Hauling a trailer can be a dangerous thing if you do not know what you are doing. Taking the proper steps beforehand to ensure that no accidents happen on the road is imperative! Before you set off down the street you need to learn how much your vehicle can actually tow. Failure to do so means putting strain on your truck, specifically the axles. If these happen to fail on the highway then there is no telling how bad the damages could be. As such, doing research beforehand to learn what your vehicle is capable of is your responsibility as a driver. So what size trailer can you tow? Let’s find out!
How big of a trailer can my truck tow?
Your truck’s designated towing capacity refers to how much weight it can pull behind it. Your truck’s towing capacity usually is far greater than its carrying capacity. There is less strain on the vehicle when it is hauling something as opposed to when the weight is directly on it.
Usually, your truck’s towing capacity can be found in its manual; however, if you have lost this manual or thrown it away then you are going to need to calculate it on your own. In order to discern this you are going to need to subtract your truck’s curb weight from its Gross Combined Weight Rating or GCWR.
How does GCWR relate to towing capacity?
Your vehicle’s GCWR is its maximum weight including the trailer that is attached to it. Much like your truck’s GVWR, which stands for Gross Vehicle Weight Rating, the GCWR is used to discern the amount of weight that a truck can tow.
Subtracting the curb weight from your GCWR should give you some direction when it comes to towing capacity. Let’s put this into practice, say that your truck and trailer have a GCWR of 10,000 lbs. If it weighs 4000 lbs on empty and you already have 1,000 lbs of miscellaneous items in your truck bed, your towing capacity is equal to 5,000 pounds.
If you remember the formula, (Towing Capacity = Gross Combined Vehicle Weight – Curb Weight) then you should have no trouble figuring out your vehicle’s towing capacity in the future. That said, if you are still confused then do not be afraid to contact a professional regarding the matter. It is better to take the extra steps and be safe rather than sorry.
Investing in the Right Trailer Hitch
Before recklessly hauling a bunch of stuff you need to make sure you have the proper hitch. You can do as much math as you want but if you have faulty equipment your truck is not going to be able to tow anything. Investing in a durable hitch that is going to get you safely to your destination is priority number one!
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Gen-Y Hitch exists to better the lives of our customers, dealers, vendors, employees, and the automotive industry. We will always put our customers’ needs ahead of our own. Contact us today, and let us help you!
