Towing a Trailer; How to Pair a Tow Vehicle Safely?

Are you a pickup owner? Then you will, at some point, want to connect it to tow. On the other hand, you may want to take your family for an RVing session. Either way, you will need to learn how to connect your tow vehicle and a trailer. Like any other road equipment, you need to be careful to help avoid any accidents.

Additionally, check the towing laws in your state to make sure that you are doing the right thing and avoid being at loggerheads with authority. Below is comprehensive information on the rules and techniques to follow when pairing a vehicle and trailer to help you make sure that you are doing the right thing and something that will be safe.

Know The Vehicle Configuration and Weight

When pairing a trailer and a tow vehicle, one of the significant things that you need to think about is the weight. This means that you consider the weight of the passengers, car, cargo, not to mention the trailer and the load that it is carrying.

More often than not, the manufacturer states the maximum weight that the truck is supposed to carry. Therefore, take into account everything that will be carried in the truck to avoid exceeding the stated weight in the interest of safety. When considering the weight, some of the major factors that you need to consider are such as:

The wheelbase engine
Drivetrain
Hitch and gear

Some of the major factors that you need to know about each of these configuration tools are

Diesel-powered trucks have a higher tow rating than gasoline counterparts become the power in towing is more about torque
If you are working with wheel trucks, you need to know that they are heavier, and this can diminish the towing capacity. Trucks with a longer wheelbase tow more than those with a shorter wheelbase, thus offering better control.

Choosing The Towing Trailer

The trailer that you choose for the towing tasks determines how easy and safe the process will be. For this reason, you need to pay extra attention when choosing the trailer to help you pick the ideal thing. With the many trailers that you have available in the market today, choosing the best among them can be a daunting task.

However, when you have the right tips, it is possible to select the right products. Some of these factors that you need to consider are such as

The construction of the trailer- the method used to construct the trailer not only determines how strong and safe it is, but also how secure it is. Therefore, go for a trailer with a sturdy frame whose cross-members are correctly positioned, for instance, 16” or 24”.
Brand reputation- when purchasing the trailer, go for a known brand and one with a negative reputation. This will help you avoid most of the scam businesses that have counterfeit products that could end up causing more harm than good.
Your budget- more often than not, you will find that prices of the trailers vary from one business to another. Therefore, set a budget of the money that you intend to spend on the trailer and look for the one whose price is within that range. This way, it will be easier for you to eliminate all the businesses which are above your price range.

Towing The Trailer

After you have chosen the right trailer and considered the weight of the overall trailer and tow, the next thing is now pairing the tow and the trailer. Ideally, towing the trailer is not a walk in the park since there are minor details that you need to pay attention to.

Luckily, when you have the right tips, it is possible to make this process not only fast and easy but also safe. Here are some of these tips to help you come up with a tow vehicle and trailer whose ride you will enjoy.

Choose The Right Gear

The hitches used when pairing a tow vehicle and a trailer is not always the same. The weight of your vehicle determines the type of hitch that you use. In this case, you will consider the gross weight of the trailer, and the maximum tongue weight then uses these two details to get the right gear.

These gears are divided into five classes namely

Class 1- gross trailer weight of 200 and pound tongue weight of 200
Class 2- gross trailer weight of 3500 and pound tongue weight of 3500
Class 3- gross trailer weight of 5000 and pound tongue weight of 500
Class 4– gross trailer weight of 7500 and pound tongue weight of 750
Class 5- gross trailer weight of 10.000 and pound tongue weight of 1000

During installation, go for a hitch receiver with a heavy-duty that is enough to match the total trailer weight and tongue weight of the vehicle.

Additionally, do not forget to account for the weight of the trailer’s content. After you have selected the right gear, the process to be followed is:

Make sure you cross the chains for safety
Check the harness of the trailer-wiring
Keep on checking the brake battery
Set the tongue weight which should be related to the center of gravity
Set up an equalizing hitch

Check On the Tires

The tires you use after you pair the tow vehicle and trailer determine how safe and efficient your ride will be. Therefore, ensure that you invest in high-quality tires within falling into the temptation of choosing cheap and low-quality tires.

Additionally, remember that heat is a great enemy of the tires and, therefore, follow the cold pressure rules recommended by the manufacturer.

On the other hand, avoid over-speeding on a hot day as this will also have adverse effects on the wheels.

Hooking Up the Trailer

Hooking the trailer is the last delicate task that you need to do when pairing a tow vehicle and trailer. During this step, check to ensure that all parts, such as lights, among others, are working and working effectively. Other things that you need to ensure that they are working effectively are the brakes and hazard flashers.

Additionally, make sure that you carefully hook it up to avoid making any mistake that will lead to future regrets.

Conclusion

Though towing and driving may seem like a similar task, they are different in some ways. For instance, before you leave for towing, you need to know the basics of pairing a tow vehicle to a trailer and know how to do it quickly and safely.

Use the information above for tips on how to successfully prepare to haul a trailer.

John S.

Hello guys! I'm a 37-years-old author, traveler, writer, blogger, and a camper. I enjoy life as much as I can and love to visit beautiful places in my RV. That's why while traveling I have decided to dedicate some time to share my experiences with everyone that might be interested in traveling, camping, and RVs.