The Ultimate RV Towing Guide

Vacation time is the perfect time to go on a trip and stay in an RV. You will need a tow vehicle to tow your RV or travel trailer before you set out on the open road. If you are new to towing RVs, you have come to the right place.

We'll dive deeper into what an RV and travel trailer are, explain how to hitch your travel trailer safely, how to understand your vehicle's towing capacity, examine how to safely tow an RV as well as discuss the benefits of practicing towing in an empty parking lot.

What is an RV?

RV is short for Recreational Vehicle, an RV refers to a motorhome or trailer that offers living quarters and a sleeping area. RVs are available in a variety of sizes. There are 3 categories of RVs, these are known as motorhomes, truck campers and trailers.

Motorhomes

Motorhomes are motorized houses, they can be driven themselves and don’t need to be towed by tow vehicles like pickup trucks. Motorhomes come in three categories, we'll break these down below.

Class A motorhomes

This category consists of the biggest RVs available, measuring up to 45 feet long. These RVs utilize a commercial bus chassis and can sleep up to 10 people. These RVs also come as slide-outs adding more breadth to the RV.

These RVs are usually diesel-driven getting 8-10 miles per gallon. These motorhomes are expensive, luxury buys.

Class B motorhomes

Class B motorhomes are the smallest of the bunch. They are made with a van chassis and are often referred to as “camper vans”. You must have heard about the trend .vanlife, if so you will want a van like this. These vans are converted cargo or passenger vans, now with living, dining and kitchen space. Sprinter vans are a popular choice in this category.

You can only fit one bed in these vans, making them ideal for a single traveler or couple on a road trip.

Class C Motorhomes

These RVs fit in the middle of the 2 above-mentioned categories. They are usually 20- 34 feet long. They are manufactured using a truck chassis, meaning they will be easier to steer than a Class A motorhome and also be more spacious than a Class B motorhome.

This category of RV has a sleeping section, small dining area, kitchen and bathroom. They sleep 4-8 people, suiting families or a bunch of friends.

What’s the Difference Between a Motorhome and a Travel Trailer?

RVs that need to be towed are known to us as travel trailers. Towing an RV has some benefits, like the fact that you can town the RV with your own car, given it has a hitch and the right tow capacity. While motorhomes have their own engine and don't need to be towed.

Trailer Types that You Can Safely Tow

We will explain the various types of trailers that can be towed, for extra clarification on the matter.

Fifth-Wheel Trailers

These refer to trailers that can be towed by a pickup truck that has a fifth-wheel hitch.

Travel Trailers

These trailers are towed behind a car such as a pickup truck or big SUV. They come in multiple sizes and weight categories. The lighter, smaller travel trailers mean a regular size pickup truck or SUV will suffice.

Pop-up/ “folding trailers”

These are light and small, their roofs rise and come with canvas walls. They offer extra indoor living space and don’t add too much more weight. These trailers can be referred to as “small campers” and can be towed by a small car.

Toy Haulers

These trailers are for outdoor sports enthusiasts. If you need to transport ATVs, paddleboards, bikes or a kayak, a toy hauler would suit you. Toy haulers are also known as trailers or RVs. Toy haulers can be more about storage than living space, so bear that in mind.

Utility haulers

This is a version similar to a toy hauler but it has no living space. It’s simply a trailer for transporting your outdoor sports equipment.

Truck Campers

A truck camper isn’t a motorhome or a towable trailer, it comes with a tiny cabin, that fits into a pick-up truck. Truck campers are equipped with a sleep section, mini kitchen and mini dining area. A truck camper can travel most places a pickup truck can.

Is RV Another Word for Travel Trailer?

Yes, "RV" is another word for "travel trailer," towing a travel trailer is possible with a pickup truck or SUV, as mentioned.

You will need to know the maximum towing capacity for your tow vehicle when you are hitching a travel trailer to your tow vehicle. We'll look at this more closely below.

Fuel Economy When Towing Your RV

It is estimated that every time 100 pounds of weight is added to a truck it negatively affects fuel economy by 2 percent. Towing a bigger RV will have more impact on your fuel economy.

Your gas mileage will also be higher, as you're traveling long distances to your vacation spot.

Understanding Vehicle's Towing Capacity and Travel Trailer Weight

What is the towing capacity of a vehicle? This refers to the amount of weight a vehicle can tow behind it. You figure out the towing capacity of a car by examining its axles and ratings. Towing capacity is only discussed when looking at SUVs and pick-up trucks because small cars don’t have towing strength.

