Towing A Vehicle Or Trailer - Fleetwood American Eagle User Manual

On The Road
it..
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")
"' I
NOTE
1
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, remem-
ber that you must stop the towed load with your
motor home's brakes. This is critical on hills
and in the mountains where you may encounter
sharp curves and possibly itTegular road sUlfaces.
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.
"' I
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 hitch receiver equipped, the GCWR may be
reduced. Please refer to the Carrying Capacity 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 combina-
tion 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:
• GCWR - Gross Combined Weight Rating
• GTW - Gross Towed Weight
• MTW - Maximum Tongue Weight
• GAWR - Gross Axle Weight Rating
The ratings for the above factors are all
listed on the Cargo Carrying Capacity label
posted inside the motor home.
• Tire Capacity
The tire capacity is dependent upon the
inflation 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 exceed Maximum Tongue Weight
as listed on the carrying capacity label.
Heavier tongue weights can change your
vehicle's handling and respOllSe, can cause
a vehicle to crash, and will restrict your
coverage under the Ownercare Warranty.
• Do IIOt tow anythillg weighillg more than
the GTW listed on the Cargo Canying
Capacity label. Heavier towed loads can
exceed your chassis' ability to pull aml stop
the load alld cause a vehicle crash, damage
the motor home structure or drive traill, and
restrict your coverage ullder the Fleetwood
or chassis manufacturer's warranty.
Changing the trailer hitch will not increase
the tow capacity of the motor home.
• COIISUlt the Chassis Operator's/Owner's
Guide/Manua~ a1lll
U.S.
state and
Canadian provincial laws for towing weight
limits and for guidelines for installing sup-
plemelltal braking systems that operate with
your motor home's brakes.
• Towing equipment to consider includes a
weight distributillg system, a sway cOlltrol
system, a brake controller, and a supple-
mental brake control system. The weight of
your towed load in comparison to the tow-
ing capacity of your motor home should be
evaluated durillg this cOllSultatioll.