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RV towing guide

The ultimate RV towing guide

Newcomers to the RVing lifestyle will have a few new skills to learn as they get ready to set off on their first adventure. Perhaps the most intimidating of the bunch is towing. This somewhat tricky skill is a critical piece to taking your RV out on the road and getting to your destination safely.

The technical knowledge required to properly tow your RV may seem daunting at first glance, but towing is actually not too hard once you get the hang of it. In this comprehensive guide, we will break down some of the basic concepts so you feel comfortable out on the road.

Understand your towing capacity

Before you can start towing your RV, it’s important that you know exactly how much you’re actually able to tow with the vehicle you’ll be using to drive. If you overload your vehicle by trying to pull too much weight, disaster could strike. The strain on your engine and transmission could cause a catastrophic failure or hamper your ability to steer and brake your vehicle. This can cause a terrible accident, but thankfully, it’s completely avoidable if you know what you’re doing. 


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All you have to do is confirm your vehicle’s towing capacity, compare it to the weight of your trailer, and make sure the capacity is higher. There are a few ways to figure out your towing capacity:

It’s worth clarifying here that trucks tend to have the most towing capacity of any vehicle, so if you plan to haul a heavy trailer with lots of equipment, you’ll probably want to use a truck. With that being said, many SUVs and similar vehicles have the ability to tow as well, so if you have a lightweight trailer, you can probably get away with one of those. 

Regardless, never just assume your vehicle can tow your trailer. Always check your vehicle’s towing capacity first and compare it with your trailer’s weight.


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How to hitch your RV

Hitching your trailer to your vehicle properly is just about as important as staying within the confines of your towing capacity. There are a few main types of hitches, and it’s important to know each of them so you can get the right one for your particular camper trailer:

Once you’ve gotten the best hitch for your vehicle/trailer combo, the process of actually hitching it is relatively easy. You just have to follow the instructions that came with your hitch and connect your vehicle to the trailer, and connect any wiring or breakaway cables that your RV has. You’ll know that your trailer is properly hitched when everything is connected and the tongue is firmly attached to the hitch, with both your vehicle and trailer being completely level on the ground.


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How to drive while towing your trailer

Driving while you have a trailer hitched behind your vehicle is quite different from driving normally, and it’s important to know how to do it safely. You don’t want to just go in expecting to drive like normal and find your trailer swaying this way and that, with no idea how to control it. Here are some best practices for driving while towing:

With these tips you can make sure your vehicle has the right towing capacity and that your RV is hitched up right. If you’re still unsure, check out YouTube for some visual tutorials. Once you’re comfortable, you’re good to go! Have a blast towing your trailer to your chosen destination and enjoy the journey of a lifetime.

And when it comes to RV insurance, we've got you covered. Explore options by clicking the button below.

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