RV Towing 101: Mastering the Art of Safe and Secure RV Travel

Basic Towing Terms You Should Know

Before getting into the RV trailer towing tips, let's first define some words you'll come across later on in this article for better understanding:

• Towing capacity: This is the maximum weight your towing truck or car can safely maneuver and brake while towing.
• Dry weight: This refers to the vehicle weight of your new trailer straight from the factory without any cargo, water, fuel, passengers, etc.
• Tongue or hitch weight: This is the downward force or weight that a trailer tongue exerts on the hitch ball.
• Cargo carrying capacity: This is the maximum weight of cargo your trailer can safely carry. Cargo, in this case, counts as anything that adds extra weight to your trailer and can include passengers, water in holding tanks, propane, and more.
• Gross vehicle weight rating: This refers to the highest total weight your trailer should weigh after you add up the cargo carrying capacity and dry weight.

RV Trailer Towing Tips

Now that you understand the basics, let's get into the towing tips you can incorporate the next time you hit the road.

Choose Your RV Before Buying the Tow Vehicle

You don't want a situation where you end up with a tow vehicle that isn't capable of safely towing your chosen RV. As such, it's best to buy the RV before the towing truck because different towing vehicles have different towing capacities. Usually, the weight and dimensions of the RV should dictate the specifications needed for the tow vehicle in terms of the right engine power, braking capacity, and stability for a smooth towing experience.

Check Hitch Compatibility

Hitch compatibility refers to the suitability of your tow vehicle's hitch system to the specific type and weight of the trailer you intend to tow. Hitch compatibility is essential because it directly affects the towing stability and overall safety on the road. To ensure compatibility, you must first understand the different types of hitches and their corresponding trailers:

• Fifth-wheel hitch: As its name suggests, this hitch tows fifth-wheel trailers. To connect it, you install it inside the bed of your towing truck, and the trailer connects over the hitch via a kingpin mechanism.
• Gooseneck hitch: Similar to the fifth-wheel hitch, this hitch also mounts in the bed of a pickup truck but uses a ball and coupler system instead of a kingpin connection. It can serve as an alternative for fifth-wheel hitches in fifth-wheel RVs.
• Weight distribution hitch: This hitch helps to distribute the weight of the trailer tongue more evenly across the tow vehicle and trailer axles. It's commonly used for heavier trailers weighing up to 15,000 pounds.
• Ball hitch (receiver hitch): Commonly used for smaller trailers such as utility trailers and other lightweight travel trailers, this hitch consists of a ball mount attached to the rear of the tow vehicle. The trailer coupler is then secured on the ball mount.

Know Your Trailer's Size

Knowing the height, width, and length of your trailer is also crucial for several reasons. For one, your trailer's height matters because if it's too tall, you'll have trouble passing under bridges, overpasses, low-hanging obstacles like tree branches, and RV campsite entrances.

As for the width and length, these play an important part when driving on the road and parking in campsites. For instance, safely making sharp bends on the roads requires you to know how long and wide your recreational vehicle is so you can determine how much space you need to maneuver without causing accidents. These dimensions are also important for choosing suitable parking spots in public areas and campgrounds.

Keep Up With Your Towable's Maintenance

Just like your towing vehicle, your towable RV needs occasional maintenance or servicing. While there isn't a hard, fast rule for how frequently you should service your recreational vehicle, it's best to follow your manufacturer's manual. Some things to keep in mind include:

• Use a hand-held gauge to check tire pressure before each trip.
• Inspect brakes for wear and functionality.
• Grease and inspect wheel bearings according to manufacturer recommendations to prevent overheating and bearing failure.
• Check wiring, lights, and connectors for any damage or corrosion to maintain proper visibility and signaling on the road.
• Ensure propane tanks and lines are leak-free and properly secured for safe operation.
• Inspect roof seals and seams regularly to prevent water leaks and damage to the interior of the RV.

Driving Tips

Here are some driving tips to consider when towing your RV trailer.

Keep a Safe Distance

When driving with your RV towed in high traffic areas, always maintain some distance between you and the car in front. This gives you room to brake comfortably and safely because sudden stops can be more challenging when towing a heavy load.

Maintain Towing Speeds Between 50 and 65 mph

While speed limits for towing recreational vehicles vary by state, a great rule of thumb to follow is to keep it 10 mph slower than the maximum speed limit indicated on the road you're using. Most speed limits in the U.S. vary between 50 and 65 mph, so it's best to drive within this range. Nonetheless, some states have specific trailer towing speeds, like California at 55 mph on a two-lane undivided highway, Florida at 65 mph, Alabama at 70 mph, and Hawaii at 60 mph.

Use Safety Chains and a Breakaway Switch for Extra Security

Though not a requirement in all states, using safety chains gives you peace of mind when you're out on the open road. They act as a failsafe for when the hitch fails by keeping the trailer connected to your towing truck. You can use them on all types of towable RVs, except for fifth-wheel RVs, because their kingpin mechanism provides a secure enough connection. Alternatively, you can use a breakaway switch. This device slows down and eventually stops your RV trailer if it gets detached from your towing truck.

Maneuvering in Extreme Weather

Some weather conditions, such as wind, rain, and snow, may affect your ability to control your towable RV. As such, you must take extra precautions for your safety, including:

• The most important thing you should do in case of extreme weather conditions is to drive at semi-slow speeds. This gives you enough reaction time in case of emergencies.
• In rainy, snowy, and foggy conditions, use your headlights and windshield wipers to increase visibility.
• Avoid using cruise control in extreme weather, as it can reduce your ability to respond quickly to changing road conditions.

Driving on Steep Roads

Going uphill and downhill with a trailer RV towed on your truck can be challenging for newer drivers. When going uphill, you risk your engine overheating and the vehicle stopping unexpectedly due to the extra weight you're carrying. To avoid this, it's best to maintain steady, slow speeds and shift to a lower gear to maintain power.

Experienced RVers will tell you that going uphill is easier than downhill, so you must take extra precautions. For one, you want to control your speed (so you don't go too fast) and prevent your brakes from failing. You can achieve this by using engine braking, by downshifting to a lower gear, or intermittent braking, which means allowing brakes to cool between applications as needed.

Tips for Towing Your Car With Your Motorized Home

Before we wrap up this article, let's quickly go over some tips you can leverage if you need to bring your car together with your motorhome on your road trip:

• Ensure your RV is rated for towing by checking your owner's manual.
• Purchase a baseplate and tow bar to tow your car safely.
• Tow the car while in a neutral transmission with the engine turned off.
• Let your car's tires move freely by unlocking the steering wheel.

Embark on the Adventure of a Lifetime

The RV trailer towing tips discussed in this article can give you some confidence on the road that nothing is likely to go wrong. But even with the best gear and utmost precautions, issues are always possible. At America's RV Warranty, we know this all too well. Our unbeatable extended warranty coverage can help you take care of unexpected and expensive costs caused by mechanical breakdowns. So, whether you own a fifth-wheel, pop-up camper or a toy hauler, you can go on the road knowing that we have your back.

Request a free quote today.