Craftsman 123.24201 - Manual (Page 36)

SECTION?: 30ADÎ\irrs3F.
TRAILER
LOADING THE CARGO
improper trailer loading causes many accidents and deaths To safely load a trailer,
you must consider:
■ Overall load weight;
• Load weight distr ibution;
• Proper tongue weight; and
• Securing the load properly
To determine that you have loaded the trailer within ils rating, you must consider
the distribution of weight, as well as the total weiglit of tiie trailer and its contents
The trailer axles carry most of the total weight of'tlie trailer' and its contents (Gross
Vehicle Weight, or “GVW”). The remainder oflhe total weight is carried by the tow
vehicle hitcii, For safe towing, it is essentia! that the trailer tongue and tow vehicle
hitch carry the propes amouiu of the loaded trailer weight, otheiwtse the trailer can
suddenly sway wildly at towing speed Read the ‘'Tongue Weight” section below
The load distribution must be such that no componetn pait of the trailer is loaded
beyond its rating. This means that you must consider the rating of the tires, wheels
and axles. For tandem and triple axle trailers, you must make sure that the front-to-
rear load distribution does not result in overloading any axle
Towing stability also depends on keeping the center of gravity as low as possible.
Load heavy items on the floor and over the axles. When loading additional items, be
sure to maintain even side-to-side weight dish ibulion and proper tongue weight The
total weight of the trailer and its contents must never exceed the total weight rating of
the trailer (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating, or “GVWR,”) ”
A WARNING A
An Gverbaded trailer can result in loss of control of the Iraiter,
leading to death or serious injurj'
Do not load a trailer so that the weight on any tire exceeds its
rating
Do not exceed the trailer Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)
or an axle Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR).
Tongue Weight
It is critical to have a portion of the trailer load carried by the tow vehicle. That is,
the trailer tongue must exert a downward force on the hitch. This is necessary for W'o
reasons First, the proper amount of tongue weight is necessary for the row vehicle
to be able to maintain control of the tow vehicle/trailer system If, for example, the
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