Towing is the act of pulling a vehicle or load behind another. This is commonly used to move disabled vehicles or heavy cargo over long distances.
Towing can cause significant wear and tear to your truck’s suspension system. It also reduces traction and stability, especially on uneven terrain. Therefore, it is essential to understand the basics of towing before attempting it. Contact Azteca Towing now!
Whether you’re hauling a vehicle or a load, there are a number of safety protocols that should be adhered to in order to avoid accidents and ensure operator and customer safety. Understanding and adhering to these towing safety measures can help you avoid the common mistakes that lead to disastrous results on the road.
Always keep your focus on the road and eliminate distractions when towing. Maintain a safe speed and create larger following distances than normal to reduce your risk of collisions with the vehicle in front of you. Ensure the tire pressure on both the tow vehicle and trailer is correct, and make sure all lug nuts/bolts are properly tightened. Check and replace the battery if necessary, and ensure that all running lights, blinkers, and hazard lights are functioning correctly. The engine of your tow vehicle is more likely to overheat when hauling a load, so pull over often and allow it to cool completely before checking the radiator fluid levels.
Know Your Truck’s Capacity
As anyone involved in logistics or freight management knows, knowing the payload capacity of your vehicles is vital. Loading them with more weight than their capacity limits can lead to safety risks, legal issues and expensive damage to the vehicle.
To find your truck’s capacity, start with its Gross Combined Weight Rating, which is usually listed on a plate on the sidewall of the vehicle or in its owner’s manual. Then subtract its curb weight to get the maximum load it can safely carry.
Using a streamlined tool such as Sourcetable can help you estimate your vehicle’s towing and payload capacities more efficiently. The app takes into account vehicle make and model, engine size and transmission type to deliver accurate results. It also provides a helpful graphical representation to visualize the load limits of your vehicle.
Know Your Trailer’s Capacity
Whether you’re buying a new trailer or working on an old one, it’s essential to know its maximum capacity. This information can help you avoid over-taxing your vehicle or putting excessive strain on its components, such as the engine, drive-train, and tires.
The first step to knowing your trailer’s capacity is determining its curb weight, which can be found on a sticker located on the VIN label or by referring to its manufacturer details. Then, subtract the trailer’s empty weight from its GVWR to find its cargo capacity.
When it comes to shopping for a trailer, there are many acronyms and terms thrown around that can be confusing. Knowing the differences between GCWR, GTW, and payload capacity will help you make the best decision for your specific needs. Below is a breakdown of some of these terms.
Know Your Vehicle’s Suspension System
Your vehicle’s suspension system takes a beating on every drive. You hit potholes, bump into curbs, and maybe even get into a fender bender or two. This puts your suspension through a lot of wear and tear, making it important to understand its functions.
The suspension system is the unsung hero of your comfortable ride, insulating the cabin against impact and vibrations while maintaining tire-road contact. It consists of various components like springs, shock absorbers, struts, and control arms.
Listen for unusual noises when going over bumps or turning, especially clunking and rattling. Also, check for uneven tire wear and drifting or pulling when turning. Lastly, inspect the rubber bushings that separate metal suspension parts for cracks or damage. They are often black and have a doughnut shape. You should not be able to move these by hand.
Know Your Vehicle’s Tires
If you were to walk for hours with a heavy backpack, even at your normal comfortable pace, your back and legs would probably start to feel it. Similarly, towing can put serious strain on your vehicle and its components.
In order to maintain your vehicle’s safety and performance, it is crucial to inspect your tires regularly. Make sure the tires are properly inflated, have sufficient tread depth and that there is no damage or wear.
The numbers and letters on a tire’s sidewall may seem confusing, but they each have meaning. The first number or letter indicates the metric or tire type (P-Metric or LT-Metric). The next two numbers or letters indicate the load index and speed rating based on standardized laboratory tests. The final number or letter indicates the date code and manufacturer. Learn more about your tires by consulting a tire expert.
Know Your Vehicle’s GVWR
When it comes to vehicle weight ratings, there’s a lot to keep in mind. Terms like GVWR, GAWR, GTW and tongue weight are important to understand so you can answer customer questions accurately.
GVWR is the maximum operating weight that a truck or SUV is engineered to carry, including cargo and passengers. Exceeding the GVWR can cause serious damage to drivetrain components.
It’s important to know your truck or trailer’s GVWR before hauling heavy loads, especially since doing so can put you in violation of safety and legal regulations. Supplying your salespeople with a list of GVWR-related questions is an effective way to ensure this information doesn’t get lost during price negotiation. You can find this information on a Safety Compliance Certification Label, usually located on the driver’s door jamb. You can also check the vehicle’s owner’s manual.
Know Your Vehicle’s Towing Capacity
The towing capacity of your vehicle is a key number that you should always be aware of. Exceeding this limit can cause serious problems, including reduced vehicle control, mechanical failures and even dangerous accidents.
To find out how much your vehicle’s towing capacity is, start by knowing its GVWR, or gross combined weight rating. This number is listed in the vehicle’s owner’s manual, on the door sticker and sometimes even on the manufacturer’s website.
Next, you will need to know your vehicle’s curb weight, which is the weight of your car when it is empty of passengers and cargo. Then subtract that from the GCWR to get your vehicle’s towing capacity.
Know Your Vehicle’s Weight Distribution
The weight of the cargo you carry can dramatically affect your vehicle’s performance. Understanding how your vehicle’s load and its dimensions affect your center of gravity and weight distribution can help you safely tow your cargo.
Your vehicle’s front-to-rear and side-to-side weight distribution affects how it handles on the road. Having the right balance between front and rear weight can make all the difference when driving a heavy vehicle.
First, know your dry weight – the empty weight of the vehicle without fluids like oil or wiper fluid. This is your vehicle’s base weight and can be found on the manufacturer’s website. You’ll also need to know your GVWR and axle weight ratings. These are the maximum capacities your truck and trailer can support. Aim to keep your loads within these limits to prevent damage to your vehicle and trailer.
Know Your Vehicle’s Braking System
Brakes are one of the most important vehicle safety features. They allow you to slow down and come to a stop, ensuring that you can avoid accidents and collisions with other vehicles. Despite the advancements in automotive technology, including anti-lock braking systems and lane departure warning systems, it is still essential to understand how your vehicle’s brake system works and keep it in optimal condition.
When you press the brake pedal, hydraulic pressure is generated from a master cylinder that transfers to wheel calipers via brake lines. These calipers then press brake pads against the wheel rotors, creating friction that slows and stops the wheels. The braking system also converts kinetic energy into thermal energy through a series of components and processes.
Know Your Vehicle’s Stability
Towing a trailer puts additional strain on your vehicle. This includes your engine, transmission and other components. Additionally, towing can cause wear and tear on your tires.
Your stability control system is a great safety feature that helps you stay in control of your vehicle. It monitors your steering input and compares it to the vehicle’s actual motion to determine if the two align. If they don’t, the system reduces engine power and pulses your brakes to correct the course.
Some towing services also offer a backup steering control system, which helps you back into tight spaces. This feature can be especially helpful when reversing with a large trailer. Having this extra help can save you time and frustration. It can also protect your cargo and vehicle by keeping it safe from damage. This is especially important in unplowed winter roads and slick conditions.