Support load at the trailer coupling
If you drive a vehicle with a trailer coupling, you not only have to pay attention to the tensile load, but also to the vertical load. If you exceed this, it can be dangerous.
In trailer operation, the vertical load is the weight on the trailer hitch works. If you own a vehicle with a towbar and want to drive it with a trailer, you must not only make sure that you do not exceed the permissible trailer load, but also the vertical load check. This is especially important when taking bike racks and caravans with you.
Do not confuse the vertical load with the tensile load
- The towing load for trailers can always be found in your registration, even if your vehicle does not have a trailer coupling. It determines the total weight that your car can pull, i.e. the weight of the trailer and the weight of the load.
- You can find the vertical load on vehicles that are factory-fitted with a trailer coupling in the operating instructions for Vehicle, on the type plate of the trailer coupling and also on a sticker, which is in the tailgate or in the frame of the driver's door can be located.
- If you retrofit the trailer coupling, you will find the vertical load in the operating permit. This is also accompanied by a sticker. Attach this visibly to the driver's door or the trunk lid of your vehicle so that the information is also available when the car is sold.
The trailer coupling must never be overloaded
- The vertical load refers to the weight that can act on the trailer coupling from above. For many cars, this is 75 kilograms and should not be exceeded. In the worst case, the towbar can tear out of its anchoring. This can have serious consequences.
- You should pay particular attention to the support load when assembling bike racks that are attached to the trailer coupling and when attaching a caravan. Heavy bicycles or the incorrect loading of a caravan can quickly lead to the support load being exceeded. If in doubt, use drawbar scales or spring scales to determine the vertical load. Do not drive off if the drawbar load is exceeded, you will endanger yourself and the other occupants.
You have bought a Skoda Octavia and would like to know how big the ...
If you are going on vacation with bicycles or a caravan, you should definitely check your load. If you come to a traffic control and it is found that you have exceeded the towing load or the vertical load, you can be banned from continuing your journey. But also for your own safety you should not exceed the prescribed maximum loads.
