Safely Towing a Vehicle with an RV

     While many drivers spend lots of time and energy making sure their show cars are perfect for the coming season, some overlook getting to their destination safely.  What good is all your hard work on the car, if the car gets damaged or the driver gets hurt on the way.

There are many ways to haul a car to the track, open trailer or closed. Beyond the trailer, the condition of the tow vehicle is also vitally important and often overlooked.

There are many things to consider when choosing a tow vehicle.

 A tow vehicle can be a pickup truck or RV. Towing with a car or SUV should only be done if the trailer is towing a lightweight karting trailer. Anything else is asking for trouble.

Another thing to consider is your tow vehicle’s insurance.   Are you sure what you are towing is covered by your insurance policy?  If you're towing another vehicle behind your RV or pickup truck, make sure your insurance specifically covers this and carry all your vehicle and trailer insurance with you, just in case you need it.

The first thing to be considered is can the vehicle safely tow the trailer. To do this calculate the weight of the trailer, the car, the toolboxes and spare parts that the vehicle will be towing. The following things should be figured out for the vehicle you want to use for your tow.

Tongue Weight, which is the weight that a towed trailer places on the tow vehicle's hitch.

The Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) is the maximum weight that the vehicle can safely carry, including its own weight plus the weight of any fuel, oil, water, cargo, passengers and the tongue weight of any trailer being towed. GVWR is calculated by the manufacturer and should be discussed with you when you purchase the vehicle.

Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) - the maximum weight that should be placed on any single axle of a tow vehicle or trailer, as measured at the wheel.

Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) - the combined weight-carrying capacity of a tow vehicle plus its trailer.

Check the hitch connection and the hitch ball. Do you have the correct size hitch ball for the trailer you want to tow and is the hitch bar firmly welded to the vehicles frame? 

An RV is a popular choice for towing a vehicle as it provides living accommodations and a comfortable place for the team to hang out if inclement weather strikes.

Don’t just assume that something as massive as an RV can safely tow your car without checking out the gross weight ratings listed above. Include the weight of all passengers as well as the cargo inside the RV when calculating the GAWR and GCWR. In many cases, the GVWR of an RV is clearly displayed on a placard somewhere inside the RV like on the inside of a hallway closet door.

 Resist the temptation to ignore the weight limit ratings because overloading a vehicle will, over time   damage the suspension, the frame, the tow hitch, the engine and any other crucial parts of the vehicle involved in carrying, moving and stopping that weight. The last thing you need is your tow vehicle falling apart on the side of the road with significant structural damage or worse. A pickup truck unable to stop or properly control its 5^th wheel trailer is a traffic menace that could hurt or kill you or your family members.

Also consider the engine’s capability and don’t overstrain it on a regular basis. The saying ‘No foot, no horse’ comes to mind.  Without a strong, well maintained engine your hauler is not going anywhere.

Also check for the wear and tear on the driveshaft and axels. When was the last time you checked it?

Check the ball joints and all the other parts of the under carriage.  Checking the frame and undercarriage on the tow vehicle is just as crucial as checking the frame on the trailer.  

Now that you are confident in your tow vehicle, check to make sure the trailer is properly connected to the vehicle. First hook up the trailer to the tow vehicle on level ground.

Then hook up the chains. Two chains need to be connected to the frame of the tow vehicle in a crisscross manner. These emergency chains are intended to catch the car if the hitch fails.

Check to see it the lights on trailer all come on when you use the vehicles turn signals and brakes.

The next thing to think about is weight distribution.  Not doing so will hurt your ability to control the vehicle including loss of steering control, reduced braking effectiveness and even an increased chance of trailer sway in some circumstances.

Experts recommend keeping weight evenly distributed from side to side and from front to back.  The tongue weight of a trailer should be between 10 and 15 percent of the total weight of the loaded trailer. Fifth wheel hitches can accommodate much heavier weights at the tongue -- often as much as 25 percent of the trailer's weight.  Make sure you are keeping the trailers GAWR in mind so you do not exceed what the axles can safely handle.

Make sure you always have the tires set to the right air pressures and are not showing signs of dry rot and have plenty of tread.

The next thing to think about if the trailer’s load. Do you have it properly secured?  Are all ratchet straps in good condition with no fraying or tears and fastened snugly? The less the car and the rest of the load moves, the more control you will have over the load your vehicle is towing. Make sure the weight is evenly balance between the front and rear of the trailer. Experts advise keep the toolbox up front near the tongue of the trailer for proper weight management.

Use ratchet straps rated for double or triple the weight of whatever you’re strapping down. If you’re strapping down a car that weighs 2,000 lbs., you want to use 4,000 lb. ratchet straps at the minimum. That way, when your brake or accelerate, the shift in momentum doesn’t overwhelm and snap the ratchet straps.

While time consuming, proper care and maintenance of your tow vehicle and trailer will give you years of safe transportation to and from your destination.