Can my car be used as a towing vehicle and tow a trailer?
Of course, before you retrofit a trailer hitch, you first have to determine whether your car has ever been designed to travel with the trailer and is approved as a towing vehicle. You can find all the information you need on the nameplate of the vehicle. The data are both in the service booklet and usually on a sticker that is housed in the spare wheel module. If it can not be found there, you will find information in the owner’s manual of the vehicle on where to findyour nameplate. In addition to the vehicle manufacturer and the approval number, the chassis number can also be found there. The second line also specifies technically permissible weights. Underneath you will also find the permissible trailer weight.
This indicates the permissible trailer weight
As the name implies, the trailer weight indicates how heavy the combination of vehicle and trailer may be. Thus, it is clear that a combination may exist, so theoretically a trailer could be drawn. It then depends on the value. The weight of the vehicle must be deducted from the weight of the trailer in order to clarify whether and, if so, with what weight a trailer can be towed.
In addition, you can also consult the vehicle registration, which is the easier way. The vehicle registration indicates with the values O1 and O2, which braked and unbraked towing load is technically permissible for the vehicle. If you can not find any values there, the vehicle is not allowed to drive with a trailer.
What happens if your vehicle is not allowed as a towing vehicle and still pulls a trailer?
In order for a vehicle to be approved for trailer use, some points have to be met already in the development of the vehicle. Thus, for example, the motorization of the car is adapted to the possible use as towing vehicle, or special attachment points for the trailer hitch are defined by the vehicle manufacturer. Also, the cooling of the engine and other system must be defined separately for the optional trailer drive. If your car is not suitable and approved for the load and service as a towing vehicle, it will cause a variety of damage to the vehicle if it is still used to tow a trailer.
