Towing 101: What You Need to Know to Get Your Trailer on the Road

Setting out to haul a trailer of any kind can be a big task, especially if you've never done it before. There are a lot of ins and outs and technical details that come along with hooking up that new fifth wheel or Gooseneck trailer to your vehicle. In this article, I will outline the basic things you'll need to know to get out on the road safely. Note that this is not comprehensive, and should be used as a base to build off of.

Some Terms

Gross Vehicle Weight Ratio (GVWR) - This is the maximum loaded weight that your vehicle is designed to carry, as determined by the manufacturer. This value includes the weight of the vehicle itself, plus anything and everything inside. If this weight is exceeded, you may be putting extra strain on your brakes, suspension, transmission, and engine.

Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) - The amount of weight that can be put on your front or rear axles. This includes the vehicle weight, the weight of your passengers and cargo, as well as the weight of a trailer.

Gross Trailer Weight (GTW) - The total weight of your trailer and its cargo.

Tongue Weight (TW) - The amount of downward force or weight on a towing vehicle by the trailer or other towable load. Proper tongue weight should be 10 - 15% of the GTW, and is affected by the way cargo is loaded. It's important to observe this weight, as it greatly effects your control of the trailer and the vehicle. 

Before going forward, you should always make sure you know the towing capacity of your truck, and ensure the thing you're towing doesn't exceed it. Check out our blog post on finding your truck's towing capacity.

Measuring Tongue Weight

Surprisingly enough, you can measure the tongue weight of your trailer with a simple bathroom scale. If you'd rather, tongue weight scales can be purchased at most towing supply stores as well. Your local trailer dealer may also be willing to let you use their tongue weight scale, as you shouldn't need to check it often. Finally, you can use a roadside vehicle scale to determine tongue weight. Call ahead to make sure your nearby scale will allow you to. Then pull up and measure the weight of your vehicle on its own. Then hook up your trailer, keeping the wheels off the scale. Subtract the weight of your vehicle from the weight or your vehicle and trailer to get your tongue weight. Remember that your tongue weight should only be 10-15% of your GTW.

If you expect the tongue weight to be less than 300 pounds, simply rest the trailer's tongue on a bathroom scale to measure the weight. If you expect a higher tongue weight, you will need to set up a system of pips and boards outlined on CURT Manufacturing's site in order to determine the tongue weight.

When loading your trailer, the best way to distribute cargo to achieve optimum tongue weight is evenly. Unless specified by the trailer manufacturer, 60% of your weight should go to the front of the trailer, and 40% should go to the back. The more cargo is at the front of your trailer, the heavier your tongue weight will be.

It's also important to make sure that your vehicle is set up with brake controllers. Without them, hard stops can be a devastating incident on the road, as they control and apply trailer brakes at the same rate as your towing vehicle's to ensure an even stop and help you maintain control.

Air Springs are also very helpful when trowing large trailers, or close to capacity loads. While they are made in a variety of different styles, they all work on the same premise. They are designed to take some of the weight off of your vehicle and provide a soft air cushion between the axle and the frame, which reduces suspension fatigue from carrying heavy loads regularly. They improve your vehicle's ride, improve steering control, level out your headlights, and improve tire wear.

Weight Distribution Hitches are another great way to minimize strain on your vehicle when towing large loads. They take some of the tongue weight off of your rear axle and distribute it evenly distribute it to your trailer's axles and to your front axle to improve steering control and decrease wear and strain on your rear axle.

As long as you observe your vehicle's weight restrictions and stay mindful of safety while towing, you shouldn't have a problem. So get out there and enjoy the summer outside. Check out our collection of towing accessories, or head over to CURT Manufacturing's website for even more details on towing. See you out there!

Auto Truck Depot

107, 42 Ave SW, Calgary Alberta

Toll Free: 1-855-253-4330

Local: 403-253-4330

info@autotruckdepot.ca

www.autotruckdepot.ca 

Trailer Hitches and More at Auto Truck Depot

Many people buy trailers to use with their trucks or other vehicles. Lots of times, though, these people forget that trailer hitches are also very necessary! Without these hitches, you can’t properly hook up your trailer, and without the right hitch, you can’t guarantee the safest, smoothest transport possible. This is why we suggest only purchasing your trailer hitches from a reputable seller, like Auto Truck Depot. The store has many hitches available, so you can find the exact product (and the exact price range!) you need. Furthermore, there are lots of wonderful accessories to go along with your new hitch. Some accessories are just designed for a better, more streamlined appearance, while others increase your hauling performance and keep you safer while on the road.

One awesome product available through the store is the weight distribution hitch. Especially useful for carrying larger loads, this special hitch allows for even distribution of weight, for a balanced load and for a smoother ride all around. Whether you choose this particular hitch or a different one, don’t overlook the accessories that are also available. Choose from covers, adaptors, wiring, and so much more—it’s never been easier to find everything you need all in one convenient spot!

Remember, anytime you go on the road without the right hitch and the right accessories to back it up, you are not only risking your safety but the safety of other drivers as well. Furthermore, you run the risk of losing or ruining all of the cargo that you are hauling in your trailer. Protect these expensive items, plus yourself and other drivers by making smart purchases through the Depot.

Why Bother With a Weight Distribution Hitch?

Being in the auto and truck accessory industry, we get the opportunity to talk to people about a wide range of topics. Of course, hauling and hitches are two topics that we never get tired of. It's important for people to choose the right hitches, no matter what kind of trailer they will be towing. There are some folks, though, who haven't thought about much more than simple towing capacity; when load stability is every bit as important.

Keeping Trailers Stable on the Road

A good weight distribution hitch, like the popular selling Round Bar Style Weight Distributing System, works to keep your trailer stable while you're on the road. If you've ever had to haul a trailer without a weight distribution hitch, you know how scary, and potentially dangerous it can be. As a driver, you have to maintain total control over your vehicle. And when a trailer is not optimally stabilized, by having the weight properly distributed, bad control is to be expected.

The Round Bar Style Weight Distributing System is popular with people who haul trailers because it is easy to adjust. It has simple to use adjustment blocks that allow for fast, low-effort ball mount angle adjustments. With this system installed on your trailer, you never have to worry about constantly shifting weight on the trailer forcing your vehicle out of control.

Like you, we always consider safety to be the most important aspect of being on the road. And since a weight distribution hitch makes hauling a trailer a safer, more enjoyable experience, we always recommend them to our friends and customers. If you regularly tow a trailer, and haven't felt as in control of it as you should, contact us at Auto Truck Depot to find out more about these types of hitch assemblies.

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