Connecticut Safe Boating Practice Test

What happens if the tongue weight of the trailer is too heavy?

1. The trailer will sway back and forth

2. It will be difficult to steer the towing vehicle

3. The vehicle will lose traction

4. The trailer will not attach properly

The correct answer is: It will be difficult to steer the towing vehicle

When the tongue weight of the trailer is too heavy, the impact on the towing vehicle's performance, particularly the steering, becomes significant. A heavy tongue weight increases the load on the rear axle of the towing vehicle, which can lead to altered weight distribution. This change can cause the front of the vehicle to lift, reducing the steering responsiveness and making it harder to control the vehicle. Additionally, excessive tongue weight can make it challenging to maneuver, especially in turns, as the front wheels may not have enough grip on the road. While the other effects such as swaying (option A), losing traction (option C), or improper attachment (option D) could be considerations in different contexts, they do not specifically address the immediate steering difficulty caused by excessive tongue weight. Therefore, the correct understanding aligns with the challenges associated with steering the towing vehicle when the tongue weight is improperly balanced.