So you have finally taken delivery on your new RV, there is nothing more exciting than taking that new RV out on its first trip. Once you have packed up all the gear, packed up your family your ready to head out on your journey. Before you make your trip, make sure your trailer is safe and secure while towing. To keep your family safe while traveling here are some great tips about towing your RV safely.
While these are only tips, please check with your local dealer before taking delivery to get a better understanding of what you need, and to make sure you are towing your RV safely. Not sure if there is a RV dealer near you. Use the RV Dealer Finder at RVingPlanet.com to help find a dealer near you.
- Hitching before taking delivery of your RV be sure that your vehicle is properly equipped with the hitch that you need to safely tow your RV, if you are unsure if your vehicle is setup properly for the hitch you need consult your dealer to make sure you have the right hitch installed.
- Sway control Be sure you understand how to install the sway control properly, and make sure it is compatible with both your hitch and tow vehicle.
- Tires & Suspension It is important to have the correct tires on your tow vehicle as it will help keep your vehicle stable. Tires that have too weak of side walls could be dangerous while hauling a loaded trailer. Same goes for suspension, make sure that your suspension system can safely take the load of the trailer you are hauling. Suspension that is too weak will make you vehicle less efficient but dangerous. Talk with you dealer to make sure your vehicle is equipped with the right Tires and Suspension to haul your trailer safely.
- Breaking Check to make sure your vehicle is properly setup for wiring your braking system to the trailer. You want to make sure that your break lights on your trailer are working properly along with your turn signals.
- Towing Mirrors Although some states do not require you to use towing mirrors, some states do so check with you local laws to find how what your state requirements are. It is recommended by most dealers to have some type of towing mirror, there are many universal towing mirrors that connect to your vehicle mirrors or can be strapped to your fender. It is important to know what your trailer is doing while driving, or trying to back it into a space at the camp grounds. With normal mirrors you will only be able to see the front quarter to half of the trailer.
- Loading the Trailer While some people do not think about it, but how you pack your RV can also affect towing your RV safely. Be sure to balance the weight of the gear so your RVs weight is distributed evenly. If you have a trailer that is loaded heavy in the rear it can easily drag the tow vehicle from side to side. Fifth Wheel Trailers are the best handling trailer because of the pivot point being directly over the rear axle. With either a Fifth Wheel or Travel Trailer keep in mind how you are packing, so you can be sure to distribute the weight evenly.
Make sure that you understand the proper equipment you need to tow your RV safely and do a walk through how to hook up your trailer with your dealer at time of delivery. Another great idea, is practice towing your RV in a large parking lot, or in a neighborhood without a lot of traffic, understanding how to vehicle feels while towing an RV will help you tow safely on your trip. For more great tips check out First time towing an RV, and Matching your tow vehicle with an RV.
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