You must examine your car’s ratings when you are deciding to tow your RV or travel trailer. This can be found on the driver’s doorframe. This indicates the trailer type that you can tow on your tow vehicle easily and safely too.

You need to consider your trailer’s weight. If the trailer is too heavy for the towing vehicle, it can damage the towing car and RV too.

How to Pack Your Travel Trailer Evenly

As a rookie RV hauler, mistakes can be made that will compromise your trip, tow vehicle, or trailer. When you pack your trailer, you need to ensure that the we

ight within it, is evenly distributed. The weight can be heavier at the front.

When you place more weight at the front of the RV, you add more weight onto the hitch, which offers a smoother towing experience. If you are feeling like your trailer is out of control and is swaying, it could indicate that there is too much weight on the back side of your RV.

Driving with Black and Grey Water Tanks Empty

If you drive with full tanks, there can also be weight distribution problems.

To note: 1 gallon of water weighs about 8 pounds, and you may have several of these. If your RV is full in its grey and black water tanks, this will add 400 or more pounds to your RV’s overall weight.

Take a moment to consider where your tanks are placed in the RV. This could destabilize the RV whilst towing it, we recommend traveling with empty grey and black tanks.

What is a Hitch?

You need to know how to hitch and unhitch your trailer before you set out on vacation or a road trip. These processes vary between hitch types and trailer types. You need to know your rig’s setup and follow certain steps when hitching and unhitching. If you don’t do this you can damage the RV or tow vehicle.

We recommend creating a step-by-step written guide on hitching and unhitching. This helps prevent disasters or mistakes from happening.

The Need for a Trailer Hitch Receiver

A trailer hitch adapter is on the underneath side of the vehicle and has a 1-1/4" x 1-1/4" or 2" x 2" opening. The hitch attaching area aligns with the holes on the vehicle frame. For heavy-trailer tows, 2-1/2" x 2-1/2" receiver connections can be used.

Using a Pin and a Clip

This mechanism secures the ball mount inside the trailer hitch receiver’s opening. You can also get a hitch lock which adds extra safety, making theft of your trailer accessories harder.

How to Hitch Your Travel Trailer Onto Your RV

If you are shopping for a truck, you must consider which hitch you will use on your tow vehicle. There are a few hitch types with different uses, that we’ll look into, below. Securing your RV trailers to a hitch ball is an important step before your start towing and you need to know how to do it correctly.

First, we need to understand trailer hitch balls and their relevance, then we will look more closely at hitch types you can use when towing a travel trailer.

Trailer hitch ball

The trailer hitch ball is the connection area where the truck and trailer coupler connect. This attachment pivots from the trailer and lets you turn more easily.

The size of your trailer hitch ball

There are 3 common sizes for trailer hitch balls: These are 1-7/8” (inches), 2” plus 2-5/16” in their diameter. Rarely you’ll come across a 3” size hitch ball. These balls vary size-wise according to shank diameter and length.

The differing ball size affects the weight capacity of your towing. Trailer hitch balls must have a matching hitch ball mount.

What’s the regular hitch ball size?

The regular size is a 2” hitch ball. This hitch ball fits the majority of class 3 receivers. A 2” hitch ball is a medium-duty size, it can tow boat trailers, utility trailers and campers.

For a heavy haul, you should use a2-5/16" hitch ball in size. To note: this size of hitch ball can also be utilized for gooseneck-type tow hitches.

Gooseneck hitches connect to a ball found in the truck’s bed, you can tow horse trailers with this.

What size is a gooseneck Ball?

Gooseneck hitch ball size varies. The majority of them are__ __2-5/16". Here, you may find the rare 3" hitch ball. These hitch balls differ related to shank diameters and their length.

Using a Ball Mount

A “ball mount” is also called a “drawbar,” which is the section that fits into the hitch opening offering a platform for when you mount the ball. Ball mounts come in an array of heights and sizes. Your ball mount must fit into the hitch opening, making your trailer level.

What Size Hitch Ball Does my Trailer Need?

There are these three questions you must ask that effect this decision:

  • What is the travel trailer’s coupler size?
  • What does your travel trailer’s ball hole look like?
  • What is the travel trailer’s weight capacity?

Your hitch ball’s diameter must correspond with the coupler size. They must connect correctly. The trailer’s ball shank could disconnect if it's smaller than your trailer’s ball hole. Your trailer ball must have a weight rating greater than the overall weight of your trailer.

