Lots to Know Before You Tow - Make Sure You Have the Power, and Take Time to Master the Skills

There's a reason for the popularity of lightweight trailers: most small SUVs and minivans can tow them, which means families do not have to go out and buy a separate towing vehicle when they buy a trailer.

As Michael DiPaola, director of sales and marketing at Colony RV sales in Warwick, noted, people looking for a travel trailer are often disappointed because their existing car or truck is not capable of towing their dream trailer. "What they have can't tow them," he said.

But with modern technology, lightweights (3,000-to-5,000 pounds) offer a full range of self-contained features, including beds, kitchen, toilet, shower and storage.

Sales of pop-ups, folding trailers with sides that collapse for towing and storage and which typically weigh under 2,000 pounds, have been strong in recent years. But they are not self contained in the sense of having toilet facilities, and sales seem to be giving way to self-contained lightweights, according to Mark Donilon, sales manager at Arlington RV SuperCenter on Quaker Lane in East Greenwich.

But what about the old days, when the family car was sufficient to tow a camper? "Back then, they had the station wagons with the V8 engines," said Colony RV's DiPaola, noting that most modern cars have four or six cylinders which may not tow as much weight but get a lot better gas mileage.

Indeed, one lobbying group bemoans the passing of big everyday station wagons that could tow the family camper. The Standing Up for SUV, pickup and van Owners of America (SUVOA), founded in 1999, claims that "the fuel economy mandates that resulted in downsized vehicles caused 99 percent of cars to lose their ability to tow basic recreational equipment," necessitating the shift to SUVs and light trucks. It argues for the protection of large vehicles to ensure safe towing for continued access to the outdoors.

Most modern cars are also front-wheel drive, which is not as effective for towing as rear-wheel drive, which puts the wheels which are pulling the load closer to the trailer. That helps steering, especially for large loads.

"It's not just hooking up to the ball and making sure the turn signals work anymore," said Charlie Sylvia, manager of the Luxury Coach Division/Buyer at Marty's USRV in Berkley, Mass. "There are weight distribution arms and anti-sway bars that help prevent sway and provide stability."

Edmunds.com says full-sized cars are capable of towing pop-ups, (around 2,000 pounds) while it would be better to use a small SUV or minivan to tow a lightweight (around 4,000 pounds). For trailers weighing more than 4,000 pounds, it would be advisable to move up to a large SUV or half-ton pickup, like the Ford F-150. Beyond that, a three-quarter-ton truck can handle loads well beyond 5,000 pounds, which covers fifth-wheelers - which are attached to the flatbed - and top-end trailers.

In terms of weight, there are two ratings, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. The maximum loaded weight of the trailer and the maximum tongue weight of a trailer, both of which can be found in the vehicle's owner's manual. (The tongue is the front part of the trailer that hitches to the tow vehicle by being mounted over the ball hitch.)

The maximum loaded weight includes gear - 600 pounds for an adult, 200 pounds for a child, according to Sylvia - while the tongue weight refers to the pressure placed on the hitch - which can affect the performance of the towing vehicle. Too much tongue weight, for example, pushes down on the rear of the vehicle, lifting the front wheels and reducing their contact with the road and the control over steering.

Hitching systems - "It all begins at the hitch," said Sylvia - come in three main types: The weight-carrying hitch is typically a ball hitch bolted or welded (better) to the rear of the towing vehicle; the weight distribution or load equalizer hitch that distributes the tongue weight along the axles of the tow vehicle and trailer; and the fifth-wheel hitch, which is mounted on the flatbed of a truck.

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration points out that some states require a separate braking system, which is activated by a breakaway switch if the trailer separates from the tow vehicle. And federal law requires all trailers to have taillights, brake lights, side market lights, turn signals and side and rear reflectors. In addition, some states require special permits and licenses as well as special equipment such as extended side-view mirrors. In addition, there are often restrictions on transporting fuels like propane in tunnels.

If you have never driven with a trailer before, it's a good idea to seek out someone who can give you some pointers as you practice, ideally in a deserted area of a parking lot. The main rules are to drive slowly, avoid sudden stops and starts and make wide turns. Signal well in advance if you change lanes and pass on level roads with plenty of room. On downhills, apply brakes in intervals so they don't overheat.

When backing up - the most difficult procedure - drive very slowly and use slight movements to turn the steering wheel. When uncoupling, use blocks on the trailer and be careful the tongue does not jerk upward due to the load inside the trailer shifting to the rear.

And of course, the advantage of towing a trailer instead of driving a "diesel pusher," or bus-like luxury motorhome, is that after uncoupling you are free to head into town or go on adventures unencumbered. But then, a lot of diesel pushers tow their own cars, or "dinghies," so they do not have to break camp every time they need to run to town and there is a whole debate on towing a dinghy: four wheels on the ground, a tow dolly or a car trailer. Which brings us back to towing.

Happy trails!

For more information, check out: www.edmunds.com/ ownership/ howto/articles/ 44921 /page001.html and www.nhtsa.dot.gov/Cars/ problems/Equipment/towing/ Towing.pdf.

pelsworth@projo.com / (401) 277-7403

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Getting hitched

Chances are that your car's owner's manual can give you specifics about towing. However, there may be unanswered questions about a number of things such as:

How big a vehicle do I need to tow various types of vehicles?

How do you determine the weight of your vehicle with the trailer?

What kind of hitching systems are available?

What about wiring?

The pamphlet shown at left is a good resource for such questions. It is produced by the Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and is available on their Web site;

Http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/Equipment/towing/ index.htm

Then click on Full PDF Version (284k)

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Isuzu Ascender could tow a boat.

Pop-up tent trailers are light enough to be towed behind conventional vehicles.

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