It seems like more and more people are investing in “toys”
to vacation with or enjoy rather than the stereotypical pricey destinations of
old. Some of these toys include travel
trailers or 5th wheels, boats, ATVs or dirt bikes, canoes or bicycles
or anything else that they can take on the trails in the woods or on the water
and the beach.
One of the biggest things you have to consider when making a
purchase like any of those listed above is what kind of vehicle and equipment
you will need to get those toys to your destination. There is a misunderstanding that if you have
a truck, you can tow whatever you want.
This could not be further from the truth. There are several things to consider when
figuring out what kind of vehicle you need in order to have that fun. But the first place to start is with the
vehicle itself.
Tow Vehicles:
·
Towing Capability – Each and every vehicle is
different for how much they can tow based on things like engine power,
transmission type, number of drive wheels, axle ratio and wheelbase
length. To find your vehicle’s specifics,
you can read through your owner’s manual as well as calling your local
dealership and providing them with your vehicle’s VIN number and they can help
find the information for you.
·
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) – maximum that
the tow vehicle can weigh when fully loaded.
·
Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) – maximum
combined weight of the tow vehicle including passengers, equipment, fuel, etc.,
as well as the trailer.
·
Gross Axle Weight Rating – maximum weight that a
single axle can carry.
You need to know exactly what kind of weight you will be
towing (trailer weight loaded, boat weight, ATV weight, etc) so you can make
sure that your truck is rated to tow your toys without doing any damage to the
mechanics of the truck.
