What Amateur Haulers Need To Know About Towing
Haulers who are new to the towing business generally make mistakes when it comes to inspecting the functionality of their equipment. For more information, read the article.
Before planning to tow any kind of load, it is a basic rule to inspect the trailer, hitch and vehicle properly to make sure that everything is working adequately for safely undertaking the haul. However, amateurs usually tend to forget certain things that can create safety hazards if not taken care of properly. For instance, besides checking the hitch, it is also important to make sure that the load does not exceed the hitch capacity. However, there have been instances where a hauler overlooked this necessary check.
When there is a need to tow weights which are quite close to the GCWR (gross combined weight rating) of the vehicle, extensive research will have to be done. One might even have to upgrade the brakes, suspension, drivetrain and cooling system. However, it should be kept in mind that modifications like real air springs, which generally aid in tackling excess tongue weight for trailers such as a 4 car hauler, cannot raise the GCWR or GVWR of a tow vehicle.
While choosing a vehicle for regular towing applications, using a little common one can help significantly to pick the best one. For example, a ¾ ton truck is weaker than a 1 ton rig, a truck with dual rear wheels can bear more load than one having a single rear wheel. There is one more fact that has to be recognized — the more experienced a driver is, the more equanimous he would be behind the steering wheel while towing loads that match the GVWR. Thus, before pulling heavy weights, getting used to hauling light loads is important.
For amateurs, the safest and most stable method for towing heavy load is by using a 5th-wheel hitch. A 5th-wheel hitch comprises metal rails and a flat large plate which run underneath the hitch and then attach to the truck’s mainframe for providing utmost strength. Its design naturally ensures an effective load distribution and thereby removes stress from a particular area.
A newbie can also resort to gooseneck towing for hauling bulky loads instead of bumper-towing. This is because gooseneck balls distribute the weight of a trailer over rear axle. Besides that, there is also the added benefit of maneuvering the trailer more easily to make comfortable sharp turns. Drivers might even be able to get their hands on gooseneck balls with a rating of 40,000 pounds. But using them can make the task of hooking the trailer to the tow vehicle a difficult one.
