Stay within your limits. Review the towing capacity of your specific vehicle and ensure it’ s capable of handling the weight of your trailer. Exceeding the maximum towing capacity can result in dangerous handling, insufficient braking performance, or serious damage to the vehicle’ s suspension, engine and drivetrain. In addition to ensuring your vehicle’ s towing capacity is sufficient for your trailer, also make sure your trailer hitch is capable of handling your trailer’ s loaded weight. Your hitch should be labeled with the maximum trailer and maximum tongue weights it can safely support. Depending on the weight of your trailer, you should also follow your owner’ s manual’ s recommendations regarding the use of weight carrying or weight-distributing hitches.
Don’ t assume all versions of a certain model line share identical tow ratings. Towing capacities can differ by body styles, bed lengths, drivelines, and other equipment installed on the vehicle. Likewise, different hitch designs can handle different weights, and certain designs may be required for trailers over a certain weight. Always check the owner’ s manual for the vehicle’ s towing capacity-- or if you own a new Chevrolet, refer to our latest towing guide on Chevrolet. com
If you plan on also carrying extra cargo or several passengers, you should also ensure you’ re not overloading the tow vehicle itself. Refer to the gross vehicle weight rating( GVWR) issued for your particular vehicle( including the tongue weight of the trailer) and ensure your loaded vehicle does not exceed the manufacturer’ s rating. Likewise, ensure your loaded vehicle and loaded trailer do not exceed the gross combination weight rating( GCWR) set by the manufacturer.
Pack your trailer properly. Not only is it incredibly important to stay within the trailer’ s maximum load capacity, but it’ s also important to ensure any cargo is properly positioned. In general you should load it in a way that results in a tongue weight on conventional hitch trailers that is between 10-15 % of the total weight of the loaded trailer. Specific trailers( such as some boat trailers) might be designed for a lower tongue weight. Always reference the trailer’ s owner’ s manual to determine correct loading. Ensure weight is evenly distributed on the left and right sides of the trailer. Once the load is properly distributed and an ideal tongue weight is achieved, all cargo should be secured to prevent the load from shifting.
Check your tires. This goes for both your tow vehicle and your trailer. Tires that are not properly inflated can negatively affect handling. Further, underinflated tires can create more rolling resistance, which not only forces the engine to work harder and consume more fuel, but also increases tire temperatures and may contribute to a blow-out. Refer to the
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38 NATDA Magazine www. natda. org