Now, that we understand hitch balls and their sizing, we'll take an in-depth look at hitch types.

Weight-carrying hitch

Weight-carrying hitches are usually used in the case of towing small or medium-size trailers. If you aim to equally distribute your trailer’s weight, a trailer tongue will connect through your bumper and frame area.

Weight distribution hitch

This type of hitch uses a hitch platform to even out tongue load to the trailer and tow vehicle. A weight distribution hitch platform will be welded or sometimes bolted to the trailer’s frame. There will be equalizing arms that join the hitch to the trailer’s A-frame. This can be manipulated for the ultimate tow.

Spring bars move upwards while chan is pulled taught. This removes weight from the rear wheels and shifts the weight to the other wheels of both the tow vehicle and trailer.

Gooseneck Hitch

This hitch comes together at the truck bed using universal rails. This is often used for farming and horse trailers. It gives you extra stability for heavy loads, the tongue’s weight is on the truck bed and back axles.

Fifth wheel hitch

The fifth wheel hitch is used majorly for RVs, it's fastened in the pickup bed, to add more weight over the towing car.

Once you have chosen the appropriate hitch, you will need to hitch your trailer to the towing car.

Using a Wiring Harness

This allows power and signals on the trailer lights to work. All tow vehicles are legally required to have a wiring harness to add power for the trailer lights.

A T-One wire harness plugs into the tow vehicle’s existing wire network. In this case, you won’t need to cut or even splice wires. Or, you can hardwire the tow vehicle using quick-splice connectors. Your wiring harness also has a plug or electric connector connecting the wires so your brake lights and indicator show on your towed travel trailer.

The Purpose of Your Trailer Tongue

Your trailer will have a very long tongue, this refers to the area of your trailer that extends in a forward direction, away from the trailer area. Tongues are important for your safety.

The tongue weight infers the static force your trailer tongue places onto the hitch area. If that weight is too little, your trailer will sway. If it’s too heavy, you can place too much weight on the rear tires of your tow car.

The Towing Capacity of Your Vehicle

Kelly Blue Book states that “towing capacity” infers the maximum weight your car can haul while towing your RV or whatever it is you need to tow like a boat. Your pickup truck’s towing capacity refers to the load it can tow.

What is GVWR?

The GVWR/ Gross Vehicle Weight Rating is designated by your vehicle's manufacturer. It's written on the driver's side door. This is referred to as the maximum weight capacity of a car minus the trailer.

“Curb weight” is the total weight of a car, a pickup truck’s GVWR considers the car’s weight, plus the weight of the people in the car and its cargo, to ascertain how much weight it can carry.

What affects the towing capacity of a vehicle?

When you use your tow vehicle to tow an RV or travel trailer takes strength from the towing car, a transmission that is engineered to evenly space out this weight, axles that are weight bearing plus suspension aimed to give passengers and drivers a smoother ride.

Auto manufacturers aim at offering optimal towing capacity while not affecting fuel economy too negatively.

How much weight can your tow vehicle carry?

Before you head out on the open road, double-check your tow vehicle for its towing specs. Your vehicle some with a gross vehicle weight rating Did you know the engine, gearbox, car size, axles, cabby size, and bed size affect the car’s towing capacity?

For example, an enhanced RAM 3500 is able to tow more than 30, 000 pounds (Maximum Towing Capacity or GVWR), yet this decreases if the right features and options aren’t there.

How do I work out the tongue weight of my travel trailer?

The tongue weight on travel trailers can be seen as the “hitch weight” and that’s 10-15% of the trailer’s GVWR.

Size of Vehicle and its Towing Capacity

When you have a vehicle that you aim to use as a tow vehicle, you need to know its maximum towing capacity or GVWR. This will affect which trailer you can actually safely tow without encountering any issues with braking or trailer sway on the road.

Mid-size or Compact Towing Vehicles

People who love weekend road trips can haul small campers with a maximum towing capacity (or GVWR) of 5, 000 – 7,000 pounds.

Examples of cars in this towing range are the Honda Ridgeline, Toyota Tacoma and Chevrolet Colorado.

Full-size Towing Vehicles

Full-sized trucks are a popular choice in the US market, being manufactured with optimal torque and towing capacity. The maximum tow capacity in this size truck range is from 9, 740- 13, 200 pounds GVWR.

Examples of trucks in this towing range: Nissan Titan, GMC Sierra 1500 and Ford F-150s.

