If You Do Decide To Pull a TrailerIf you do, here are some important points:• There are many different laws, including speedlimit restrictions, having to do with trailering.Make sure your rig will be legal, not only whereyou live but also where you will be driving.A good source for this information can be stateor provincial police.• Consider using a sway control. You can ask ahitch dealer about sway controls.• Do not tow a trailer at all during the first1,000 miles (1 600 km) your new vehicleis driven. Your engine, axle or other partscould be damaged.• Then, during the first 500 miles (800 km) thatyou tow a trailer, do not drive over 50 mph(80 km/h) and do not make starts at fullthrottle. This helps your engine and other partsof your vehicle wear in at the heavier loads.• Obey speed limit restrictions when towing atrailer. Do not drive faster than the maximumposted speed for trailers, or no more than55 mph (90 km/h), to save wear on yourvehicle’s parts.Three important considerations have to do withweight:• The weight of the trailer• The weight of the trailer tongue• The total weight on your vehicle’s tiresWeight of the TrailerHow heavy can a trailer safely be?It should never weigh more than 1,000 lbs(454 kg). These are total maximum weightsincluding the load. But even that can be too heavy.It depends on how you plan to use your rig.For example, speed, altitude, road grades, outsidetemperature and how much your vehicle is usedto pull a trailer are all important. It can also dependon any special equipment that you have on yourvehicle, and the amount of tongue weight thevehicle can carry. See “Weight of the TrailerTongue” later in this section for more information.337
