{"id":12369,"date":"2024-01-30T22:08:25","date_gmt":"2024-01-31T05:08:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog2.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/?p=12369"},"modified":"2024-01-30T22:08:27","modified_gmt":"2024-01-31T05:08:27","slug":"how-to-tow-an-rv","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/how-to-tow-an-rv\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Tow an RV: Expert Tips and Techniques"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Owning an RV is a chance for your family to travel, camp, and satisfy their adventurous spirits. According to the RV Industry Association<\/a>, more than 11 million Americans now own their own RV, and countless others rent for their excursions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While owning or renting an RV is as liberating as it is memorable, it can also be very stressful, particularly when you’re towing it down the road. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

RVs can weigh up to 20,000 pounds, <\/strong>and learning how to tow them safely and responsibly can be a daunting experience–especially if you’re in the early stages of learning <\/em>how to drive an RV<\/em><\/a>. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

But with these expert tips in your passenger seat, you’ll be well on your way to a smooth towing experience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Understanding Your RV and Tow Vehicle<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The first step in safely and easily towing an RV has to do with matching up your RV with a suitable towing vehicle<\/a>. Obviously, the bigger your RV is, the more towing capacity and power your towing vehicle needs to have.<\/strong> To ensure you have the right setup, there are a few numbers and terms you’ll need to know. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Gross vehicle weight rating applies to both your RV and your towing vehicle. GVWR<\/a> refers to the maximum total weight that a vehicle can handle. When calculating the GVWR of your RV specifically<\/strong>, you’ll want to include the weight of the rig itself as well as everything you have inside of it (aka cargo)<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For your towing vehicle<\/strong>, GVWR includes the combined weight of everything in the vehicle, including passengers, cargo, and the tongue weight of your RV. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s essential to know how much weight each of your vehicles can handle and to stay within that weight limit if you want to tow safely. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Towing Capacity<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you’re towing a travel trailer<\/a> or fifth wheel, the maximum towing capacity of your towing vehicle is the most important number to know. <\/strong>A vehicle’s towing capacity refers to the maximum weight that it can safely tow behind it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To find your vehicle’s towing capacity<\/strong>, you will need to check the owner’s manual or with the manufacturer<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most mid-sized trucks and SUVs<\/strong>, for example, have a towing capacity of 5,000 to 7,500 pounds<\/strong>, whereas half-ton and three-quarter-ton trucks<\/strong> can tow from 9,000 to 20,000+ pounds. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Make sure that the gross trailer weight is less than the towing capacity of your towing vehicle<\/strong>. Attempting to tow too much weight<\/em> will put excess strain on the towing vehicle and present a higher risk of swaying. It will also make it more difficult to stop your vehicle as you come to a light or get into a traffic jam. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tongue Weight <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Tongue weight isn’t quite as important as towing capacity<\/a> and GVWR, but it’s still relevant. Tongue weight refers to the total weight on the front of the RV that will sit directly on top of the hitch. You can find the tongue weight of an RV listed in the owner’s manual or by asking the manufacturer. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

While your towing vehicle typically won’t list a maximum tongue weight, as it does with towing capacity and GVWR, you should estimate it as 10% to 15% of the towing capacity.<\/strong> In other words, if your truck has a towing capacity of 10,000 pounds, your RV’s tongue weight shouldn’t be more than 1,000 or 1,500 pounds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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