Brief Discussion About Tow Rating and Other Related Quantities

Are you planning to start a towing business of your own, or work as a full time hauler for a firm? If you are thinking that it is going to be as easy as hooking the trailer to the tow vehicle, you are wrong. There are plenty of details which you will have to bear in mind, the most important element out of which is perhaps the one related to weight. Before starting out, you must make sure your vehicle is capable of towing your trailer while it is loaded, be it a 4 or 5 car hauler. And that is where tow capacities and ratings come into play.

The tow capacity or rating can be defined as the maximum weight a vehicle can pull without any problem. You can find it inside the owner’s manual of your tow van or truck. Not only does this measure will represent the weight of your trailer, but also the load that it can carry efficiently. The tow rating of any vehicle usually takes multiple factors into account:

• Structure of vehicle
• Design of suspension and chassis
• Axle ratios, engine type and other variables of drive train
• Class and design of hitch
• Load capacities and tire ratings

These numbers are never arbitrary, rather the result of comprehensive real-world testing performed by engineers for pushing vehicles to their extreme limits to determine accurate physical abilities of the trucks or vans.

Though it is very important to not exceed the tow rating of your vehicle, there are several other limits which should also be never crossed while towing. They include:

• GVWR - GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating) is the maximum load your vehicle can possibly carry, including fuel, cargo, passengers and the truck or van itself.
  
• GCWR - GCWR (gross combined weight rating) is the combined weight of your trailer and tow vehicle when fully loaded.
  
• GAWR - GAWR (gross axle weight ratings) represents the most load a certain axle is capable of carrying, including tire and wheel
  
• HWR - Hitch weight rating indicates the amount of load a hitch has been designed for carrying safely
  
• Tongue Weight - it must be between 15-30 percent for fifth wheel or gooseneck trailers and 10-15 percent for conventional ones, of the gross load.

Exceeding just one of the above mentioned can not only cause significant damage to both your trailer and tow vehicle, but also create a dangerous situation for you as well as other people on the road.

Tips For Haulers Undertaking Interstate Vehicle Transport

It does not matter if you are an experienced car hauler or doing it the first time, it can never hurt to be aware of some vital tips for making your interstate vehicle transport convenient and safe. Not only will these tips help you to save an ample amount of time and make you hassle-free, but also aid you in working more competently.

Let’s take a look at some of them:

Drive Slowly : The foremost thing that you should keep in mind is to drive at a low speed. By driving slowly rather than attempting to rush at 70mph, you can avoid a lot of unnecessary troubles. Besides keeping away from speeding tickets, it would also help you to move safely at sharp turns.

Check Your Tow Van’s Battery : Whether the car transport you are undertaking, are for brand new or wrecked cars, it is imperative for the battery of your tow van to be up and running. If the battery dies down in the middle of the journey, it can cause a number of problems. Therefore, make sure that you inspect the battery of your tow van properly before setting off, and also keep a winch as backup.

Get Enough Sleep During Lengthy Trips : If the haul is supposed to be long one, carry a makeshift bed in the compartment of your truck and get enough sleep before starting for the journey. It is not a good thing at all to drive when you are groggy and know for sure that you need sleep. It can cause accidents, even fatal ones if you do not drive without getting enough rest.

Purchase A Good Hauling Trailer : Besides following all the necessary safety precautions and tips, make sure that you buy a proper trailer for the task. There are many firms in Texas that provide 4 or 5 car hauler for sale. You can also look for used ones if your budget is tight, but make sure you inspect them carefully before buying. Having to perform repair works on your newly bought trailer is the last thing you would want to do.

Limit The Hauling : Size of the trailer will determine the number of cars you can haul, but try not to exceed four or five cars at the most. If you are a newbie and your trailer is a large one, try to limit the number of cars to a couple during your first time, in order to become familiar with the hauling process.