OT and not OT: towing ability

[tberk@mindspring.com (T Berk)]

Dan Smith wrote:
> 
> Trailer tongue load of 110lbs? So does that mean if I was to attatch
> the trailer and then stand in the end closest to the rear of the
> car, that would break something? I weigh 140lbs and although I
> haven't seen it, I would be very surprised if the trailer hitch
> didn't tilt downward a bit to connect to the rocc.
> 
> Dan
> 
> My 1975 owners manual says:
> 
> trailer w/o brakes - 885lbs 400kg
> trailer w/ brakes - 2205lbs 1100kg
> trailer tongue load - 110lbs. 50kg
> 


It's not that you're going to BREAK something, it's that you shouldn't
have an unbalanced load. You neither want to lever the front of the
car via too much tongue weight nor lift the back end of the car with
too little.  

These factors are esp important under braking maneuvers.

Forget about static loads, the trouble is when you add a lot more
energy during travel.

TBerk