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Learn the Towing Basics

It sounds easy – just hitch up and go – but there's a lot more to towing a trailer safely down the

road to your play or work destination. This page will help get you started, but for more in-depth

information, click on Understanding Towing and go through all the chapter titles. There are a

number of towing components to consider, but first you should dive into the alphabet soup of

tow ratings, and determine what your vehicle and trailer can handle together. Whether you're

pulling a fifth wheel, boat trailer, pop up camper, or a utility trailer, the tow rating considers the

size of a trailer or towed vehicle, as well as its maximum loaded weight.

Trailer and vehicle weight codes that you need to know!

GVWR - The Gross Vehicle Weight Rating is the maximum a vehicle can weigh, fully

loaded with people and cargo.

GCWR - The Gross Combined Weight Rating is the maximum the tow vehicle and a

trailer together can weigh fully loaded.

GTW - The Gross Trailer Weight is the weight

of the trailer and cargo. You can measure this by

putting the fully loaded trailer on a vehicle scale.

You can search for a certified automated truck

scale near you at http://catscale.findlocation.com/

TW - The Tongue Weight is the amount of the

trailer's weight that is placed on the hitch ball by

the trailer coupler. (To measure the tongue

weight, use either a commercial scale or a

bathroom scale with the coupler at towing height.

When using a bathroom scale with heavier

tongue weights, use the method shown and multiply the scale reading by three.

These ratings consider multiple factors, including a vehicle's suspension, frame, and location of

the rear axle in relation to the front end. For example, if your truck is rated for 10,000 pounds

and you try to tow 15,000 pounds, the additional weight can overtax the rear suspension to the

point that you reduce the traction and stability of your front tires. Always refer to your vehicle

manual for information about its capabilities and limitations. Check out the quick reference chart

below for more information. Remember, the chart illustrated below is only a guide. Make sure

you find out the exact towing capacity of both your tow vehicle and your trailer, including all

contents and cargo - AND DON'T OVERLOAD.

How much can you safely tow?

Summary of content (4 pages)

PAGE 1
Learn the Towing Basics It sounds easy – just hitch up and go – but there's a lot more to towing a trailer safely down the road to your play or work destination. This page will help get you started, but for more in-depth information, click on Understanding Towing and go through all the chapter titles. There are a number of towing components to consider, but first you should dive into the alphabet soup of tow ratings, and determine what your vehicle and trailer can handle together.
PAGE 2
Choosing the right trailer hitch After you have determined how much weight you will be towing and how much weight your tow vehicle can handle - your next step is choosing the right hitch. The trailer towing industry has developed a classification system - that differentiates hitches according to the amount of weight they can tow. Check out the Hitch Selection Guide diagram below for quick reference. For more information read Types of Hitches.
PAGE 3
Types of trailer hitches The four most common types of hitches are: Receiver-style Hitches Receiver-style hitches are attached under the tow vehicle (usually frame-mounted) and are designed to carry the weight of the trailer (GTW) through the tongue weight of the trailer (TW). The amount of tongue weight that is carried on the hitch ball and ball mount (attached to the receiver hitch with a pin and clip) is roughly calculated to be between 10%-15% of the GTW.
PAGE 4
Weight Distributing Hitch (or load equalizer) Weight distributing hitches are used in conjunction with with a receiver hitch and special parts that distribute the tongue weight among all tow vehicle and trailer axles. The use of the weight distributing hitch will often lend itself toward higher capacity ratings for the trailer hitches themselves. That said, never tow more than either vehcile is rated for.