MISTAKE NUMBER 1 IN TOWING (and I’ve made every single one)
DON’T TOW OUT WEST IN HIGH ALTITUDE (OR ANYWHERE ELSE FOR THAT MATTER) UNDER-BRAKED AND UNDER-POWERED
When your front wheels are off the ground, and you can’t stop coming down a steep pass in Colorado and you smell your calipers burning…that makes for a stressful day/week/month.
The gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) is the maximum weight a vehicle can tow when fully loaded, and includes the vehicle’s weight, fuel, passengers, cargo, and trailer tongue weight. It’s a safety standard that helps ensure roadways are safe for everyone. Exceeding the GVWR can result in fines, impounding, or even costly lawsuits if the vehicle is involved in a collision.
After extensive analysis, soul searching (several beers…smoking cigars…) I determined camper manufacturers are totally full of crap telling you what their tongue weight (gross) is, and what the actual displacement tongue weight numbers are.
I came up with this – they lie (like telling you their product isn’t total junk). My advice is – GET THE LARGEST AND HEAVIEST TRUCK YOU CAN AFFORD. Gas prices be damned.
Overkill is my modus operandi. Also stay clear of the left-hand lane – people are crazy! But that’s a story for another day!
OLD RIG
NEW RIG