1994 Chevrolet Astro Owner's Manual - Page 179

Weight of the Trailer How heavy can a trailer safely be? It depends on how you plan to use your rig. example, speed, altitude, For road grades, outside temperature and how much your vehicle is used to pull a trailer are all important. And, it can also depend on any specialequipment that you have on yourvehicle. You can ask yourdealer for our trailering information or advice, or you can write us at the address listed in your Warranty and Owner Assistance Information Booklet. In Canada, write to General Motors of Canada Limited, Customer Assistance Center, 1908 Colonel Sam Drive, Oshawa, Ontario LlH 8P7. Weight of the Trailer Tongue The tongue load (A) of any trailer is an important weight to measure because it affects the total or gross weight your vehicle. The gross vehicle of weight (GVW) includes the curb weight of the vehicle, any cargo you may carry in it, and the people who will be riding in the vehicle. And if you will tow a trailer, you must add tongue load to the GVW because your the vehicle will becarrying that weight, too. See "Loading Your Vehicle" in the Index for more information about your vehicle's maximum load capacity. A B If you're using a "dead-weight" hitch, the trailer tongue (A) should weigh 10% of the total loaded trailer weight (B). If you have a "weight-distributing" hitch, the trailer tongue (A) should weigh 12% of the total loaded trailer weight (B). After you've loaded your trailer, weigh the trailer and then thetongue, separately, to see if the weights are proper. If they aren't, you may be able to get them right simply by moving some items around in the trailer. 4-25