2003 HONDA ELEMENT weight

Your vehicle has several convenient
storage areas so you can stow cargo
saf ely.
The glove box, and the pockets in
the doors and seat-backs, are
designed f or small, lightweight items.
The cargo area is intended f or larger,
heavier items. In addition, the back
seats can be folded or removed to
allow you to carry more cargo or
longer items.
However, carrying too much cargo,
or improperly storing it, can af f ect
your vehicle’s handling, stability,
stopping distance, and tires, and
make it unsaf e. Bef ore carrying any
type of cargo, be sure to read the
f ollowing pages.
Carrying Cargo
Bef ore Driving167
CARGO AREA SIDE POCKETGLOVE BOX
CARGO AREA DOOR POCKETS
SEAT-BACK POCKET (EX) CEILING POCKET (EX)

·µ If your vehicle will be towing a
trailer, load f rom your trailer will
be transf erred to your vehicle.
Consult this manual to determine
how this reduces the available
cargo and luggage load capacity of
your vehicle.
Subtract the combined weight of
the driver and passengers f rom
675 lbs (308 kg).
The resulting f igure equals the
available amount of cargo and
luggage load capacity.
For example, if there will be f our 150
lbs (70 kg) occupants in your vehicle,
the amount of available cargo and
luggage load capacity is 75 lbs (34
kg).
4 150 lbs (70 kg) = 600 lbs (280
kg)
675 lbs (308 kg) 600 lbs (280 kg) =
75 lbs (34 kg)
Determine the combined weight
of the driver and passengers that
will be riding in your vehicle.
(Four is the seating capacity of
your vehicle.) Locate the statement, ‘‘the
combined weight of occupants and
cargo should never exceed 675 lbs
(308 kg)’’ on your vehicle’s placard
(on the driver’s doorjamb).
The maximum load limit f or your
vehicle is 675 lbs (308 kg). This
f igure includes the total weight of all
occupants, cargo, accessories, and
the tongue weight if you are towing a
trailer.
Following are the steps f or
determining the correct cargo and
luggage load limit.
Determine the combined weight
of accessories, luggage, and cargo
beingloadedinthevehicle.The
weight may not saf ely exceed the
available cargo and luggage load
capacity calculated in step 4 [75
lbs(34kg)inthisexample].
1.
2. 3.
4.
5.
6.
Load Limit
Carrying Cargo
Bef ore Driving168
Overloading or improper
loading can affect handling and
stability and cause a crash in
which you can be hurt or killed.
Follow all load limits and other
loading guidelines in this
manual.

If you can carry any items on a
roof rack, be sure the total weight
of the rack and the items does not
exceed the maximum allowable
weight. Please contact your Honda
dealer f or f urther inf ormation.
If you use an accessory roof rack,
the roof rack weight limit may be
lower. Ref er to the inf ormation that
came with your roof rack.
Distribute cargo evenly on the
f loor of the cargo area, placing the
heaviest items on the bottom and
as f ar f orward as possible. Tie
down items that could be thrown
about the vehicle during a crash or
sudden stop.
If you carry large items that
prevent you f rom closing the
tailgate or the hatch, exhaust gas
can enter the passenger area. To
avoid the possibility of
, f ollow the
instructions on page .
Store or secure all items that could
be thrown around and hurt
someone during a crash.
Be sure items placed on the f loor
behind the f ront seats cannot roll
under the seats and interf ere with
the driver’s ability to operate the
pedals, or with the proper
operation of the seats.
Keep the glove box closed while
driving. If it is open, a passenger
could injure their knees during a
crash or sudden stop.
60
Carrying Cargo
Bef ore Driving
Carrying Cargo in the Cargo A rea
or on a Roof Rack
carbon
monoxide poisoning
Carrying Items in the Passenger
Compartment
169

Your Honda has been designed
primarily to carry passengers and
their cargo. You can use it to tow a
trailer if you caref ully observe the
load limits, use the proper equipment,
and f ollow the guidelines in this
section.The weight that
the tongue of a f ully-loaded trailer
puts on the hitch should be
approximately 10 percent of the
trailer weight. Too little tongue
load can make the trailer unstable
and cause it to sway. Too much
tongue load reduces f ront-tire
traction and steering control.
The total
weight of the trailer and
everything loaded in it must not
exceed 1,500 lbs (680 kg). Towing
a load that is too heavy can
seriously af f ect your vehicle’s
handling and perf ormance. It can
also damage the engine and
drivetrain.
CONT INUED
Tongue Load:
Load Limits
T otal T railer Weight:
Towing a Trailer
Driving191

