In severe weather, what percent of max capacity is used for towing a trailer?

• A. 50%
• B. 75%
• C. 63%
• D. 80%

Answer: (C)

In severe weather, you must restrict the towing load to maintain control, steering responsiveness, and longer stopping distances. The trailer adds lateral drag and sway, while wind, rain, and slick surfaces reduce traction and increase the risk of instability. Keeping the load to about 63% of the maximum towing capacity provides a safety margin to accommodate these adverse conditions, preserving stability and braking effectiveness.

A value like 50% would be more conservative, but 63% is the standard target for severe weather. Values such as 75% or 80% would leave less margin for gusts, crosswinds, or slick roads and could compromise control.