Honda Civic Quiz
Driving the Vehicle

Vehicle Load Capacity

In this manual: Driving the Vehicle
Controls Location — 3Driver and Passenger Safety — 42Controls, Instrument Panel, Interior Equipment — 128Convenience Features — 59"Hands Free" Phone System (HFT) — 24Before Driving — 16Driving the Vehicle — 32Maintenance — 32Replacing the Luggage Compartment Lamp Bulb — 16Exterior and Interior Care — 14Troubleshooting on the Road — 21Vehicle and Component Technical Information — 8
~2min read

The trailer mass (which may or may not be equipped with brakes), including its own mass, the mass of the coupling device and the mass of the cargo, must not exceed the maximum permitted towed trailer mass.

See page 488.

The vertical load on the vehicle's towing hitch with the fully loaded trailer must not exceed 75 kgf.

The maximum vertical load is the portion of the fully loaded trailer's weight transmitted to the hitch. For trailers with a gross mass up to 750 kg, follow this rule: the vertical load on the vehicle's towing hitch should be approximately 10% of the trailer's gross mass.

For example, if the gross trailer weight with cargo is 225 kg, the vertical load on the hitch should be approximately 22.5 kgf. Adjust the tongue load of the vehicle hitch by positioning the cargo on the trailer accordingly. As a starting point, distribute the cargo so that approximately 60% of its weight is located forward of the trailer axle, and 40% of its weight is located behind the axle.

If the gross trailer weight exceeds 750 kg, distribute the cargo more evenly along the length of the trailer than described above.

Never load the trailer so that the rear of the trailer is heavier than the front. This will unload the vehicle's rear wheels, which will reduce your vehicle's traction.

The gross vehicle weight and gross trailer weight must not exceed the respective maximum permissible values. Refer to page 488.

The gross vehicle weight includes:

curb weight of the vehicle, weight of the driver, passengers and luggage, weight of the trailer hitch, and the portion of the trailer weight carried by the hitch.

Keep in mind that the weight of optional equipment installed on the vehicle and the trailer tongue weight (when towing a trailer) reduce the vehicle's payload capacity by the corresponding amounts.

Towing a trailer whose weight exceeds the maximum permissible value is not allowed, since this would seriously impair vehicle handling and towing performance.

In addition, in this case, damage to the engine or transmission is possible.

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A quick Honda Civic quiz: every answer comes with an explanation and a link to the manual page.