RV Towing Safety Tips
RVs come in various shapes and sizes, but they all require you to be a safe driver when towing. To reach your destination safely, you need to ensure you take care of your towing needs before you hit the road, as well as be aware of conditions as you drive on the highways. Whether you are new to RVing or have experience towing your camper, we suggest you take some time to familiarize yourself with these towing safety tips.
Understanding Weight Limitations
While you are excited to hitch your camper to your towing vehicle, it is necessary to ensure your truck can handle the weight. You might already be aware of this information, assuming you did a little research before selecting your model. If you skipped this step, we are here to help you understand more about weight limitations.
We recommend you check your vehicle's owner’s manual and look for what is the maximum towing capacity. This is the amount of weight it can safely tow. Next, find out what is the total weight of your rig. It is recommended that your RV never exceeds 80 percent of your vehicle's listed towing capacity. Also, keep in mind that luggage, equipment, appliances, and other items will add to the total weight of your camper. If your RV’s weight exceeds your vehicle's towing ability, it means you need to upgrade your truck.
Distribute the Weight
Towing your RV with an uneven load can cause sway, which can lead to a rollover or a serious accident. Therefore, ensure that at least 60 percent of the weight is toward the front of your rig. Too much weight on the back will make your RV’s tail heavy, which makes it extremely challenging to control. This is why appliances and tanks are usually assembled at the front by the manufacturer.
Be Aware of Weather Conditions
Weather conditions contribute to how smooth your towing experience will be. Look at the weather forecast before hitting the road. Use your discretion if it is safe to travel, depending on how the day may look ahead. Being on the road under heavy rains or strong winds already presents a challenge when driving your vehicle. Now, imagine towing an RV under these weather conditions. Depending on how bad it could get, it might be wise to stay put for another day to avoid a towing nightmare.
We hope these tips will help you on your towing journey. For more tips and advice, head over to Porter's RV. We are your local RV dealer in Coos Bay, Oregon, and we offer the best prices on our selection of RVs for sale. We also have a parts and service department to ensure your camper runs like new. We take pride in serving all those from Roseburg and Brookings.