RVing is one of America’s favorite pastimes. There are people that travel all across the United States every day, whether it is a family venture, or an individual going about an excursion alone. Even for the most seasoned rv traveler, there are rv towing tips that always come in handy.

There are many rv towing tips that are available to an rv owner. For example, there are only certain items that can be towed with certain vehicles. A towing guide is the best route to find out which items, such as an rv can be towed with which cars. Some vehicles have to have the proper horsepower to tow rvs. If there is not enough horsepower, a vehicle can receive irreparable damages to the engine, which can result in thousands of dollars of repairs.

A second important towing tip is to know how long the rv is. There are guidelines that exist with how long of an rv can be pulled with the tow vehicle. For example, a small truck can not pull a very large rv. Aside from the fact that the tow vehicle would not have enough torque in this situation, it is also a highly hazardous situation, not only for the tow vehicle driver, but for other drivers on the road. A small vehicle can not accommodate the weight of a large rv. Should this occur, the tow vehicle can become severely damaged. The overall goal is to prevent “fishtailing” or swaying of the rv while on the road. When there is equal leverage between the rv and the tow vehicle, there is minimal swaying, which makes for a much easier drive.

Another important factor for rv towing tips are the hitches. The hitches that are used when towing are very important. For example, a 5th wheel hitch is needed to stabilize the overhang of a fifth wheel rv. This is to balance the weight distribution, thus preventing any damages that may be caused from an unsteady rv at rest. It is important for an individual to know how to hitch and unhitch their rv. This way, when an rv is being towed, it will have the maximum security from a form fitting hitch.

One of the most important towing tips for an individual that is hauling an rv is to know the laws of the state that they are traveling in. This is particularly important for those individuals that are towing their rv thru several states. There are often height, width and weight restrictions that are placed on roads. Since the tow vehicles are often quite large, and then they are pulling even a larger rv, there is a lot of weight, height and width that is associated with such hauls. Traveling on a road that can not accommodate such towing vehicles and rv’s can result in dangerous situations, as well as creating violations against the law.

There are towing tips that are available on the internet, all of which are free of charge. Those individuals that are towing such large loads as an rv need to educate themselves with the rules and regulations of such tows. The more information that an individual has in regarding towing a vehicle, the better prepared they are to hit the road.

by Jim Johnson

It probably wasn't long after the first RV was made that someone was trying to figure out a way to attach another vehicle and tow it along too. It sounds simple enough, but there are several important considerations that come into play. Most modern RVs and motorhomes are pretty big affairs all on their own, but when you add the weight of another vehicle as well, that's is a lot of bulk to have to both start and stop rolling as you go down the highway. So here are some rv towing tips that you should know to help you tow properly:

* Actually the first thing to understand is that towing is a whole subject to itself and it requires a lot of research and the right equipment to do it right, so don't expect to learn all that you need to know from just one article like this. A good place to start is to look carefully through the owner's manual that came with your motorhome and find out what the specific recommendations are for your RV that have been made by the manufacturer themselves. Follow the guidelines laid out by the RV maker very carefully and if they have restrictions for the use of towing, adhere to them.

* Make sure that the vehicle that you wish to tow does not exceed the proper weight for safe towing. You should make sure that the weight of the tow vehicle and any equipment attached to it or that it rests on, combined with the total weight of the motorhome and all of it's contents does not exceed the GCWR(Gross Combined Vehicle Rating) for your RV. This is absolutely vital for safe operation., so be sure that you do your homework well in this area.

* You have three main choices for the actual towing of the extra vehicle, you can either (1) just tow the vehicle with all four wheels on the ground, (2) tow it with the drive wheels lifted off the ground by a dolly, or (3) by putting it on a trailer that removes the tow vehicle from the ground altogether. What you choose will probably depend on a few factors including what your RV manufacturer recommends and the kind of transmission that the tow vehicle has. On some vehicles you can severely damage the transmission if the drive wheels are left on the ground and the driveshaft is not disconnected, and on others you may need an automatic transmission pump to help lubricate the transmission while towing, so consult the vehicle's manufacturer as well to get a better feel about the kind of tow apparatus that you will need.

Of course, any rv towing tips that are provided needs to include a warning about backing up a motorhome with a tow vehicle still attached. This can easily cause damage to both the tow vehicle and the RV if you are not very familiar with these kind of procedures. So usually it's best to just unhook the tow vehicle before attempting backing up of any kind.

The more research that you can do on this subject in preparation for towing the better, and always err on the side of safety in any decision that you make.

Find out more about rv towing tips and rving tips by visiting our Motorhomes Review website.