In order to pull your RV, you need a hitch. Finding the right hitch, as well as the right truck, can be overwhelming. Here's some of our experiences to help you with finding the right equipment for your RV adventure.
The first thing you'll need to do is to select a truck that can actually pull the type of trailer you want. When shopping for a truck, you'll want to look at some very important numbers: Curb weight, Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR), and Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR). Curb weight is how much the truck weighs without anything in it. The GVWR will be your curb weight plus your payload, or what is carried along in the truck, including yourselves, as well as part of the trailer setup itself. The GCWR is maximum amount that you will be able to carry, trailer and all.
When looking at your trailer's capacity, consider the full load, not just the dry weight, because you're going to want your stuff along for the ride. The best rule of thumb is to take the truck's GCWR, subtracted by the GVWR. However, because the trailer's tongue is sitting on the truck, that weight needs to be considered on the payload of the truck. Generally, this is about one-tenth the trailer weight. Sometimes, your hitch itself will only be able to carry a certain amount of total weight, so you'll need to take that into consideration.
With all the weights down, now you'll need a hitch. Some trucks will already come with one, and that's great news! However, you'll need to be mindful of the type of hitch to use, whether it's a simple receiver hitch, or a fifth wheel hitch. The receiver hitch is perfect for a smaller to medium size trailer. This hitch is installed on the underside of the truck, located by the bumper. The fifth wheel hitch is needed for fifth wheel trailers and some toy haulers. This hitch will be located in the center of your truck. Whichever one or ones you need, make sure your truck can handle the hitch, along with the weight of the trailer.
Hitches are something that can be self-installed, however it is recommended to be done professionally. The representatives are typically very knowledgeable, and will make sure you have what you need for your truck to pull the trailer. The best places to go are the service mechanics that deal with the trucking industry. We highly recommend against big box store servicers, especially U-Haul. These companies will take your money for the product, hook it up incorrectly by taking shortcuts, and then blame the manufacturer for the inferior job they do, especially when it comes to wiring.
With all of this knowledge in hand, you should be ready to put together a setup for your RV adventure. Happy travels, and remember to follow your internal compass.
Copyright 2021-24 Freedom Rolling.
Logo Image Courtesy Clipartmax.com
United States Image Courtesy Simple Maps