Blue skies, warm summer breezes and a glowing campfire near a cool lake.
The very thought is wonderful enough to get you to pack up the family, hitch a recreational vehicle to the car and head out.
And it is wonderful-if everything goes right.
But dragging a trailer behind a car or truck is not for the faint of heart. If your tow vehicle, RV and driving skills are not prepared for the trip, you`re looking for trouble.
Preparation is the key to having fun in RV travel. I can think of countless incidents where being unprepared has lead motorists down the road to a spoiled vacation.
Start with the basics.
Before buying any equipment, consider your family needs. The size of your family will determine how large an RV you need to provide safety and comfort. Then decide what tow vehicle can drag the RV and your family to your favorite campsite.
RVs come in all shapes and sizes, ranging from popup tent campers to rolling Drake Hotels. Obviously a tent camper isn`t as heavy and large as a 35-foot luxury RV, so the same vehicle may not be enough to tow both.
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Choosing a tow vehicle is not as easy as it used to be. Most cars are of unibody construction and made with plastic, which limits towing capability. Most subcompact cars can`t tow at all.
Find the appropriate RV for your family first. When you decide which camper fits your needs, do a little research to determine whether your car can handle the load.
Camping trailers are classified by weight and size. When you find a camper you like, find out the gross trailer weight, or GTW, of the unit. Once you know the weight, look in your owner`s manual for towing capacities, to determine whether your car can handle the load. The manual lists the manufacturer`s recommendations for towing capacities based upon passengers and luggage.
For example, according to the owner`s manual, a 1991 Plymouth Voyager with a 2.5-liter engine is limited to a combined weight of 5,800 pounds. That`s total tow vehicle weight, passengers, luggage and a camping trailer.
Chrysler`s manual breaks it down even further. The same vehicle with three to five passengers and luggage is limited to towing an RV of no more than 1,250 pounds.
The same vehicle with a 3.3-liter engine, all-wheel-drive and a heavy-duty trailer package can tow an RV of up to 2,400 pounds.
Also, Chrysler says that the frontal area of the camper can be no more than 32 square feet. That`s about the size of a 4-by-8-foot sheet of plywood. Specifications such as these will help you determine what your car can tow. In this case, the vehicle is limited to towing small popup-type campers, which are not homes away from home.
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Let`s say you are happy with a popup camper and your car can safely handle the load. Now you have to make sure you have the proper equipment for towing. You can`t slap a trailer hitch on the rear bumper, hook up the trailer and head down the road.
An RV dealer, new-car dealership or independent garage can tell you what you should install on your car or truck to make it suitable for towing a trailer. Here is a general list of equipment you will have to consider before attempting to tow.
You may have to install a larger engine cooling system radiator, transmission cooler, heavy-duty shock absorbers, rearview side mirrors and springs. A high-capacity alternator and battery may be needed to provide added power to the trailer for internal and external lighting.
Tires may have to be upgraded to a higher load capacity to carry the weight. The maximum weight for a given tire is stamped on the side; but be aware that some tires can carry more weight than the vehicle. The vehicle`s limit must be the ruling factor. A trailer brake system also might be needed. The tow vehicle may require an adjustable rear suspension that allows you to adjust the carrying height of the vehicle, depending whether the trailer is attached. An electrical wire harness needs to be installed to deliver power to the trailer lights and brake system.
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You also will have to decide what trailer hitch system is the most efficient for the towing job. Hitches are divided into two types and three classes.
– Dead-weight hitches carry about 10 percent of the weight of the RV in tow. This weight is transferred to the rear suspension of the tow vehicle. However, the weight on the trailer hitch and suspension may increase or decrease as the RV moves forward and back on its wheels.
– A weight-distribution hitch has a torsion bar system that helps distribute the tow vehicle tongue weight, which equals about 12 percent of the weight of the trailer. The tongue is the part that sticks out of the front of trailer and attaches to the tow vehicle hitch.
Thirty percent of tongue weight transfers to the front suspension of the tow vehicle, 40 percent of it rests on the rear and 30 percent rides on the trailer wheels. This type of hitch is used primarily when towing a large RV.
Hitches come in three classes, and the weight of the RV will determine which you need. However, you can`t tow a trailer too heavy for your car no matter what hitch you install. Check your owner`s manual for maximum towing load weight. Also, ask your recreational vehicle dealer for recommendations.
Generally, weight distribution hitches can carry a heavier load. However, load capacity varies, so check with a dealer for exact specifications.
Each new model year, fewer vehicles are capable of towing trailers. Here are a few that can handle the job:
Chrysler`s Dodge Colt two-door hatchback can tow up to a 1,000 pounds. The Dodge Ram 50 Truck can tow a 3,500-pound trailer. The Jeep Cherokee 4X4, Chrysler`s mule, can pull 9,000 pounds when properly equipped. Ford`s Escort can handle a 1,000-pound trailer. Ford`s F-Series trucks can handle a trailer up to 12,000 pounds.