Heavy-duty towing vehicles

When towing a big fifth wheel, it will necessitate the use of a heavy-duty truck. The maximum towing capacity in this range is from 12,760 to 18,500 pounds GVWR.

Examples of trucks in this towing range are the RAM 2500, Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD, or the Ford Super Duty F-250.

Ultra-duty towing vehicles

These cars are beefed up when it comes to towing capacity. The maximum towing capacity ranges from 20,000 to 32,000 pounds GVWR. They are strong but offer a less smooth ride than their counterparts.

Examples of trucks in this towing range are the GMC Sierra 3500HD, Ram 3500 and the Ford Super Duty F-350.

Acquiring Knowledge on How to Tow an RV

You should check your owner's manual section on towing to get a better sense of if there's any critical information you need before you start.

We'll give you pointers on driving techniques when towing your RV.

Tips on How to Tow an RV Safely

Don’t drive too fast in your tow vehicle whilst towing an RV/towing a travel trailer. It will take longer for you to go faster, slower or even stop with the additional weight you are hauling.

Don’t tail drivers ahead of you, provide a safe following distance as slowing down and stopping takes longer. It’s recommended that no passengers are in the RV whilst towing. It is considered illegal and dangerous too.

Keep an eye on your travel trailer's weight and height

Keep track of your weight, and make sure you packed your trailer evenly. We recommend putting 60% of the total weight at the trailer’s front as this helps overall stability.

Another pointer to remember is to know the height of your trailer. When traveling add 6 inches to this height so you can get clearance under bridges.

Buy the correct side mirrors for your tow vehicle

Ensure you buy extended side mirrors so you can see your trailer behind you as you tow it. We don’t recommend only using your standard side mirrors as there will be certain blind spots.

Take turns in the correct manner while towing a travel trailer

An important thing to consider is your turning style. A longer trailer, means you need a wider turn. Also, ensure you slow down a bit while turning to perfect the maneuver. Reversing can be tough for people new to RV towing. Do it slowly and try to avoid doing it while on a busy road.

How to tow an RV on a steep hill or mountain pass

If your route takes you up a steep hill or steep mountain passes this can be intimidating. Stick to the right-hand side of the road if you are going to climb the hill rather slowly. Ensure you switch on your hazard lights if you are traveling way below the speed limit.

Check Your Tire Pressure

Make sure you look over the tire pressure on your RV and towing car before leaving the house. Ensure your tires are at the correct inflation level. Check your spare tire is also inflated at the right level. You can check these details in your owner’s manual if you are unsure of things.

Ensure Your RV’s Batteries are Charged

Check on your RV batteries and charge them up if they’re low. Then your RV will be ready for the journey ahead.

The Trailer Brakes System and How They Work When Towing an RV

Your travel trailer usually comes with an in-built braking system, or you can buy one separately as an add-on and get it installed. This helps overall braking in conjunction with the tow vehicle.

An RV's electric brake system

Almost all RVs have electric trailer brakes, that come with a built-in electric brake controller (or one you can add to your rig) that controls the power applied to the braking system. If suddenly, the trailer separates from the tow vehicle, something called a “breakaway switch” triggers the trailer brakes.

Setting the trailer brakes by manipulating the trailer brake controller

Manipulating the trailer’s brake controller is critical and rather simple if you use your owner’s manual instructions. What you ideally want to do is manipulate the controller so the trailer pulls on your tow vehicle and doesn’t lock the trailer brakes. What should happen is that the towing car, will slow down congruently to the trailer, so it feels like the rig and car aren’t individual entities but one big, moving vehicle.

Assess your tow vehicle and travel trailer brake power

It's important to test the “gain” or power of your brakes while towing your RV on a paved surface at a speed of around 25 miles per hour, then hit the brakes completely and use your manual lever connected to the brake control system.

Consider the weight of your travel trailer affecting braking

You may need to manipulate your brake control system according to the weight of your travel trailer. The weight will have a toll on braking efficiency.

When you hit the brakes, your RV mustn’t tug your tow vehicle or have too much reliance on the towing car’s brakes to affect a full stop. Manipulate the brake controller, so your travel trailer stops easily when going slowly and fast.

How To Tow an RV Whilst Going Downhill

When your vehicle is moving downhill whilst towing, this can prove quite tricky, but you will play it safe. Use your engine braking if your towing car is equipped for this. This will put your engine in a lower gear as you descend downhill without your foot on the accelerator.

You may still need to hit the brakes, especially if it’s a steep descent. Don’t brake too heavily if you're on a turn and going downhill, this may make your trailer jackknife.

