RV Towing Tips

Breakaway switch

A safety device that automatically activates the brakes of a towing vehicle if it separates from the trailer hitch.

Camper

A structure designed to be mounted to a vehicle, usually a pickup, which provides facilities for human habitation or camping.

Camp trailer

A vehicle under 16 feet in length designed to be used on a highway capable of human habitation for camping or recreational purposes.

Curb weight

The weight of the vehicle with full fuel, water, and propane tanks.

Dolly

A two-wheel trailer, used to carry the front or rear axle of another vehicle.

Endorsement

Permission granted by a licensing authority to applicants qualified by examination to drive specified vehicles.

Fifth-wheel

A vehicle designed for recreational purposes to carry persons or property on its own structure and so constructed as to be drawn by a motor vehicle by means of a kingpin connecting device.

GAWR

Gross axle weight rating (for each axle)—the maximum weight that can be safely carried by each axle. Distribute the weight properly so you don’t exceed the GAWR ratings.

GCW

Gross combination weight—the total weight of a powered unit plus trailer(s) plus the cargo.

GCWR

Gross combination weight rating—the maximum GCW specified by the manufacturer for a specific combination of vehicles plus the load.

Gross weight

The weight of the vehicle plus its load.

GVWR

Gross vehicle weight rating—the maximum weight that your
RV can carry, including driver, passengers, and cargo.

Housecar

A motor vehicle originally designed, or permanently altered, and equipped for human habitation, or to which a camper has been permanently attached.

Landing gear

The equipment designed to support the weight of a vehicle and its load on the ground.

Motorhome

A vehicle designed to provide temporary living quarters, built as an integral part of, or permanently attached to, a self-propelled motor vehicle chassis or van.

Tracking

Also called offtracking. The rear wheels of a vehicle or trailer follow a different path than the front wheels.

Travel trailer

Also called Travel coach - A vehicle, other than a motor vehicle, designed for human habitation or human occupancy for industrial, professional, or commercial purposes, for carrying property on its own structure, and for being drawn by a motor vehicle. Includes “park model” trailer.

Payload

The discretionary weight, measured by subtracting the curb weight from the GVWR to determine the amount of cargo and passengers that you can safely carry. (Example: If your RV’s curb weight is 10,500 lbs., and its GVWR is 12,500 lbs., the payload limit is 2,000 lbs.)

Unladen weight

the weight of a vehicle equipped and ready for operation on the road including five gallons of fuel, required equipment and permanent attachments to the vehicle. Does not include any load.

Before you tow a trailer, evaluate trailer weight distribution. Hitch weights for travel trailers should typically be at least 10 percent of the trailer’s gross weight for acceptable handling. In some cases it can go to 15 percent or higher. Hitch weight for larger trailers is limited by the capacities of tow vehicles and hitches. The strongest load-distributing hitch is rated for a maximum hitch weight of 1200 pounds.

If your hitch weight is less than 10 percent of the gross trailer weight, you may be able to compensate by loading heavy supplies such as tools and canned goods as far forward as possible. If your trailer’s water tank is behind the axle(s), travel with as little water in the tank as possible to reduce weight in the rear. Trailers with water tanks located in front usually handle best when the tanks are full, because the water adds to hitch weight.

Be sure that the spring bars of the load distributing hitch are rated high enough to handle the hitch weight of your trailer, plus a safety margin of at least 10 percent. Check for adequate rear suspension of the tow vehicle. This means that the vehicle sits relatively level prior to hitching the trailer.

Load-distributing hitches are designed to distribute the hitch weight relatively evenly to all axles of the tow vehicle and trailer. The tow vehicle and trailer should be in a level position (attitude) in order for the hitch to do its job properly. Here is how to check:

1. With the tow vehicle loaded for a trip, measure the distance between the vehicle and the ground at reference points, which you can establish, in front and rear. Keep the figures handy for later use.
2. Hitch the trailer and adjust the tension on the spring bars so the tow vehicle remains at roughly the same attitude (i.e., if the rear drops an inch after hitching, the front should also drop an inch).
3. Inspect the trailer to be sure it is level. If not, hitch ball height should be raised or lowered, as necessary. You may need spring bars rated for more weight if you cannot keep the tow vehicle from sagging in the rear.

Safety chains are required for travel trailers. Safety chains are not required for fifth-wheel trailers. The purpose of safety chains is to prevent the trailer from separating from the tow vehicle in event of hitch failure such as a hitch ball that has loosened. The chains should be crossed in an “X” fashion below the ball mount, with enough slack that they do not restrict turning or allow the coupler to hit the ground.

Breakaway switches are also required for any trailer having a gross weight of 1500 lbs. or more and manufactured after December 31,1955. They are designed to activate trailer brakes if the tow vehicle becomes separated from the trailer. One end of the breakaway switch is attached to an electrical switch on the trailer frame and the other end is looped around a stationary hitch component on the tow vehicle. If the two vehicles become separated, the cable pulls a pin inside the breakaway switch and applies full power from the trailer battery to the trailer brakes.

Even though hitch component failure is rare, the breakaway switch and the safety chains must be in good working order.

