Perfect Match - Good Sam

RTS 2020 TOW GUIDE - Matching Trailer and Tow VehicleRev.indd 12/3/19 10:26 AM - 8 -(Cyan)(Magenta)(Yellow)(BlacK)TOWING 2020SINGLE OR DUALREAR WHEELS?A dually used to be the obvious choice if you plannedto tow a large fifth-wheel. But now that single-rearwheel (SRW) three-quarter and one-ton trucks cantow well over 20,000 pounds, do you really need one?As long as the SRW truck in question hasadequate capacity to tow the trailer, then technically, no. However, there’s more to consider than justthe tow rating. A dually’s extra set of rear wheelsgives the truck substantially higher payload and axlecapacity, keeps the truck more stable in sidewindsor when being passed by semitrucks, and providesa better safety margin in the event of a rear-tireblowout. A dually pickup is usually required if you’llbe buying a large slide-in truck camper, with itshigher center of gravity, as the rear axle’s widertrack provides more side-to-side roll resistance andstability. Choosing a dual-rear-wheel (DRW) optiondoesn’t add much to the price tag, but it can impactinsurance rates and license fees.On the other hand, a dually is wider and moredifficult to park (especially in the city), takes upmore room in the driveway or garage, and requiresextra caution when rounding tight corners toprevent damage to the extended rear-fenderdimensions. Because of the additional rollingresistance created by the extra tires, a dually willtypically get poorer mileage when driving solo(differences in towing mileage will generally bemarginal), and that extra rubber will also meanadditional cost when it’s time for new treads. Lastly,vehicle registration and tolls are quite a bit higherwith a dually than an SRW truck.8 TRAILER LIFE 2020 TOWING GUIDEpart. Before you sign on the dotted line,however, it’s important to take into consideration what tow vehicle will be required to pull that new trailer. If you’recomfortable driving a heavy-duty truckor dually as the second family vehicle,and the purchase price and cost of ownership are of no concern, then the sky’sthe limit. Otherwise, think about thekind of tow vehicle you can afford andwould be happy driving before makingyour final decision.That being said, the tow rating of thevehicle you’re considering should be theprimary consideration. If the new trailerhas a GVWR of 20,000 pounds, you’llwant a vehicle that can tow at least thatmuch. Auto dealers are usually moreconcerned with making a sale than anything else, and many salespeople don’tknow much about towing or weight ratings. They may also try to sell you whatthey have on the lot, rather than order avehicle that’s more up to your requiredspecifications, so do your own researchand don’t compromise for the sake ofconvenience.Look no further than the tow ratingsin this very booklet to find out which2020 vehicles can handle the job, andwhen you’re shopping, check out theGVWR, GAWR, gross combined weight rating (or GCWR, the maximum allowableweight of the truck and trailer) and payload of the vehicle you’re consideringto make sure that everything’s up to thetask. Usually, a vehicle that has a sufficient tow rating will also have enoughcapacity in these other areas, but notalways. For example, a half-ton truckmay be rated to tow more than 12,000pounds, but a fifth-wheel weighing thatmuch may exceed the payload and/orrear GAWR.Paying attention to GVWR and payloadratings is especially important if youplan to haul a slide-in truck camper inthe future. Camper manufacturers alsopost weight figures for their products,normally including calculations forthe weight of fresh water and LP-gasand sometimes optional accessories,so you can make an informed decisionabout a suitable matchup. (For more on

