But of course there are a few basic things you should know about towing a trailer correctly and safely. Let’s start with your automobile, SUV, or pick-up truck. Every vehicle manufacturer establishes what each specific vehicle can tow without violating their factory warranty. Then the manufacturer of the towing platforms to which the towing ball mounts, rates each of their platforms in “classes“. For instance, Class 1 (small) through Class 4 (large). The tow balls (some call them hitch balls) come in different sizes, with a small diameter for small, light trailers and larger diameters for larger, heavier trailers.
“Light” trailers have one axle with two tires; “heavy” trailers have up to three axles with six tires. The job of the tires is to carry most of the total weight (trailer plus load).
This is where problems can occur. If too much weight is put on the towing ball, the tow vehicle’s rear end will go down and the front end will go up. The first thing you’d notice would be your headlights throwing light up into the trees! The next thing you would notice as a result of this “imbalance” would be that the steering stability would disappear. Next, without the correct weight on every tire, the braking ability of your tow vehicle is diminished dramatically. That’s dangerous.
The hitch platform manufacturers and the vehicle manufacturers rate their products by indicating the maximum weight that should go on the tow ball. When the towing weight of the trailer exceeds the ball load capacity, but not that of the tow vehicle, a special towing platform called an “equalization hitch” is used. This device actually forces the hitch load to all four tires of the tow vehicle, pushing the front tires down with more load and unloading some of the weight from the rear tires, keeping the tow vehicle level and all the tow vehicle tires equally loaded. Head lights, steering, and braking thus remain normal.
So if you’re buying a new towing vehicle, please make sure that the dealership has a towing expert on staff - many do not!
If you are buying a trailer and towing for the first time with an existing vehicle, most reputable trailer dealers will already have seen all the incorrect things that novices have done and will be glad to assist you in getting everything hooked up correctly - before you get into trouble.
There are a limited number of dealers (the bigger the dealer the better) who specialize in installing tow hitches and the related wiring - from trailer lights to trailer braking systems. Larger trailers actually have their own braking systems - the thinking being that if tow vehicles can stop themselves, trailers should be able to stop themselves too. The trailer brake controller is usually mounted close to the steering wheel and is fully automatic. Whether the driver of the tow vehicle needs to brake softly or hit the pedal hard, the trailer brake controller matches the need for a safe, controlled stop.
Another place to get the correct, up-to-date advice about towing is one of the big, established recreation vehicle shows like the 2008 Spring Motor Home & Trailer Show. This show will have exhibits showing the full line of towable RV’s and all exhibits at this show are sponsored and trained by the manufacturer. They can answer any question about towing that a novice, or seasoned, RV’er might have. The show starts Wednesday, February 27th at 10am and runs through Sunday, March 2nd at 5:00pm. It is of course held at the giant International Centre on Airport Rd., just north of the airport entrance. It’s the only venue in Ontario where you can hold an RV show this big and this diverse.
“Light” trailers have one axle with two tires; “heavy” trailers have up to three axles with six tires. The job of the tires is to carry most of the total weight (trailer plus load).
This is where problems can occur. If too much weight is put on the towing ball, the tow vehicle’s rear end will go down and the front end will go up. The first thing you’d notice would be your headlights throwing light up into the trees! The next thing you would notice as a result of this “imbalance” would be that the steering stability would disappear. Next, without the correct weight on every tire, the braking ability of your tow vehicle is diminished dramatically. That’s dangerous.
The hitch platform manufacturers and the vehicle manufacturers rate their products by indicating the maximum weight that should go on the tow ball. When the towing weight of the trailer exceeds the ball load capacity, but not that of the tow vehicle, a special towing platform called an “equalization hitch” is used. This device actually forces the hitch load to all four tires of the tow vehicle, pushing the front tires down with more load and unloading some of the weight from the rear tires, keeping the tow vehicle level and all the tow vehicle tires equally loaded. Head lights, steering, and braking thus remain normal.
So if you’re buying a new towing vehicle, please make sure that the dealership has a towing expert on staff - many do not!
If you are buying a trailer and towing for the first time with an existing vehicle, most reputable trailer dealers will already have seen all the incorrect things that novices have done and will be glad to assist you in getting everything hooked up correctly - before you get into trouble.
There are a limited number of dealers (the bigger the dealer the better) who specialize in installing tow hitches and the related wiring - from trailer lights to trailer braking systems. Larger trailers actually have their own braking systems - the thinking being that if tow vehicles can stop themselves, trailers should be able to stop themselves too. The trailer brake controller is usually mounted close to the steering wheel and is fully automatic. Whether the driver of the tow vehicle needs to brake softly or hit the pedal hard, the trailer brake controller matches the need for a safe, controlled stop.
Another place to get the correct, up-to-date advice about towing is one of the big, established recreation vehicle shows like the 2008 Spring Motor Home & Trailer Show. This show will have exhibits showing the full line of towable RV’s and all exhibits at this show are sponsored and trained by the manufacturer. They can answer any question about towing that a novice, or seasoned, RV’er might have. The show starts Wednesday, February 27th at 10am and runs through Sunday, March 2nd at 5:00pm. It is of course held at the giant International Centre on Airport Rd., just north of the airport entrance. It’s the only venue in Ontario where you can hold an RV show this big and this diverse.
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