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TOWING
TOW VEHICLE EQUIPMENT
If you plan to buy a new vehicle to tow your trailer, we suggest that you include in
your purchase the towing options offered by most tow vehicle manufacturers. These
include such things as a heavy-duty alternator and radiator, heavy-duty springs (See
Note), shock absorbers, transmission cooler, heavy-duty fan and flasher unit and
others, depending upon the make of the vehicle.
Transmissions may be manual or automatic, but an automatic transmission may pro-
long your tow vehicle’s life and generally does a better job of controlling engine loads
than the average driver using a manual shift.
Having adequate power is very important when considering the purchase of a new
vehicle or the trailer towing capability of your present one. American manufacturers
realize more than 30% of the vehicles they sell will be used for towing some type of
trailer. The dealers are provided with guidelines to use when helping a customer decide
on a tow vehicle. The guidelines are not just determined by the power output of the
engine. The gear ratio of the differential is also a very important part of the guideline.
Inspect the vehicle’s hitch regularly for loose bolts or nuts, cracked welds, loose ball
mounts, and worn parts.
New trailerists often carry more food and other supplies than really needed. Remember
that every item you take along is one more thing to stow and adds weight to the total
load you must pull. Consolidate items in shelves, lockers, and in the refrigerator. It is
better to have one full and one empty locker, than two half empty ones. Special care
must be taken not to overload the front and rear ends of the trailer.
NOTE: Be realistic when ordering heavy duty springs. Only springs heavy enough to
support your loaded vehicle (not including trailer) are necessary. Too harsh of spring
rate will only shorten the life of the tow vehicle and trailer, and will make your journeys
less enjoyable.
ELECTRIC BRAKES
The brakes are operated by 12 volt current from your tow vehicle and MUST BE
HOOKED UP SO THAT YOU HAVE AN INTEGRAL SYSTEM WITH YOUR TOW
VEHICLE BRAKES. To prevent problems and insure satisfactory braking action, install
an electronic controller in line with the brakes in your tow vehicle.
An electronic controller installed in your tow vehicle will synchronize the trailer brakes
with your tow vehicle brakes. It is designed to apply the trailer brakes with your tow
vehicle brakes.
Your brake controller should be adjusted to provide for a slight lead of the trailer brakes
over the tow vehicle brakes. Follow the directions provided with your controller and
keep the information for future reference. Don’t be afraid to ask questions! If you don’t
understand the directions, have the installer explain the procedures.
Due to normal brake lining wear, the brakes and the controller setting should be
checked and readjusted, if necessary, during the trailer manufacturer’s recommended
inspection intervals.
Note: Brake lining adjustment should be periodically checked (fully) to be sure trailer
brakes are in the same adjustment as the tow vehicles.
Properly set adjustments will provide for safe comfortable stops. They will also
help assure optimum brake and tire life for both the tow vehicle and the trailer.