To achieve a proper tongue load,
start by loading 60 percent of the
load toward the front of the trailer
and 40 percent toward the rear, then
re-adjust the load as needed.The total weight of the vehicle, all
occupants, all cargo, the
tongue load must not exceed: The total weight of the vehicle, all
occupants, all cargo, and the
tongue load must not exceed:
on the f ront axle
on the rear axle
and
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
(GVWR):
Gross Axle Weight Rating
(GA WR):
Towing a Trailer
Driving192
4,450 lbs (2,020 kg)
2,300 lbs (1,045 kg)
2,205 lbs (1,000 kg)Exceeding load limits or
improperly loading your vehicle
and trailer can cause a crash in
which you can be seriously
injured or killed.
Check the loading of your
vehicle and trailer carefully
beforestartingtodrive.

The best way to conf irm that vehicle
and trailer weights are within limits
is to have them checked at a public
scale.
Using a suitable scale or a special
tongue load gauge, check the tongue
load the f irst time you set up a
towing combination (a f ully-loaded
vehicle and trailer), then recheck the
tongue load whenever the conditions
change.Towing can require a variety of
equipment, depending on the size of
your trailer, how it will be used, and
how much load you are towing.
Discuss your needs with your trailer
sales or rental agency, and f ollow the
guidelines in the rest of this section.
Also make sure that all equipment is
properly installed and that it meets
f ederal, state, province, and local
regulations.Any hitch used on your vehicle must
be properly bolted to the underbody.
Always use saf ety chains. Make sure
they are secured to both the trailer
and hitch, and that they cross under
the tongue so they can catch the
trailer if it becomes unhitched.
Leave enough slack to allow the
trailer to turn corners easily, but do
not let the chains drag on the ground.
CONT INUED
Checking L oads
T owing Equipment and
A ccessoriesHitches
Saf et y Chains
Towing a Trailer
Driving193

Honda recommends that any trailer
having a total weight of 1,000 lbs
(450 kg) or more be equipped with
its own electric or surge-type brakes.
If you choose electric brakes, be
sure they are electronically actuated.
Do not attempt to tap into your
vehicle’s hydraulic system. No
matter how successf ul it may seem,
any attempt to attach trailer brakes
to your vehicle’s hydraulic system
will lower braking ef f ectiveness and
create a potential hazard.All states and Canadian provinces
require some type of trailer lights.
Check requirements f or the areas
where you plan to tow. If you use a converter, you can get
the connector and pins that mate
with the connector in your vehicle
f rom your Honda dealer.
Since lighting and wiring vary in
trailer type and brand, you should
also have a qualif ied mechanic install
a suitable connector between the
vehicle and the trailer.
Your vehicle has a trailer lighting
connector located behind the right
side panel in the cargo area. Ref er to
thedrawingaboveforthewiring
color code and purpose of each pin.
Trailer Brakes
Trailer Lights
Towing a Trailer
Driving194
GROUND
(BLACK)BACK-UP LIGHT
(GREEN/BLACK) LEFT TURN SIGNAL
(GREEN/RED)
TAILLIGHT
(RED/YELLOW)
BRAKE LIGHT
(WHITE/BLACK)
RIGHT TURN SIGNAL
(GREEN/YELLOW)

Many states and Canadian provinces
require special outside mirrors when
towing a trailer. Even if they don’t,
you should install special mirrors if
you cannot clearly see behind you, or
if the trailer creates a blind spot.
Askyourtrailersalesorrental
agency if any other items are
recommended or required f or your
towing situation.When preparing to tow, and bef ore
driving away, be sure to check the
f ollowing:
The vehicle has been properly
serviced, and the tires, brakes,
suspension, and cooling system
are in good operating condition. The lights and brakes on your
vehicle and the trailer are working
properly.
The trailer has been properly
serviced and is in good condition.
Allitemsonandinthetrailerare
properly secured and cannot shif t
while you drive. Thehitch,safetychains,andany
other attachments are secure. Your vehicle tires and spare are
properly inf lated (see page ),
and the trailer tires and spare are
inflated as recommended by the
trailer maker.
All weights and loads are within
limits (see pages and ). If you tow f requently, f ollow the
Severe Conditions maintenance
schedule. 192
191 250
Additional Trailer EquipmentPre-T ow Checklist
Towing a Trailer
Driving195