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RTS 2020 TOW GUIDE - Matching Trailer and Tow Vehicle.indd 11/12/19 11:14 AM - 10 -(Cyan)(Magenta)(Yellow)(BlacK)TOWING 2020camper-hauling truck selection, see the sidebaron page 8.)Once you’re sure you’ve found a capable towvehicle, take some time to consider the options.Leather and dual-zone climate control are nice,but that’s not what we’re talking about here. Ifa towing package is optional, get it. It’s usuallynot a lot more money, and it includes equipmentthat will make the tow vehicle more capable ofhandling the weight. Towing packages vary, sobe sure to ask what it includes. For example,some packages don’t provide towing mirrors,which makes no sense.Newer tow vehicles, especially with heavyduty designations, often have useful optionsthat make towing easier, including camerapackages, hitch-guidance systems, integratedtow-brake systems and other features. If you’reshopping for a truck that can tow a fifth-wheel,you might consider one that is fifth-wheelprepped with a puck mounting system, whichallows you to easily install and remove the hitchin minutes. Some manufacturers even make thehitch itself available, but we recommend doingsome research and finding the best hitch foryour needs, as a variety of designs and weightratings are available.You Don’t Have aTow Vehicle or Trailer YetUnlike the previous scenarios, the first consideration here should be your budget and how youwant to allocate it. For some buyers, the traileris the priority, and just about anything that cantow it safely will be just fine. For others, the towvehicle will also be a second family vehicle, andthe trailer will be used only a few times a year. Inthe latter case, a buyer might be happy with a nicetow vehicle and a simpler trailer more suitable forshort-term trips.Towing a smaller, lighter travel trailer gives youmore tow-vehicle options, from light pickups to sportySUVs like the new Ford Explorer ST.Which should you choose first? From a practical standpoint , you will probably spend a lotmore time in the tow vehicle than the trailer, andit will be doing all the work, so it makes sense toget what you really want and need. On the otherhand, if you know what you simply must have ina trailer (for example, a toy hauler large enoughfor a side-by-side), buy it first and then choosethe right truck to haul it.Other ConsiderationsIt’s smart to think about how (and where) you planto use your new combo, and how it will be stored.If you’re going to be pulling a toy hauler or traveling during the winter months, a four-wheel-drivevehicle will be a good decision and won’t addmuch to the price tag (though some insurancecompanies will charge a higher premium for afour-wheel-drive, so check with the carrier first).If you want to have the freedom to campanywhere, don’t choose a trailer longer than 20feet or so. Not all campsites, for example, may beable to accommodate longer trailers, which maybe difficult to maneuver on tight access roads.Lastly, think about storage. Will you keep thetrailer at your house? Then don’t even botherlooking at something that won’t fit in your garage, driveway or side yard. If you plan on storingthe trailer off-site, check the rates at local storage facilities and decide whether you want outdoor storage, or if indoor storage is somethingyou prefer and can afford.Going off the grid? A number of tow-vehicle choices can takeyou almost anywhere, among them the all-new Jeep Gladiator.10 TRAILER LIFE 2020 TOWING GUIDE

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2020 TOWING GUIDEHow to Use This GuideChoosing the right vehicle to tow atrailer or haul a truck camper is an important process, but it can be confusing.This guide helps potential buyers determinethe capability of the vehicle they are consideringby listing the factors that influence the towrating, such as the engine and transmissiontype, drive configuration (two-wheel drive,four-wheel drive, all-wheel drive), body andcab configuration, and equipment.Each vehicle model is listed in alphabeticalorder and/or numerical order (where it makessense), followed by the engine configurationand assigned towing weight limit. You’ll notethat many ratings are followed by letters ora combination of letters and numbers thatindicate what equipment is required to achievethat rating (i.e. a specific gear ratio, transmission, towing package, etc). The legend thatprecedes the tow ratings will help you breakdown abbreviations and footnotes.In some instances, the subhead will containtwo different vehicles (for instance, ChevroletSilverado and GMC Sierra, both manufacturedby General Motors), separated by a slash. If the rating foreach is different, the weightswill be separated by a corresponding slash in the TowLimit column. If they’re thesame, only one weight ratingwill be shown.Likewise, some manufacturers separate weights depending on whether the truckin question is towing with aweight-carrying hitch or aweight-distributing hitch,or whether a conventional(travel trailer) or fifth-wheelhitch is being used. In thesecases, the weights for eachcategory will also be separated by a slash in the Tow Limitcolumn if they are different.If they are the same, only oneweight rating will be shown.Some manufacturers are more detailedthan others, which is why we can’t list everyrating for every configuration. For example,a given tow rating may change by 100 poundsor so if a different wheel-and-tire package isselected. In these instances, only the highestrating of a given configuration will be shown.Other manufacturers list only maximum towratings for each model and won’t break downhow ratings will be affected based on vehicleconfiguration or equipment (no matter howmany times or how nicely we ask them).In any case, it’s a good idea to use thisguide to find out what is available, then workwith the dealer to make sure you get the exactmodel you are looking for. Smaller changeslike a more upscale trim level won’t changethe tow rating a great deal, but the final driveratio (aka gear ratio) can have a major impacton the tow rating, as can an available towing orpayload package. Choose

2020 TOW GUIDE - Cover.indd 11/12/19 11:11 AM - 1 - (Cyan)2020 TOW GUIDE - Cover.indd 11/12/19 11:11 AM - 1 - (Magenta)2020 TOW GUIDE - Cover.indd 11/12/19 11:11 AM - 1 - (Yellow)2020 TOW GUIDE - Cover.indd 11/12/19 11:11 AM - 1 - (BlacK) . of the driver’s door, or in the vehicle owner’s manual. The owner’s manual may not have specifi .