You can find a public scale by looking under “Weighers—Public” in the yellow pages of your local telephone directory.

Trailers must be carefully weighed to make sure that loads are properly distributed, front to rear as well as left to right. There are two additional considerations with trailer weights:

1. The tow vehicle pulling the trailer
2. The hitching system that connects the two

Both the tow vehicle and the hitching system have weight capacities which affect the safe handling of the vehicle. As a new RV owner or driver you should be aware of this.

Do not exceed the GVWR of the tow vehicle. The GVWR includes the curb weight of the vehicle, payload, and hitch weight. Hitch weight is the percentage of the trailer weight that is placed on the trailer coupler of the tow vehicle. (Refer to the next section on Trailer Vehicle Hitch Weight.) Tow vehicles also have GAWR limits. Payload and hitch weight must be divided evenly between the axles to conform with the maximum weight limits and to avoid over steering problems.

The proper tow vehicle hitch weight is approximately 10-15 percent of a trailer’s gross weight to be loaded in front of the trailer axles and onto the hitching mechanism. This ensures needed stability for road handling. If your trailer does not tow properly, you may have a problem with not enough weight on the hitch. Here are some methods to figure out hitch weight:

1. Park your loaded trailer on a scale so that the hitch coupler extends beyond the end of the scale, but the tongue jack post (the post on the front of the trailer which rests on the ground when unhitched) is on the scale.
2. Block the trailer vehicle wheels, unhitch the tow vehicle, and obtain a weight rating. This is the curb weight of the trailer vehicle alone.
3. Place a jack stand (or 4″ x 4″ blocks) under the coupler (beyond the scale) so that the tongue jack post is supported off the scale and the trailer is fairly level. Note this weight rating.
4. Subtract the reading in #2 from the reading in #3 for the hitch weight.

In any RV, vehicle stability and safety can be affected by weight distribution. If, for example, rear axle weight is low, it is best to load the heaviest supplies toward the rear. Keep heaviest supplies low, to keep the center of gravity low and ensure best handling.

This article is meant to give you some basic, but important, information about RV towing and travel trailer safety. A good understanding of RV towing and general towing safety along with lots of driving practice will help you operate your RV with greater confidence and enjoyment.

Be safe and enjoy your RV travels.
Perform a safety inspection before each trip. Make sure that:

• The pin securing the ball mount to the receiver is intact.
• The hitch coupler is secured.
• Spring bar hinges are tight with the safety clips in place (load equalizer or weight distributing hitches).
• Safety chains are properly attached.
• The electrical plug is properly installed.

People who tow RV travel trailers share the same safety concerns as Motorhome owners. However, a tow vehicle and a travel trailer form an articulated (hinged) vehicle which presents an additional set of concerns. The tow vehicle must be a proper match for the trailer. If the trailer is properly equipped, it can perform safely under a variety of driving conditions. The tow vehicle should also have enough performance to climb mountain grades without excessive loss of speed. Here are three basic types of trailers:

1. Conventional travel trailers (includes folding camping trailers).
2. Fifth-wheel trailers.
3. Motorcycle, tent, and cargo trailers.

The major difference between the three types of trailers is the way they are hitched.

Conventional Travel Trailers

The ball and coupler hitch is used on a wide variety of tow vehicle and trailer combinations. This hitch consists simply of a ball attached to the rear of the tow vehicle and a coupler (socket) at the tip of a tongue or A-frame attached to the front of the trailer. This hitch is commonly used on recreational trailers.

A load distributing hitch is used for heavier models such as utility trailers, boat trailers, and travel trailers. (See the Balance and Hitch Adjustment.) These load distributing hitches use special equipment to distribute the tongue load to all axles of the tow vehicle and trailer to help stabilize the tow vehicle. Here are some terms you should know when discussing hitch adjustment and in evaluating hitch performance:

• Receiver: Hitch platform fitted to the tow vehicle.
• Ball Mount: A removable steel component that fits into the receiver. The hitch ball and spring bars (only on load distributing hitches) are attached to it.
• Sway Control: A device designed to lessen the pivoting motion between tow vehicle and trailer when a ball­type hitch is used.
• Coupler: The ball socket at the front of the trailer A-frame that receives the hitch ball.
• Spring Bars: Load-leveling bars used to distribute hitch weight among all axles of tow vehicle and trailer in a load distributing ball-type hitch.

Fifth-wheel Trailers

Not as much attention is given to balance, hitching procedures, and weight restrictions for fifth-wheel trailers because they are basically very stable. A disadvantage that the fifth-wheel has over conventional trailers is that much of the truck bed space is not available. The fifth-wheel hitch occupies the center of the truck bed and the hitch pin is in front of the center line of the tow vehicle’s rear axle. Hitch weight of fifth-wheel trailers is usually around 20 percent of the trailer weight. Hitches are rated for up to 15,000 pounds of gross trailer weight. Here are some terms used to describe typical fifth-wheel hitch components:

• Fifth-wheel Plate: Unit that contains hitch plate, plate jaws, and handle (mounted in the truck bed).
• Handle: Device used to release or lock the plate jaws.
• Hitch Plate: “Wheel” that allows the trailer to rotate.
• Pin: The connecting device attached to a fifth-wheel trailer (designed to fit into the plate jaws mounted in the truck bed).
• Pin Box: Structure attached to the bottom front section of the trailer frame (the pin is attached to the bottom).
• Plate Jaws: Holds the pin.
• Side Rails: Support rails, bolted to the tow truck bed (supports the fifth-wheel hitch).

