Towing Options: How to Pick the Right Vehicle for the Job

One of the most exciting experiences family members can share amongst each other is going on a road trip and heading somewhere far from the city to go an outdoor adventure. Having an RV or a boat is excellent, though pulling them to your destination is a different matter – and a serious one at that.

Understanding Towing Capacity

It is quite unfortunate that countless numbers of vehicle owners know little or take for granted the concept of towing capacity. There are vehicle owners who just attach a tow ball hitch into their vehicles then drive off carrying their boats or RVs without knowing the risk and danger they are getting their vehicles into.

Towing capacity means the allowable weight that a particular vehicle can tow safely without damaging vital parts of the vehicle. Every vehicle, regardless if it’s a car, a truck, or an SUV, has a towing capacity. Basically, towing more than what your vehicle’s capacity is will result in undue damage to the engine, the transmission, the frame, or the cooling systems of your vehicle.

Brakes also matter when it comes to towing, as there will be instances when you need to stop on the road. Having a huge sum of extra weight at the back of your truck or SUV will certainly get your brakes working double time, and if your braking system is in poor condition, an accident may occur.

Factors to Consider

The first question involves your frequency of towing. How often do you tow your RV or boat? If you only tow your trailer around once or twice a year, you can go for the light duty trucks that have towing capacities of over 10,000 pounds. In case you have those really big trailers and RVs, a heavy duty truck or pickup would get the job done.

There is also the question on which type of fuel should your vehicle be running on. Do you go for a pickup that is fueled by gas or a truck that runs on diesel? Between the two, diesel provides more power to the punch. Because of its low-end torque, your vehicle will be able to move more efficiently even at higher speeds. Generally, a great majority of heavy duty pickups already run on diesel, so it wouldn’t be that much of a chore finding one today.

Another is the 2 x 2 versus 4 x 4 debate. Which of the two provides more towing power? The answer is the two-wheel drive pickups. This is because the 4 x 4 options usually have heavier components compared to their 2 x 2 counterparts. On the flipside, they still have their advantages over the other. During trips where the road gives you a soft ground or if you are climbing up a hill with some loose gravel on the road, that could spell trouble for the 2 x 2 truck.

If your mind is still full of uncertainty, it is best to consult OEM Specification on their websites regarding towing capacity and other key factors before investing in a truck or an SUV. Don’t be afraid to compare options from different manufacturers, that way, you will be able to weed out the inferior ones and select from the best ones that can get the job done.