4 essential trailer towing tips

Be a safer, smarter RVer with 4 quick tips from longtime RV expert Dave Helgeson. Get the Full Story

Hitching up a trailer is trickier than most newbies think.

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What does your trailer weigh when fully loaded?

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What is GVWR?

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How much weight can your SUV or truck tow?

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How much weight can a small SUV or truck tow?

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How much weight can large SUVs & trucks pull?

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Never exceed your tow vehicle's weight rating and trailer's GVWR

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Work your tow vehicle's transmission on downhills.

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Extended braking on long downgrades can lead to overheating of your vehicle and trailer brakes. It's a huge cause of brake failure crashes.

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Trailer Sway is a real problem. Know how to handle it.

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Slow down when side winds happen.

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Take it easy out there on the road.

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4 essential trailer towing tips

4 essential trailer towing tips

Hitching up a trailer is trickier than most newbies think.

Safe towing starts with knowing how much weight your tow vehicle and trailer can handle. Get started with these 4 essentials:

What does your trailer weigh when fully loaded?

What does your trailer weigh when fully loaded?

1

Know the maximum amount of weight your trailer can safely carry. It's called GVWR.

Know the maximum amount of weight your trailer can safely carry. It's called GVWR.

What is GVWR?

Your trailer's GVWR # is in the owner's manual or in an exterior decal on the trailer.

How much weight can your SUV or truck tow?

How much weight can your SUV or truck tow?

Never buy a travel trailer until you know its GVWR. This tells if your current tow vehicle can safely haul it.

Never buy a travel trailer until you know its GVWR. This tells if your current tow vehicle can safely haul it.

2

How much weight can a small SUV or truck tow?

How much weight can large SUVs & trucks pull?

How much weight can large SUVs & trucks pull?

Full size SUV or 1/2 ton trucks: up to 5000 lbs.

Full size SUV or 1/2 ton trucks: up to 5000 lbs.

3/4 ton trucks: up to 14,000 lbs.

3/4 ton trucks: up to 14,000 lbs.

1 ton trucks: + 30,000 lbs

1 ton trucks: + 30,000 lbs

Never exceed your tow vehicle's weight rating and trailer's GVWR

It can void the RV warranty If you wreck, you could be responsible for injuries to others.

Work your tow vehicle's transmission on downhills.

Work your tow vehicle's transmission on downhills.

3

Downshift on steep grades. This lets your engine keep your speed down, instead of only your brakes.

Downshift on steep grades. This lets your engine keep your speed down, instead of only your brakes.

Extended braking on long downgrades can lead to overheating of your vehicle and trailer brakes. It's a huge cause of brake failure crashes.

Trailer Sway is a real problem. Know how to handle it.

Trailer Sway is a real problem. Know how to handle it.

4

Every trailer sways a bit. Causes include: * Side winds * Large vehicles passing you * Unbalanced cargo loads

Every trailer sways a bit. Causes include: * Side winds * Large vehicles passing you * Unbalanced cargo loads

Slow down when side winds happen.

Move over in your lane as far as possible from large passing vehicles.

Adjust unbalanced cargo in your trailer.

Take it easy out there on the road.

Take it easy out there on the road.

Don't be in a rush when towing. Give yourself time to learn, react, and get to your destination without problems.

Don't be in a rush when towing. Give yourself time to learn, react, and get to your destination without problems.