Time-Tested Towing Tips For 4×4 Trucks
Sep 1st, 2009 by Kenny
Towing things behind 4x4 trucks may seem like the all-natural thing to do, but it has its share of potential pitfalls and problems.
And the first thing you have to consider is to what you are going to be towing. Is it a heavy RV? Or perhaps you will be towing your motocross bikes, jet skis, go-karts or snowmobiles?
What if you want to be able to tow your weekend getaway boat, a race-horse trailer, or other heavy and precious cargo?
One thing to note is that sometimes your hands are tied when it comes to what you can tow or not. This is because your truck is a big determining factor in determining the load it can carry. If you do not have enough towing capacity in terms of horsepower, you will obviously not be able to tow any of the heavier loads.
Remember that this is not just a practical consideration, but a safety one too. If you tow something too heavy for your vehicle, not only do you risk losing and damaging your cargo, your truck may not be able to handle the additional load and will overwork the brakes. This may cause the brakes to fail just when you need them the most, and you will end up crashing your truck and sustain serious injuries or risk losing life and limb.
Also, you must make sure that the size of your trailer hitch is correct. If you use a ball hitch that's too small for the job, you will risk losing the trailer and its cargo if it becomes unattached suddenly. To help prevent this, you must also check that your load is within the recommended weight limits of your vehicle and the hitch.
Check that all the locks, harnesses and fasteners are tightly secured before you move off, and double check them again at every stop just in case they come loose from all the vibrations during the trip.
And as cautioned earlier, ensure that your brakes are in good working condition, and that they can handle the additional load placed on them by the heavy trailer. Does your truck still have sufficient stopping power to slow your truck down and stop it within a safe distance in times of an emergency?
Once you are on the move, you will need to adjust your driving style to take into account the extra load you are carrying. Avoid sudden steering corrections, and drive even more smoothly than usual. Brake way in advance to give you more room to stop, and make sure you keep some extra distance between you and the vehicle in front.
As for your cargo, always arrange the load properly and do not put anything heavy in a place where it cannot be securely tied down. A simple tip to avoid having your items slide around is to lay down an old carpet and then place your stuff on it. This is more slip-resistant than a bare metal floor.
I hope you use these simple tips when towing stuff with your 4x4 trucks.
For even more tips like these, you can learn from the experts themselves at: 4x4 Trucks.
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