Safe towing is the first step in a journey of travel trailer adventure. This article will cover all the necessary travel trailer towing gear and give you expert tips for towing safely. Towing safely begins with the proper equipment. This includes the vehicle you use to tow and the hitch. The following are some tips and information to help you match the right equipment with your trailer. A lightweight camper is easier to transport than a heavier one. This also improves the experience when towing.
Selecting the Right Equipment
Choose Your tow Vehicle and Engine
Diesel engines offer the best combination between towing capacity and fuel efficiency. They deliver a torque that is similar to that of large V8 engines, but with a greater range. Towing trailers is a popular choice for full-size trucks with powerful engines. These trucks have the strength and stability needed to pull larger, heavier travel trailers. Towing is a major consideration in many modern SUVs. Towing packages on mid-size or full-size SUVs can make them a good choice to tow smaller to medium-sized travel trailers. Search for SUVs that have higher towing capacity and sufficient engine power.
Understanding Weight Ratings
The Gross Vehicle Weight Ratio (GVWR) may be the most important measure to know. Towing capacity must be higher than the trailer GVWR. The weight of your towing vehicle (including passengers and cargo) increases your GVW, which is factored into the GVWR.
Considerations for Payload
It is also important to understand payload. The payload is the maximum amount of cargo that the truck will hold. The tongue weight includes the weight of any additional passengers, including pets, the gear in the cab of bed, and the weight of hitch. RVs have a higher tongue weight than other trailers and boats. As a general rule, the tongue weight of a trailer should equal 10-15% of its total weight.
You Can Hitch your Trailer
There are many types of conventional hitches.
Most travel trailers are equipped with five different types of conventional hitches.
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- Class 1: up to 2,000 pounds
- Class 2: up to 3,500 pounds
- Class 3: up to 8,000 lbs
- Class 4: up to 10,000 pounds
- Class 5: up to 12,000 lbs
The majority of cars, crossovers and trucks are equipped with Class 1, 2, or 3 hitches. Larger SUVs and trucks can be fitted with Class 3, 4, or 5 hitches.
Ensuring proper fit
Ensure that the ball of your tow hitch matches the size of the couplers on your trailer. Trailer accidents are often caused by incorrectly sized hitch ball. Each conventional hitch uses a different size receiver tube to hold the ball and ball mounting.
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- Receiver tube for Class 1 and 2, 1.25 inch
- Class 3: 2-inch Receiver Tube
- Class 4 and 5, depending on configuration, 2- or 2.5-inch tubes.
It is important to ensure that your trailer is level from front to back. You can purchase ball mounts that allow you to lower or raise the balls as required.
Traveling Safely with your Trailer
Using safety chains
If you are using safety chains to connect the trailer and vehicle, make sure that the chains do not touch the ground. The crossed chains can be used to support the tongue of a trailer if it is disconnected from its towing vehicle. Chains should be able to make sharp turns.
Practice Before You Hit the Road
Adventures await you with the travel trailer that fulfills your dreams towed behind a hauler capable of towing it! It’s a good idea, if you’re new to hauling or haven’t done it in a long time, to practice your maneuvers, such as parking, turning, and backing up. You can get a sense of the size and weight of your trailer by experimenting with it. You’ll be able to drive safely in no time with a bit of practice and this advice.
Plan Your Route and Check Your Route
Check your route before you leave. Travel trailers make it more difficult to turn around. Trailers are not allowed on some roads. Some also have restrictions regarding weight, width, and height. Before leaving, you should consider the city traffic, construction sites, steep hills and gas stations. Towing a trailer is a good idea, but you should plan on a longer trip than usual.
Keep in Mind Weight Distribution
The towing experience can be affected by how you load the trailer and the weight. Balance the load of the trailer front-to back and side-to-side to reduce the chance that it sags or sways at the hitch. This will also improve braking and handling.
Supporting Best Practices
The best way to back up a travel-trailer is by gripping the steering wheel at the bottom. Move your hand right if you want to make the trailer go right. Move your hand left to go left. It’s helpful to have someone who knows the area, such as a friend, to give you directions.
Staying on the Right Lane
If you suddenly need to stop, the right shoulder provides extra space. This is also the best place to see what’s happening around you. Use your turn signal and initiate lane changes as soon as possible.
Preparing for a Longer Stopping Distance
You’ll need to be able to anticipate as much as possible what will happen so that you can brake early, without panicking and control your trailer. When it is safe, you should look ahead to see if there’s a vehicle in front of you.
Take Turns
Turn wider and slower than usual. This is part of the game. Don’t worry about what other people may think if you need to go a bit slower. These practices will protect you, your trailer, and others around you.
Downshifting While Driving Downhill
Avoid unnecessary wear and heat by downshifting to a low speed when driving downhill.
