Over my years in the RV business I have seen my share of trailers and fifth wheels being pulled to the road. Some set up properly and too many not so much. So over the course of the next several days I will be posting a series of articles on the how to of towing. I hope you find the interesting as well as beneficial. Hitches and Towing 101 Chapter 1 - Introduction to Towing Towing a trailer need not be a stressful driving situation, even though several aspects of your normal driving experience may change. Your vehicle becomes heavier, slower, and doesnt generally stop as well. It seems like other drivers rush around you, wont let you change lanes, and worst of all, theyll pull right in front of you and hit the brakes. Its no wonder that many drivers are reluctant to tow a trailer. But with the right gear and the right adjustments, towing can become almost as convenient and easy as normal driving. You should know what kind of trailer you plan to tow. You might find that you need to tow a camping trailer, a utility trailer, a boat, a dinghy car behind your RV, or a horse and livestock trailer. Your trailer may require a basic receiver hitch, or it could be a heavy-duty fifth wheel hitch or gooseneck hitch design. The trailer may or may not come equipped with its own set of brakes. Your towing needs are also dependent on the distance and road conditions along your route. For example, if you plan to tow a small trailer with motorcycles or ATVs to remote locations on unpaved roads, your needs are quite different from the driver who plans to tow a large fifth-wheel camper on Interstate freeways. And you might even have to consider alternating between both of these scenarios, and accommodating bike racks or cargo carriers. Your tow vehicle may be a heavy or light-duty pickup truck, an RV, an SUV or family van, or a standard passenger car. Each of these has different characteristics and capabilities, and each may require different equipment to tow safely and legally. Additionally, your vehicle may be set up from the factory for towing, or you might need to install a hitch, wiring, or other upgrades before you can tow. When you know these basic facts, youre ready to look up what you need. Whatever your individual towing situation may be, this website provides detailed information to help you match your vehicle to the right size trailer, select and install a hitch and wiring, choose towing accessories, hook up correctly, and tow your trailer successfully. Well start by defining the names and concepts youre likely to encounter as you get your vehicle and trailer together. Youll learn •about the different types of trailer hitches and connections •how to determine your vehicles towing capacity •how to upgrade your vehicle for better towing performance •how to select the right hitch and ball •how to wire up your vehicle and trailer •how to install a trailer brake controller •how to flat-tow a car or use a tow dolly. •Finally, well cover some tips for safe and pleasant towing on the highway. A picture is worth a thousand words, so in each article in this series well have diagrams, tables, and photos to illustrate how to choose and use the towing gear you need. Our goal is to provide you the resources you need to make towing your trailer a pleasant experience, so that you arrive at your destination relaxed and ready to enjoy the location or activity you wanted in the first place.
Posted on: Wed, 22 Jan 2014 10:04:23 +0000
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