2018 INFINITI Towing Guide
12 The GCW you come up with must not exceed the Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) for your
vehicle. Refer to your vehicle owner’s manual to view the maximum GCWR specification listed for
your vehicle.
TRAILER TONGUE LOAD
Trailer tongue load is the amount of
trailer’s weight pressing down on the
tow vehicle hitch ball.
To measure trailer tongue load, place
the tongue of the trailer on a scale
when the trailer is not attached to the
vehicle. A separate vehicle jack — not
the trailer jack — should be used, as
the location of the trailer jack is rearward of the trailer tongue and will not give you an accurate
measurement of the true tongue load. Make sure the vehicle jack is placed directly under the trailer
tongue coupler, and the tongue is set at the height/level of the tow vehicle hitch.
For proper handling, you must keep the trailer tongue load between 10-15% of the actual trailer
weight, within the limits of the maximum trailer tongue load allowable. For example, to determine
the proper trailer tongue load for a 1,500-lb. trailer, multiply the weight of 1,500 lbs. by 10% to arrive
at a figure of 150 lbs. Some trailer types may require different trailer tongue loads for safe towing.
Always follow the trailer manufacturer’s recommendations for proper trailer set-up and trailer
tongue load. Keep the trailer tongue load within the maximum trailer tongue load allowable.
Additionally, make sure the vehicle has the payload capacity available for the trailer tongue load.
If the tongue load becomes excessive, rearrange cargo to allow for proper tongue load. Refer to
your vehicle owner’s manual to view the maximum trailer tongue load listed for your vehicle.
HITCH & TRAILER HEIGHT
It is important that your trailer floor and
tongue ride as level as possible. This
will help prevent over-angling, bottoming-out,
and improper tongue load and load transfer.
Therefore, the hitch or trailer tongue must be
adjusted during the initial vehicle/trailer fit-
up to ensure a level ride. Ball mounts and
weight distribution hitches are available in
different configurations to adjust the tongue load and load transfer and hitch ball height. On some
tandem axle trailers an incorrect hitch height can result in uneven trailer axle loading.
