Nevada: Vehicle controls and equipment — Trailer Weight, Loading and Hitch Types Practice Test
Questions in this part include: “What is the gross vehicle weight (GVW)?” · “What can too little weight on the driving axles cause?”
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Questions are original and based on the official manual "Nevada Driver's Handbook" (March 2024 (DMV 700)), Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles.
All 21 questions in this practice test
Take the test above first, then use this list to study. Tap “Show answer” to see the correct answer and explanation.
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What is the gross vehicle weight (GVW)?
- The weight carried by one axle of a single vehicle
- The total weight of a single vehicle plus its load
- The weight a maker rates for a vehicle and trailer
- The weight of the empty vehicle without any load
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Correct answer: The total weight of a single vehicle plus its load
Gross vehicle weight is the total weight of a single vehicle plus its load.
Source: Nevada Driver's Handbook (March 2024 (DMV 700)), page 68 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 68)
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What is the gross combination weight (GCW)?
- The weight of the trailer tongue pressing on the hitch ball
- The most weight that one tire can safely carry at a set pressure
- The weight of one axle plus the tires and wheels on it
- The total weight of a powered unit plus trailer(s) plus the load
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Correct answer: The total weight of a powered unit plus trailer(s) plus the load
Gross combination weight is the total weight of a powered unit plus trailer(s) plus the load.
Source: Nevada Driver's Handbook (March 2024 (DMV 700)), page 68 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 68)
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What is the gross combination weight rating (GCWR)?
- The combined loaded weight the maker specifies for a vehicle and its trailing vehicle
- The total weight of a single vehicle plus its load, measured on a scale
- The weight that one axle or one set of axles transmits to the ground
- The most weight that a coupling device is able to pull or carry
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Correct answer: The combined loaded weight the maker specifies for a vehicle and its trailing vehicle
The GCWR is the weight specified by the manufacturer as the combined loaded weight of that vehicle and a trailing vehicle.
Source: Nevada Driver's Handbook (March 2024 (DMV 700)), page 68 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 68)
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What does the term axle weight mean?
- The total weight of the whole vehicle plus its load on the road
- The weight the manufacturer rates for a combined vehicle and trailer
- The weight transmitted to the ground by one axle or one set of axles
- The weight of the suspension springs and shock absorbers on a vehicle
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Correct answer: The weight transmitted to the ground by one axle or one set of axles
Axle weight is the weight transmitted to the ground by one axle or one set of axles.
Source: Nevada Driver's Handbook (March 2024 (DMV 700)), page 68 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 68)
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Where is the tire load rating stated?
- On the trailer tongue
- On the side of each tire
- On the fifth-wheel skid plate
- On the coupler safety latch
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Correct answer: On the side of each tire
The tire load rating, the maximum safe weight a tire can carry at a specified pressure, is stated on the side of each tire.
Source: Nevada Driver's Handbook (March 2024 (DMV 700)), page 68 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 68)
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What are coupling devices rated for?
- The number of axles they are able to connect
- The length of trailer they are able to join
- The speed at which a trailer may be towed
- The maximum weight they can pull and/or carry
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Correct answer: The maximum weight they can pull and/or carry
Coupling devices are rated for the maximum weight they can pull and/or carry.
Source: Nevada Driver's Handbook (March 2024 (DMV 700)), page 68 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 68)
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When loading a trailer, how should the load or cargo be distributed for safe handling?
- As low to the ground as possible
- As high as possible
- Piled up toward the top of the trailer
- Mostly at the very back of the trailer
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Correct answer: As low to the ground as possible
The higher the center of gravity, the more likely a vehicle is to overturn, so the load should be as low to the ground as possible.
Source: Nevada Driver's Handbook (March 2024 (DMV 700)), page 69 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 69)
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Where should the heaviest items be put when loading?
- On top of the lightest items so they are easy to reach
- In the highest storage compartments near the roof
- Under the lightest parts or in the lower storage compartments
- Along the front edge of the trailer roof
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Correct answer: Under the lightest parts or in the lower storage compartments
The heaviest items go under the lightest parts or in the lower storage compartments to keep the center of gravity low.
Source: Nevada Driver's Handbook (March 2024 (DMV 700)), page 69 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 69)
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What can too much weight on the steering axle do?
- Make the brakes work better on downhill grades
- Make steering difficult and damage the steering axle and tires
- Make the steering too light to turn the vehicle safely
- Improve traction on the drive wheels in bad weather
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Correct answer: Make steering difficult and damage the steering axle and tires
Too much weight on the steering axle can make steering difficult and cause damage to the steering axle and tires.
Source: Nevada Driver's Handbook (March 2024 (DMV 700)), page 69 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 69)
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What can happen when weight is shifted too far to the rear so the front axle is under-loaded?
- The steering becomes very stiff and heavy to turn at all
- The drive wheels always get much better traction on roads
- The trailer can no longer overturn at all in any curve
- The steering axle weight can be too light to steer safely
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Correct answer: The steering axle weight can be too light to steer safely
Under-loaded front axles, caused by shifting the weight too far to the rear, can make the steering axle weight too light to steer safely.
