss of control, and may lead to
death or serious injury.
Use of a hitch with a load rating less than
the load rating of the trailer can result in
loss of control and may lead to death or
serious injury.
Verify hitch and tow vehicle are rated for
the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating of your
trailer.
4.1.1 Trailer Information
The Certifi cation/Vehicle Identifi cation Number (VIN)
tag is located on the front left side of the trailer.
The trailer Certifi cation/VIN tag contains the following
critical safety information for the use of your trailer:
MANUFACTURER: Name of trailer manufacturer.
DATE OF MANUFACTURE: Month and year the
trailer was manufactured.
GVWR: The Gross Vehicle Weight Rating is the
maximum allowable gross weight of the trailer and its
contents. The gross weight of the trailer includes the
weight of the trailer and all of the items within it (such
as cargo and other supplies).
GAWR: The Gross Axle Weight Rating is the
maximum gross weight that an axle can support. It is
Coupling To Tow Vehicle
DANGER
the lowest of axle, wheel, or tire rating. Sometimes
the tire or wheel rating is lower than the axle
manufacturers rating, and will then determine GAWR.
The sum total of the GAWR for all trailer axles may
be less than the GVWR for the trailer, because some
of the trailer load is carried by the tow vehicle, rather
than by the trailer axle(s). The total weight of the
cargo and trailer must not exceed the GVWR, and the
load on an axle must not exceed its GAWR.
TIRE SIZE: The tire size and load range for your
trailer.
RIM SIZE: The rim size and load range for your trailer.
PSI: The tire air pressure (kPa / PSI) measured with
tires cold.
VIN: The Vehicle Identifi cation Number.
VEHICLE TYPE: Model or style of trailer.
CERTIFICATION STATEMENT: "This trailer meets all
the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards in effect
on the date of manufacture shown above".
4.1.2 Tow Vehicle
When equipping a new vehicle or an older vehicle to
tow a trailer, ask the vehicle dealer for advice on how
to outfi t the tow vehicle.
Vehicle manufacturers will provide you with the
maximum towing capacities of their various models,
as well as the GCWR. No amount of reinforcement
will give a 100 horsepower, 2,500 pound truck the
towing capacity that a 300 horsepower, 5,000 pound
truck has.
4.2 Coupling And Uncoupling The Trailer
A secure coupling (or fastening) of the trailer to
the tow vehicle is essential. A loss of coupling may
result in death or serious injury. Therefore, you must
understand and follow all of the instructions for
coupling.
The following parts are involved in making a secure
coupling between the trailer and tow vehicle:
Coupling: The trailer connecting mechanism by
which the connection is actually made to the trailer
hitch. This does not include any structural member,
extension of the trailer frame, or brake controller.
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