Motorcycle, Tent, and Cargo Trailers

There are several types of couplings between the motorcycle and the trailer. There are the:

• Ball and socket
• Ball type with a swivel
• Universal-joint type with a detachable pin
• Pin and swivel type

The coupling you choose should be:

• Non-slip, non-loosening, and non-binding
• Easy to hook and unhook
• Free moving

Motorcycle riders towing a trailer must remember to ride closer to the center of the road. You have the width of your trailer to worry about. Be careful of the “oil strip” in the center of the road at intersections. Also, watch for uneven road surfaces and road edges which can unbalance the trailer.

Transporting Passengers
Here are the rules for transporting people in RVs or recreation trailers:

• People are not allowed in a conventional travel trailer while it is being towed.
• People are allowed to ride fifth-wheel trailer equipped with an unblocked exit door which can always be opened from both the inside and outside and there is a way to communicate with the driver.
• A pickup camper with people in it must have an unblocked exit door which can always be opened from both the inside and outside and passengers must be able to communicate with the driver.

Towing small cars (often called toad or towed) behind motor homes has become popular as a way of providing transportation after the motor home is parked at a camp site. Towing a car differs from towing travel trailers or fifth-wheel trailers. Very little hitch weight is involved when the car is towed on all four wheels and only minimal hitch weight is involved when the car is towed on a dolly.

If you wish to tow a vehicle behind your motor home, you need to consider whether or not your motor home can handle the extra weight under all conditions (i.e., climbing steep hills or mountains). Your vehicle must have sufficient power to climb grades without holding up traffic and its braking power must be sufficient to stop the combined weight of the motor home plus the car and/or tow dolly effectively.

Motor home chassis manufacturers provide limits on gross combined weight (motor home plus car).

If you are towing a car, be sure the hitch attachment on the motor home is secure. Hitch weight ratings are usually stamped on the hitch assemblies. The tow bar attachment is also a concern because of the integrated frame construction used in most small cars. If you use a tow bar, safety chains are required, but a breakaway switch is not.

Fully operational tail, brake, and turn signal lights are required on the towed car.

It’s easy to forget you are towing a car when driving a large motor home because you can’t see it. So remember to allow extra space when entering a freeway or passing another vehicle so you won’t cut off the other driver. Your vehicle combination cannot exceed 65 feet. However, cities and counties may prohibit vehicle combination lengths over 60 feet, when posted.

One other thing to consider… in most states, you may only tow a single vehicle without a special endorsement or driver license. You may not tow two vehicles or trailers with a typical drivers license. (Example: You cannot tow a boat trailer/boat and car behind your motor home or pickup/camper.)

As people get their travel trailers and boats ready for a trip to a campground or lake, Michigan Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land reminds people to ensure their trailers are towed safely.

“Make sure your vacation memories are about summer fun, and not roadside repairs or worse,” Land said. “Take a few extra minutes before you leave to look over your trailer so you and your loved ones reach your destination safely. When you’re on the road, use extra caution and allow more stopping time and distance between vehicles.”

Land reminds people that the law requires trailers or pop-up campers weighing 3,000 pounds or less to have two reflectors, one on each side, as well as safety chains that connect the tow vehicle to the trailer. The chains should be loose enough to allow sharp turns but not drag on the road.

Additionally, before people head out, Land advises them to:

• Check tire pressure on the trailer and tow vehicle
• Ensure the wiring is loose enough to make turns without disconnecting or touching the ground
• Verify their vehicle and hitch setup is able to pull the size of trailer they have
• Check all turn signals, and running, hazard and brake lights to see if they’re in working order
• Make sure all items on the trailer are properly secured
• Position side- and rear-view mirrors for good visibility
• Raise the trailer jack, tongue support and any stabilizers and lock in place

“Nothing makes for a fun summer getaway like a trip to your favorite camp site or lake,” Land said. “Keep your vacation enjoyable and carefree by properly securing your trailer so it’s ready to hit the road.”

Once on the road, people should:

• Give themselves a much greater stopping distance than they would need without the trailer
• Signal well in advance when passing a slower vehicle and allow extra distance to clear the vehicle
• Use the automatic gear setting that the vehicle manufacturer recommends for pulling a trailer
• Avoid sudden starts or stops that can cause skidding, sliding or jackknifing
• Make wider turns at corners so the trailer doesn’t hit the curb
• Have another person assist when backing up the vehicle and trailer when possible

Land Michigan reminds residents they can obtain more traffic safety advice and more information about the department’s programs and services at www.Michigan.gov/sos.

Our 2007 Chaparral Fifth Wheel RV

In the meantime you may want to visit RVbasics.com and RVTipofTheDay.com