Hauling a trailer with your pickup comes with great responsibility to ensure your safety, and the safety of other travelers on the road, too. The following are some basic tips that you should follow to ensure an easy journey, but most importantly, a safe one. For more information and advice, come visit us at Whaleneck Marine. Our helpful and dedicated staff is here to answer all your questions and help you meet your transportation needs.
Also, come take advantage of our great deals on trailers whenever you need one! We carry a wide range of sizes and models that are guaranteed to last you for years to come. You can find us in Merrick, NY.
Weight Capacity
First things first, before investing in a trailer or hitching one to your pickup, be sure to know what your tow vehicle’s weight capacity is. It can be easy to overload your trailer if you are not aware of what your pickup is able to handle. Using an inadequate vehicle to haul a heavier trailer puts you in unsafe driving situations, which can result in some serious accidents.
The following are some key information you should be aware of before using your pickup to tow (these can be found in your vehicle's owner’s manual):
- Gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR): This includes the total weight of the vehicle itself, cargo, passengers, and all items on it.
- Gross combination weight rating (GCWR): This includes the total weight of the vehicle, the loaded trailer, passengers, fuel, and other cargo.
- Gross axle weight rating (GAWR): This is the amount of weight a single axle can safely handle.
- Towing capacity: This is the amount of weight your vehicle can pull.
- Tongue weight: This is the amount of the trailer’s weight that is placed on the trailer hitch.
Oils and Fluids
Your pickup requires frequent maintenance, regardless if you are using it to tow or not. This is just something all vehicle owners must do to ensure their vehicles last longer. However, if you are constantly using your truck for hauling purposes, you’ll want to service it more often. The added weight in towing adds stress to the towing vehicle, causing it to run hotter than normal. Therefore, since your pickup will be working harder, you’ll want to check and replace its fluids more regularly. In addition, change your filters more often for optimal performance.
We hope this information helps you prepare your truck for your towing journey. If you need more advice, feel free to consult the staff here at Whaleneck Marine! We proudly serve Merrick, NY, and our neighbors from Queens.