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 

How To Find Your Truck's Towing Capacity

It may seem like a simple thing, but it's extremely important to know your truck's maximum towing capacity. I wish I could tell you there's a hard and fast answer to the question, but it varies not only with your year, make, and model but also by engine size, gear to axle ratios, and even your transmission. If you don't observe your vehicle's limitations, you may end up operating beyond the design limits which can accelerate vehicle wear, or even cause damage or breaking of components while you're on the road.

Check Your Owner's Manual

As with many things, the first step is always to check the Owner's Manual. When something gets as technically complicated as a truck, and puts as much on the line as towing a trailer does, you want to make sure you do it right to start.

Check the Manufacturer's Website

If the information can't be found in your manual, or proves to be too confusing and muddled, try checking your manufacturer's website. Often important technical details about your make and model will be listed there. If you're looking into buying a new vehicle, it may be a good idea to find the information beforehand to make sure the vehicle you're buying can handle what you need to do.

Call Your Local Dealer

If you are still having trouble, or you just want to be 100% sure, contact your local dealer. They will often have all of that information readily available, even for older vehicles. Make sure you have your VIN number handy. 

You can also check other online sources for corroboration or firsthand information as well. Just remember to double check any information gathered from a third-party source with at least one other source. The link below has pdf copies of Trailer Life magazine issues. Find your vehicle to get all kinds of information, including tow ratings and much more.

http://www.trailerlife.com/trailer-towing-guides/ 

Stay tuned for a future blog post on best towing practices, and details on Tongue Weight and more.

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 

Rundown: B&W Turnover Gooseneck Hitch

The B&W Turnover Gooseneck Hitch has got to be one of the most innovative, in-bed trailer hitches on the market. In this post, I will outline the details of the hitch so you can decide for yourself if this is the product for you.

What is the Turnover Gooseneck Hitch?

The groundbreaking feature of the Turnover Gooseneck Hitch is that the only portion of this heavy duty product that takes up space in your truck bed is the hitch itself. The durable, powder coated mounting frame bolts to existing holes in your trucks frame underneath the bed with no drilling or weldingf. The only alteration that needs to be made is a 4 inch hole cut into the base of your bed. Once done, the hitch's frame sits up against the underside of your truck bed, and the solid, one-piece machined receiver socket is then accessible. The 2 5/16" ball comes through that hole to allow hooking up your trailer. Installation is made as simple as possible, and people often feel comfortable enough to get in and do it themselves. If not, let our professionals get it installed and ready to go for you!

When you need to haul a trailer, your hitch is there and ready to go, but you can still pack your truck bed full of other gear. The ball is secured to the hitch frame with a 5/8" steel locking pin that goes straight through the ball, ensuring security and safety of your hitch, truck, and trailer.

Not hauling a trailer today? Simply pull the release spring out and give it a 1/8" turn to lock it open, then pull out the ball, turn it over. The Ball drops straight into the receiver socket, leaving a completely flat surface where the hitch used to be. You can then replace the lock spring, securing the ball. No more hitch balls bouncing around in the back of your truck, and full truck bed access in seconds!

If you'd like more technical information on this product, take a look at the Owner's Manual.

Accessories

I wouldn't be able to call this the most innovative in-bed truck hitch if it weren't versatile, and it most definitely is. B&W has thought of nearly everything when it comes to accessory capabilities for the Turnover. 

That includes ball upgrades to a 3" or even a high rise ball to make sure that your new hitch is compatible with anything your truck can haul. That includes the more uncommon hitch types, like inverted ball hitch inserts, Kingpin inserts, and even eyelet inserts for extra tie down positions. Did you lose your hitch ball? 

Had to remove it for some reason? You can even get a socket plug that will just leave you with a flat truck bed; and yes, they sell replacement 2 5/16" balls as well. But what if you've got more than one trailer? Maybe you've got one trailer that uses a gooseneck, and another that uses a fifth wheel. Well don't worry, B&W has thought of that too. If you have a Turnover Gooseneck Hitch installed, you've already got the mounting plate ready to receive B&W's Companion Fifth Wheel Hitch. Stay tuned for an upcoming Rundown with more details on the fifth wheel accessory.

Maintenance

One of the great things about this set up is that it requires almost no maintenance. With the frame tucked away inside your truck's frame, raised off the ground and also covered from the elements, the frame should last the lifetime of your truck. The powder coated finish provides another barrier against premature wear, and B&W offers a limited lifetime warranty in case something happens.

The most important part of maintaining your B&W Turnaround is greasing the post corners with lithium grease as needed. The time frame will vary depending on the amount of use and other environmental factors, so keep an eye on the hitch to make sure it doesn't seize.

If Your Hitch Seizes

Do not use heat. Temperature changes can alter the temper of the metal and impact the durability of your hitch. Start by soaking it with penetrating oil for a few days. If that doesn't loosen it enough to easily pull it out, try lightly tapping the ball with a hammer. Do not hit hard, as this can cause damage to the ball, or decrease its durability. If you still can't remove it, you may have to remove the center section from your truck and have the insert pressed out.

The B&W Turnover Hitch is one of the most versatile hitches on the market. With a wide range of accessories, you can use the frame mounted hitch to haul anything that your truck can carry. With such a low footprint in your bed, you can still fill your truck with all kinds of gear, whether you're towing your trailer or not! To find out more, or to order your Turnover Gooseneck Hitch today, visit our website, give us a call or email, or come visit our Calgary location.

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