A considerable amount of longitudinal play becomes apparent in the towing device of the trailer. What effect can this have?

Your answer is correct. When there is considerable longitudinal play in the towing device of a trailer, it means the connection between the vehicle and trailer is not tight and stable. This can lead to damage to the cross beam of the towing vehicle because the back-and-forth movement puts stress on the frame. Additionally, the trailer could shear off because the loose connection can fail under load or during motion, causing the trailer to detach. The third option about overloading the rear axle tires is not a direct consequence of longitudinal play but rather depends on the weight distribution. Understanding this helps ensure safe towing by maintaining a secure and stable connection.