If you don’t know what towing capacity is, you need to go back to RVing 101. Towing capacity is integral to safe towing. Towing capacity is the measurement that describes the limit to the weight a trailer can tow. This includes the trailer itself and everything inside of it you bring on a trip. Depending on the towing vehicle you own, you may or may not be able to tow a trailer with it if the trailer exceeds the towing capacity. Are you confused, yet?
Breaking Down Towing Capacity
All vehicles that tow have a towing capacity. If you have a vehicle to tow, this is information that was given when you bought the car, or you can look it up at the manufacturer’s web site. These guidelines are strict and should be followed by all towers.
Most towing vehicles utilize a hitch to connect to a trailer or RV. Once connected, they’re able to tow a vehicle behind them with ease so long as the hitch is set up correctly. Combined with the right tongue weight, as long as you’re not exceeding your maximum towing capacity for your vehicle, you’ll be safe to just about anything you want behind your car.
There are two types of towing capacity: Braked and unbraked. Braked towing capacity refers to whether or not a trailer has its braking system. This increases the overall towing capacity of the setup. Unbraked towing capacity refers to any trailer set up that doesn’t have its braking system on the trailer, which decreases the overall towing capacity.
It’s important to know your vehicle’s towing capacity before you hit the road to ensure you’re safely towing. Towing can be complicated, unsafe and if you’re not prepared to set up your towing vehicle and trailer before you hit the road, you shouldn’t be hitting the road. Towing is easy to do provided you take the time to learn it right. If you’re not sure what your towing capacity is, make sure you find out before you begin towing anything with your vehicle.