Towing 101

If you purchase a RAM pickup truck, for example, they provide plenty of power without sacrificing efficiency. Whether hauling boats, travel trailers, ATVs, or other recreational vehicles, they are up to the task.

Your owner's manual may contain terms related to towing and guidelines on staying safe when towing. However, those towing terms may sound strange if you are not auto-savvy. Drivers are often unaware of towing terms, especially those related to calculating towing capacity and payload capacity. Understanding the common towing terms is vital to best utilize your vehicle's brawn and maximize its towing capabilities.

Before you hitch your truck or SUV to a trailer, here are some towing terms you should know:

Basic Towing Terms

Max Towing Capacity

Maximum towing capacity is the weight you can safely tow behind your vehicle. It varies depending on the configuration of the model, its weight, and the load distribution and control.

Payload Capacity

Your truck's or SUV's payload capacity is the maximum weight the cabin and truck bed can carry.

Conventional Towing

Conventional towing uses a vehicle's tow ball while remaining compliant with the weight limits of the tow vehicle. The towing-on-the-ball arrangements use towing balls, pintle hooks, and similar configurations involving receiver hitches and shanks.

Tongue Weight

It is the weight of the trailer that pushes down on the hitch. Tongue weight varies based on the load distribution inside the trailer. You must ensure that the tongue weight is correct. A conventional trailer's tongue weight should be about 10% of its total weight. If using a fifth wheel or gooseneck trailer, the haul should be about 15% of this weight.

Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR)

The total weight of the vehicle, passengers, trailers, and cargo determines the GCWR. To avoid compromising your vehicle's drivetrain, you should stay within this weight when towing.

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)

Depending on your vehicle, this is the maximum weight at which it will remain operable. The tongue weight of the trailer is based on the weight of all passengers, fluids, and accompaniments in the vehicle, as well as the cargo.

Gross Trailer Weight Rating (GTWR)

A towed trailer's GTWR indicates how much it can carry, including fluids and cargo, when fully loaded. At the time of coupling, the trailer weight should be 10 to 15 percent of the GTWR.

Braked vs. Unbraked Towing Capacity

The trailer's brakes connect electrically to the tow vehicle's brakes so that when the tow vehicle's brakes are activated, the trailer's brakes are also activated. It is possible to tow a much heavier load under control if the trailer has its brakes.

Curb Weight

Often found in the vehicle's manual and documentation, curb weight measures the vehicle's mass. Vehicle weight is measured as it exits the factory - without liquids or support accompaniments. It is vital for grading and classifying the vehicle.

Tow Bar

It is a device that connects two vehicles for towing purposes. You can use this instead of a trailer hitch to tow another vehicle.

Coupler

The coupler connects the trailer to the vehicle by going over the ball. Different couplers are available, including straight tongues, goosenecks, adjustable, and A-frames.

Hitch Types

You use a hitch to attach a trailer to a vehicle. The type of hitch you use depends on how much weight you're carrying, and each has a specific use. There are several types of hitches:

• Bolt-on Trailer Hitch: Towing light or moderate loads is best with this hitch, which attaches to the vehicle's frame.
• Fifth-Wheel Hitch: When towing a heavier load, you should use this hitch. To ensure better stability, it is mounted on the reinforced section of the truck bed.
• Gooseneck: Agricultural or commercial towing typically requires this type of towing hitch. It mounts in the truck bed and has a tighter turning radius.

Find a Vehicle for All Your Towing Needs at Tempe Chrysler Dodge Jeep

You will want to know what pickup truck or SUV can handle your regular towing needs. To find the perfect vehicle for your lifestyle, stop by the Tempe Chrysler Dodge Jeep in Tempe, AZ. Let one of our friendly staff members explain our tow-ready vehicles and their towing capabilities.