10 Towing Tips

Moving heavy, bulky loads down the road, whether it's a camper, a boat trailer or anything else that attaches to the back of a tow vehicle, can be a tricky process. Driving an automobile with another set of wheels hitched up behind it is a lot different than driving an automobile by itself, so there are several issues you have to keep in mind while towing. Small overlooked details will make the ride bumpy and uncomfortable and potentially shift or damage any load you're towing; bigger, more important issues can result in serious situations like jackknifing or flipping, incidents that cause accidents and harm to you and other drivers on the road.

Although it may look like an elaborate setup, there are several easy steps to take to ensure a safe and secure towing trip. Some involve making quick, regular checkups on equipment, while others involve simply being aware of your vehicle's specific towing capabilities. How much weight can your car or truck tow, anyway? Is there any extra gear you need to buy before heading out? How should you adjust your driving technique in order to make the drive safer? For 10 easy tips that make towing more efficient and effective, read on.

10. Know Your Towing Capacity

Before you start hauling an endless amount of cargo into a trailer or hitch up an 18-foot-long boat, it's best to know the towing capacity of your car, truck, SUV or recreational vehicle. Towing too much weight can cause a myriad of problems, no matter how big and powerful your engine is. The first thing to do is refer to the owner's manual of your vehicle, which should give you specific numbers regarding how much weight you can tow.

There are also a few definitions you should keep in mind:

Base curb weight - this is, in simplest terms, the actual weight of your entire vehicle, including all fluids (i.e. a full tank of gas, engine oil, coolant, transmission fluid and others) and any additional equipment.

Cargo weight - cargo weight includes the weight of the passengers, cargo and any optional equipment (i.e. a sunroof).

Allowable Payload - this is the maximum amount of weight, including cargo and passengers, a vehicle can carry.

Knowing how much weight your vehicle can tow will keep your ride safe and help you better prepare for loading. Once you know how much cargo you can carry, though, exactly how you place that cargo is another problem; read about proper distribution on the next page.

9. Proper Weight Distribution

If you've ever had to move yourself to a different house or apartment, you've probably had to deal with moving all of your stuff, packing things away into a moving truck. Most likely you moved the larger objects like furniture and the television first, maybe tying them down with rope to keep them in place. Next you brought in the smaller objects like boxes, placing them around the bigger objects. You also probably didn't construct tall columns out of your belongings, knowing the slightest turn could send everything toppling.

These same issues need to be taken into consideration when towing, since it's nearly the same thing as moving heavy objects in a moving truck. Keeping aware of the proper weight distribution is a simple way to make a towing job much smoother and safer.

It's always best to begin loading the heaviest cargo first, tying it down with rope or bungee cords so it doesn't shift while the vehicle is in motion. Smaller cargo should follow and fill the spaces in between. The cargo's center of gravity should be low, and about 60 percent of its weight should be toward the front. You should also balance the sides of the trailer in order to reduce the chance of it flipping.

Once you have everything in its right place, the next step involves being able to see behind you. Read the next page for a look into proper mirror use.

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