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