General Motors cars and trucks that can tow range from the Chevrolet Cavalier, which can handle a 1,000-pound trailer, to the Buick Roadmaster and Chevrolet Caprice, which can tow up to 5,000 pounds. And GMC`s workhorse, the GMC Sierra truck, can handle trailers up to 13,500 pounds when outfitted for the job.
Import cars and trucks, except for subcompacts, can tow trailers, too. Ask import new-car dealership service personnel to advise you what cars can tow and what equipment is needed.
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Before hitting the nature trail, remember your car or truck is not designed for towing. All towing is considered to be hard on the vehicle. You will have to follow the ”severe service” maintenance schedule in the owner`s manual.
Oil, filter and lube services, automatic transmission fluid and filter screen, engine coolant flush and brake services will be your most frequent preventive maintenance expenses. Tire service and replacement, alignments and suspension services will be more frequent than under typical driving conditions.
Extra electrical loads from trailer lighting and electrically operated braking systems usually require frequent replacement of alternator belts, the alternator and battery.
Have charging and starting systems inspected and tested before hitting the highway to make sure they`re up to par. If you don`t, you may find yourself camping on the side of the expressway some hot July afternoon.
The axles on the tow vehicle take a beating when carrying the trailer`s weight. Many automobiles need wheel bearing repacks. Trailer axle bearings need the same service.
The main reason for a bearing repack is to ensure that the wheel bearings, which carry the weight of the tow vehicle and trailer, have enough clean, fresh grease to properly lubricate them. A poorly lubricated bearing may mean a broken axle or a failed bearing, which will stop your trip without a doubt.
Bearing packs usually are performed by a technician, but can be done by do-it-yourselfers if proper procedures are followed.
Other services you should consider are an engine maintenance tuneup, air filter replacement, air conditioner service and recharge, radiator hose inspection and drive belt inspection. Hoses and belts should be replaced as necessary.
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Once your tow vehicle has had its preventive maintenance, including a tire air pressure check, it`s time to service the RV. Frank Head, service manager at Groh Recreational Vehicle Center in Elgin, gives these tips:
Service the axles-pack the wheel bearings, service and inspect the brakes. Replace the brake shoes if necessary. Inspect the exterior
illumination system-running lights and brake lights. Replace bulbs and repair wiring as needed.
Inspect exterior seams around windows, corners and the roof. Seal leaks to keep rain out.
Inspect the liquid propane gas tank system. Check for leaks and repair as needed. Inspect the appliances for leaks and dirt. Repair leaks and clean the appliance burners. Appliances to be inspected include the stove, water heater, furnace and refrigerator.
Frank says spider mites like to live in burners and often clog them.
Service the water system and washroom facilities. Antifreeze poured into the system for winter storage needs to be flushed out. The water system`s pump operation should be checked, and lines and fittings need inspection for leaks and repair.
Last but not least, thoroughly clean the interior and exterior of the vehicle. Wax the floors, clean the carpets and wax the exterior finish.
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Are we having fun yet? Not quite. The trailer has to be hooked to the tow vehicle.
Attaching the trailer is no big deal, but you usually can`t see the rear of the car, the trailer hitch and the trailer tongue from the driver`s seat. Another person should help you guide the car`s hitch to the tongue on the trailer.
This is a ritual that sometimes can be comical. But it is important to do the job right or you can damage the car and the trailer. Worse yet, your guide or spotter could be injured.
Raise the tongue of the trailer high enough so the hitch on the tow vehicle will easily fit under the tongue. Slowly back the tow vehicle toward the trailer tongue. Looking in your mirrors and out the rear window, take directions-spoken and hand signals-from your spotter. Slowly steer the vehicle hitch under the trailer tongue.
After a little trial and error, your tow vehicle hitch should be positioned so the hitchball is directly under the trailer tongue. Next, lower the trailer tongue onto the ball and lock the two together with the mechanism on the tongue. Attach the safety chains from the trailer to the tow hitch and join the trailer and tow vehicle electrical connectors.
Next, make sure all check the operation of all the lights on the trailer and tow vehicle.
It`s almost time to high-tail it to the state park. But be warned:
Driving with a vehicle in tow is more difficult than you may realize.
Before leaving, remember your total gross vehicle weight is now much more than what it used to be. Reduce your speed, because you will need more distance to stop, and you`ll need more room to turn. Your car won`t accelerate as fast because of the added weight, so you will have to wait until traffic clears before pulling onto a roadway.
The size of the vehicle in tow will reduce your rear vision. You will have to get used to using side mirrors to see what is behind your trailer.
Backing the unit requires skills that you should practice in a large open parking lot before venturing out on your trip. Back up slowly. To turn the trailer to the right, turn the steering wheel slowly to the left. To turn the trailer to the left, turn the steering wheel to the right.
When traveling, carry an emergency kit including maps of your route, an emergency road service card, medical kit, one-gallon container of a 50-50 mix of water and antifreeze, flashlight, extra fan belts, electrical tape for repairing a broken wire or making a temporary radiator hose patch, flares or reflectors, emergency flat fixer, blankets, basic hand tool kit, one quart of engine oil and transmission fluid, fire extinguisher and jumper cables.
You`re ready to roll. Now all you need are some games for the kids and your fishing pole. Have a great time!