Source: Nevada Driver's Handbook (March 2024 (DMV 700)), page 69 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 69)
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What can too little weight on the driving axles cause?
- Poor traction and drive wheels that spin easily
- Shorter stopping distances on dry roads
- Better balance and handling in bad weather
- A lower center of gravity for the vehicle
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Correct answer: Poor traction and drive wheels that spin easily
Too little weight on the driving axles can cause poor traction, and the drive wheels may spin easily.
Source: Nevada Driver's Handbook (March 2024 (DMV 700)), page 69 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 69)
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What are the two things a driver can do to prevent a rollover with a trailer?
- Go quickly around turns and keep the heaviest cargo on top of the load
- Swerve early around every hazard and load the trailer evenly up high
- Go slowly around turns and keep the cargo as close to the ground as possible
- Brake hard in curves and keep the cargo toward the front of the trailer
Show answer
Correct answer: Go slowly around turns and keep the cargo as close to the ground as possible
To prevent a rollover, go slowly around turns and keep the cargo as close to the ground as possible.
Source: Nevada Driver's Handbook (March 2024 (DMV 700)), page 69 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 69)
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What is more likely on flatbed trailers than on other trailers?
- The trailer ball coming loose from the tongue
- The load shifting to the side or falling off
- The kingpin bending on every trip
- The trailer brakes locking by themselves
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Correct answer: The load shifting to the side or falling off
On flatbed trailers there is a greater chance that the load will shift to the side or fall off.
Source: Nevada Driver's Handbook (March 2024 (DMV 700)), page 69 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 69)
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What does a load-distributing hitch do?
- It moves all of the tongue load onto the rear axle of the tow vehicle only
- It replaces the need for safety chains between the vehicle and the trailer
- It locks the trailer brakes whenever the tow vehicle slows down a little
- It distributes the tongue load to all axles of both the tow vehicle and the trailer
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Correct answer: It distributes the tongue load to all axles of both the tow vehicle and the trailer
A load-distributing hitch spreads the tongue load over all axles of both the tow vehicle and the trailer, which helps stabilize the tow vehicle.
Source: Nevada Driver's Handbook (March 2024 (DMV 700)), page 69 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 69)
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When hitching a trailer with a ball-and-hitch coupling, how should the coupler safety latch be?
- Secured in the down position
- Left open in the up position
- Removed from the coupler
- Held by the safety chains only
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Correct answer: Secured in the down position
When hitching with a ball-and-hitch coupling, the coupler safety latch must be secured in the down position.
Source: Nevada Driver's Handbook (March 2024 (DMV 700)), page 69 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 69)
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When hitching a trailer with a ball-and-hitch coupling, what should be done with the safety chains?
- They are attached and laid straight
- They are left loose in the trailer
- They are attached and crossed
- They are wrapped around the tow ball
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Correct answer: They are attached and crossed
The safety chains should be attached and crossed.
Source: Nevada Driver's Handbook (March 2024 (DMV 700)), page 69 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 69)
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When hitching with a ball-and-hitch coupling, how should the ball be sitting in the coupler?
- Resting loosely
- Seated firmly
- Tilted to one side
- Held by the latch only
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Correct answer: Seated firmly
The ball should be seated firmly in the coupler.
Source: Nevada Driver's Handbook (March 2024 (DMV 700)), page 69 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 69)
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How is the ball attachment kept in the mounting attachment of the towing vehicle?
- It is held in only by the weight of the trailer tongue
- It is tied in place with the trailer safety chains
- It is held in place only by the electric lines
- It is locked in with the pin and clip or another locking device
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Correct answer: It is locked in with the pin and clip or another locking device
The ball attachment must be locked into the mounting attachment of the towing vehicle with the pin and clip or other locking device.
Source: Nevada Driver's Handbook (March 2024 (DMV 700)), page 69 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 69)
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Where is a fifth-wheel hitch mounted?
- On the bed of a truck
- On the front bumper of a car
- Under the trailer tongue
- On the roof of the vehicle
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Correct answer: On the bed of a truck
A fifth-wheel hitch is mounted to the bed of a truck and used with a fifth-wheel trailer.
Source: Nevada Driver's Handbook (March 2024 (DMV 700)), page 69 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 69)
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Which part at the front of a fifth-wheel trailer connects to the hitch?
- A ball
- A tongue
- A kingpin
- An A-frame coupler
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Correct answer: A kingpin
A fifth-wheel trailer has a kingpin at the end of the coupling unit on the front of the trailer.
Source: Nevada Driver's Handbook (March 2024 (DMV 700)), page 69 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 69)
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What is a disadvantage of a fifth-wheel hitch?
- It makes balance problems very likely to occur
- It takes up most of the space in the truck bed
- It cannot be used with a fifth-wheel trailer
- It spreads the load to every axle of the truck
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Correct answer: It takes up most of the space in the truck bed
A disadvantage of the fifth-wheel hitch is that it takes up most of the space in the truck bed and needs the space behind it kept clear for turning corners.
Source: Nevada Driver's Handbook (March 2024 (DMV 700)), page 69 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 69)