The Ultimate Towing Guide

If you're an RVer, you most likely have had to tow or pull something behind your vehicle or rig. Whether it's just a utility trailer or a tow dolly or perhaps even a 5th wheel or motorhome. Maybe you are getting your first boat or borrowing a friends boat. You should really know a thing or two about hauling a heavy load or pulling a trailer beforehand. There are many different ways of towing that we'll discuss in this article. Some of the most common ways of towing include using tow bars, tow dollies, trailers and even winches. In this article, we will learn how to hitch up your trailer properly and the correct way to pull it as well as the pros and cons of each towing application.

What is a Tow Dollie

A tow dollie is used to transport vehicles behind a trailer or motorhome by elevating the front wheels of the pulled vehicle so only the rear wheels touch the ground. In fact, the first tow dollie was introduce by U-Haul. There are now many other brands with other popular names such as Demco Kar Kaddy. Most RVers pull a tow dolly behind their motorhome with their secondary vehicle so they can use it and leave their RV at the campsite. It makes things easier instead of driving a 25 ft. rig around town. Tow dollies tow vehicles by two wheels. A car drives up the ramp and two wheels stay behind to roll on the road. Using a tow dollie is one of the most popular and easiest options for people who need to haul a vehicle. It's also not as expensive as it would be to buy a 4 wheeled trailer.

Trailer Pros & Cons

Trailers tow your load off the ground. They can carry a wide variety of cars, trucks, motorcyles and just about anything else you need to haul. Trailers are very heavy and can decrease your average mpg of fuel. They also run the risk of swaying badly. This is where a weight distribution hitch would be useful. It can reduce trailer sway and give you a much smoother ride on the road. One reason people stay away from trailers are due to the higher cost to buy and install them compared to a tow dollie. With a tow dollie you can easily store them at your campsite. They are a whole lot more compact.

What are tow bars

Tow bars have a bar and a base plate. The plate attaches to the metal of the vehicle and is custom for each make and model. The A-Frame tow bar is a good choice for beginners as it is fairly priced and can tow most vehicles. Don't forget to attach the safety chains! Using a tow bar to haul your vehicle is pretty simple and it's an easy space saving method for towing. Once you are at your location such as the campsite, you can easily unhook the tow bar for storage.

What is a winch?

A winch is a device used to haul or lift an object. It works by using a super strong rope or steel cable that is wrapped around a rotating drum that is automatically turned by a motor. They are usually mounted at the rear of towing vehicles or \ front of ATVs. There are many types of winches available depending on the different type of application you will be using it for. Electric winches allow you to hook up to electrical power as their source of power while manual winches use a hand crank that you must manually turn with your hand. They have different weight limits from 500 lbs all the way to 30k lbs and more. Having a winch isn't necessary for towing but is a handy tool just in case you need it.

Before towing, you need to check and see how much weight your vehicle can pull. Our tow ratings database will help you find your make and model along with towing capacity. We even provide additional notes that might be helpful for some makes and models. You also need to check the rated weight for your specific hitch. You can check the owners manual as well to see weight limits.

Hope this was able to help you with your towing questions. Have a safe and happy trip!

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