Tips for Towing Vehicles – Tow Hitches for 4×4 Truck or SUV

Reprint of article from 4-Wheel Drive Offroading with Jim Walczak

Basic Towing Tips

Determining what your 4WD SUV or 4×4 pickup truck can tow can be a difficult task. Perhaps you’ve spent an evening or two sifting through your vehicle owner’s manual, only to find the information to be as clear as mud. Add to this the fact that all manufacturers don’t use the same formula to determine a vehicle’s towing capacity, and it becomes apparent why consumers continue to be confused.

Here are some tips to make your towing trip a success:

Determine Your Tow Vehicle

If your needs are as basic as towing a small boat or transporting horses or 5th wheel trailers, having the right tow vehicle is one of the most important aspects. Before purchasing a tow vehicle, it’s best to determine the maximum weight you might tow and then match that weight to a vehicle of your choice.

To fine-tune your choices of which tow vehicle to use, consult a Tow Vehicle Guide like this one or this one first.

Basic Terms

Becoming familiar with the terminology can lessen the confusion in determining how much your vehicle is capable of towing. Sherline offers a Trailer Load and Balance worksheet that will help take some of the guesswork out of the formula.

Hitches

After you have determined how much weight you will be towing and how much weight your tow vehicle can handle, the hitch will be the next tough choice. It’s often a choice that consumers unwisely spend too little time considering, however, the hitch is perhaps the most important factor in assuring that your tow vehicle and load make it to their destination safely. There are several types of hitches to choose from. In some cases, the trailer you are towing will determine the type of hitch you’ll need. Perhaps the most popular hitches today are the Hidden Hitch and Reese Hitches, but one of the most unique hitch systems is offered by AirSafe Hitches. Their one-of-a-kind design improves handling, braking, traction, and wear and tear on your equipment. Check out these videos showing Air Ride hitches in action.

Safety First

Although safety should always be a concern when driving a vehicle, you should have a heightened sense of awareness when towing before each trip take a few extra minutes to go over this towing checklist and give yourself peace of mind. The time spent checking safety concerns could not only save your equipment from damage but also reduce the possibility of accidents on the highway. And before you even hit the road, make sure to review these braking basics. You need to make sure you can stop before you even start!

Towing Terminology

Types of Hitches & Cargo Weights

Hitches are rated as follows: