Again, to get more specific info on picking a tow vehicle, watch the video. Will you be using slippery, algae-covered ramps, or towing over sand or mud? Then you'd better get four-wheel drive. Will you regularly head to the mountains? Then a diesel, with more low-end torque, may be a good move. Location, location, location After determining just how much grunt you need in your tow vehicle, consider where you'll be trailering. Generally speaking, you can simply match the trailer hitch with the ball hitch you buy for your tow vehicle trailer boaters with multiple boats usually choose a "receiver" hitch, which allows you to quickly and easily swap out different size hitches for different trailers. You'll also have to take hitch ball size into consideration. If it is outside of these parameters, trailer sway is a distinct-and dangerous-possibility. Tongue Weight Matters Tongue weight should always be between 10 and 15 percent of the total boat-and-trailer package (gross towing weight, or GTW, which is the GCVW minus the tow vehicle's weight). Obviously this can change, depending on factors like the boat's load and where it sits on the trailer. Tongue weight is just what it sounds like: the amount of weight bearing down on the tongue of a trailer. Accessories like weight-distributing hitches can change the capacity. Wait a sec-if hitches are measured by class, why are we using qualifiers like "about," and "up to"? Because these figures aren't as cut-and-dried as one might hope. This, however, is reserved for very large loads and should only be considered by experienced towers. Beyond that, you may need to have a "fifth wheel," which usually sits inside the bed of a monster-sized pick-up. A Class II hitch is good for up to about 3,500 pounds, Class III goes up to 5,000 pounds, Class IV goes up to 12,000 pounds, and Class V can tow as much as 18,000 pounds. Hitches that are Class I (commonly called "bumper hitches") aren't really appropriate for much more than a small sailing skiff, dinghy, or jon boat that weighs under 2,000 pounds. Towing Hitches: A Matter of Class Hitches are rated by class, and depending on how heavy your boat and trailer are, you may need a Class I, II, III, IV or V hitch. This includes items like extended towing mirrors, transmission coolers, and of course, the tow hitch itself. Obviously, the tow vehicle will also need a set of towing accessories (commonly called a "tow package"). So break out a calculator, add up the weight of your boat, trailer, and vehicle, and make sure the vehicle you're considering has a GCVW in excess of that figure. Every tow vehicle is going to have a stated maximum GCVW. This number is the weight of your loaded vehicle, along with the total weight of your trailer and boat. As far as weight goes, it all boils down to gross combined vehicle weight (GCVW). In a nutshell, you need to consider the weight of your rig, the type of terrain you'll be navigating, and just how important your own personal comfort is. In the video What to Look For in a Tow Vehicle, we cover all the bases and walk you through the things you need to think about before making your choice. An Introduction to Boat Towing If you’re starting from scratch, the first thing you need to know is how to pick out the best truck or SUV to haul your boat down the road. And we’ve filmed several videos and written many articles that will help you ramp up your trailering skills. Photo of a Ranger Tug by Neil Rabinowitz Never fear, new trailer boater-helping you understand the ins and outs of different types of boats and boating is why we’re here. There is one big challenge, though, particularly for those new to trailer boating: learning how to tow a boat in the first place.Īre you ready to launch that new trailer boat rig? If not, read on.
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