By being aware of the brakes in your towing vehicle and your trailer's brakes you will be able to have a safe road trip with your partner, friends, or family.

Be Aware of the Route You Aim to Travel

It's important to take a look at your route before you head out with your RV hitched to your truck. People like to make use of GPS systems to keep on top of their route and not get lost on a road trip.

There are many GPS systems available on the market. Some people like to use Google Maps on their cellphones. We don't recommend this as your cellphone's battery will lose charge quickly and then you will be stuck without a GPS for navigation purposes.

Check the route you're taking on Google Maps first and have a sense of where you're going. Some trucks come with an in-built GPS system or you could buy a device like a Garmin. You don't want to get horribly lost and have to backtrack when you're towing a travel trailer. Towing a trailer takes more concentration and finesse on turns so ensure you don't get lost.

Practicing Towing Safety in an Empty Parking Lot

A wonderful way to practice the maneuvers made while towing is to practice towing your RV whilst in an empty parking lot. This way you will be prepared when you’re on the open road or highway and surrounded by other cars.

In the empty parking lot practice turning and backing up. Drive slowly and take wide turns. The longer the trailer you’re towing, the wider you will need to take a turn.

Make Sure You Have Insurance for Your RV and Tow Vehicle

Insuring your RV is not dissimilar to getting vehicle insurance. You will get liability as well as collision or comprehensive insurance that covers you, and the passengers when in an accident, there’s an injury, the RV is stolen or you’re in an area where a natural disaster struck.

The type of insurance you get and how much coverage you need to choose is based on your RV’s class. You can look at insurance options online and compare quotes.

Ensure your tow vehicle is insured properly too, should anything happen to it.

Conclusion

We have ultimately looked at how to tow an RV safely. Firstly, there are other aspects of your towing car and travel trailer or RV that you need to consider before going on a road trip. We looked at which RVs are suited to be towed by which truck or SUV, and which hitch and hitch ball to choose.

You should hitch your RV and practice towing it in an empty parking lot. We also mentioned you need to insure bother the towing vehicle and the RV being towed. Getting an RV is a great move towards having a fun vacation.

We hope you feel more confident going through all the necessary steps of matching the right RV to the right tow vehicle, the weight considerations you must make, the need to adjust the trailer's brake system, and how to drive and tow safely. We hope your next towing adventure with your RV brings many happy memories!

FAQs

What Is the Best Way to Tow an RV?

Surprisingly enough towing a travel trailer is relatively easy. When you drive in a certain direction the trailer follows suit. Ensure your vehicle has a rating allowing you to tow a trailer, thus, going uphill, braking, going downhill and other normal driving behaviors should work easily.

What Do You Need to Tow an RV?

There are certain components of an RV and extra things you may need in order to tow one. These include a trailer hitch receiver, a trailer hitch ball, a ball mount, a pin, and clip, and lastly a wiring harness. With these various elements connected up, your RV will be ready for towing.

Should You Use Cruise Control When Towing?

Luckily you can use cruise control when towing. This is handy during long-distance travel when covering greater distances, and will help improve your fuel economy when you're on long straight roads.

How Fast Should You Drive Towing a Travel Trailer?

Lower your average speed by 10-20 miles when towing a travel trailer, rather than going at 70 MPH, go at 60 MPH. On a narrow, windy road, go even slower. Tires on most travel trailers have ratings to travel at 60-65 MPH.

How Can I Make Towing Easier?

Ensure you know your towing capacity, pack your trailer evenly, check the tries on your tow vehicle and travel trailer before driving, drive slower than normal and ensure you use the correct hitch.

Resources

https://www.outdoorsy.com/blog/what-is-an-rv

https://togorv.com/rv-living/the-ultimate-rv-towing-guide/

https://rvlife.com/guide-to-towing-a-travel-trailer/amp/

https://www.mortonsonthemove.com/how-to-tow-an-rv/

https://www.motorbiscuit.com/gvwr-vs-towing-capacity-whats-the-difference-for-my-truck/

https://www.uhaul.com/Tips/Trailer-Hitches/What-Size-Hitch-Ball-Do-I-Need-for-My-Trailer-26772/

https://togorv.com/rv-living/rv-towing-safety-10-tips-for-a-stress-free-journey/.:~:text=Practice%20driving%20in%20an%20empty%20parking%20lot&text=So%20find%20an%20empty%20parking,wide%20as%20you%20reasonably%20can

https://www.etrailer.com/faq-towsystem.aspx

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