Owner’s Manual - Page 243

For 2016 MKZ.

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TOWING A TRAILER
WARNINGS
Do not exceed the GVWR or the
GAWR specified on the certification
label.
Towing trailers beyond the
maximum recommended gross
trailer weight exceeds the limit of your
vehicle and could result in engine
damage, transmission damage,
structural damage, loss of vehicle
control, vehicle rollover and personal
injury.
Note: There may be electrical items
such as fuses or relays that can affect
trailer towing operation. See Fuses
(page 263).
The load capacity of your vehicle is
designated by weight not volume. You
may not necessarily be able to use all
available space when loading your
vehicle or trailer.
Towing a trailer places extra load on the
engine, transmission, axle, brakes, tires,
and suspension. Inspect these
components before, during and after
towing.
Load Placement
To help minimize how trailer movement
affects the vehicle when driving:
Load the heaviest items closest to
the trailer floor.
Load the heaviest items in the center
of the left and right side trailer tires.
Load the heaviest items above the
trailer axles or just slightly forward
toward the trailer tongue. Do not
allow the final trailer tongue weight
to go above or below 10-15% of the
loaded trailer weight.
Select a tow bar with the correct rise
or drop. When both the loaded
vehicle and trailer are connected, the
trailer frame should be level, or
slightly angled down toward the
vehicle, when viewed from the side.
When driving with a trailer or payload, a
slight takeoff vibration or shudder may
be present due to the increased payload
weight. Additional information regarding
proper trailer loading and setting your
vehicle up for towing is located in the
Load Carrying chapter. See Load Limit
(page 231).
You can also find information in the RV
& Trailer Towing Guide available at your
authorized dealer, or online.
240
Towing
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