January 2018

[Paul]

Click on the link to read the newsletter

http://mailchi.mp/ba0f7c1f5b8d/newsletter-2-happy-new-year-from-acf

Thank you Merlin for the Newsletter!

[DavidM]

Even though Merlin lists Trailerlife as an RV resource, I would specifically note their Towing Guides: http://www.trailerlife.com/trailer-towing-guides/

These guides which cover the years 1999 to 2017, give manufacturer's tow ratings for virtually every vehicle sold in the US with a tow rating above 2,000 lbs. This generally means SUVs and pickup trucks. It often has a dozen or more variations of one vehicle and its tow rating depending on engine, axle ratio, with and without tow package, etc. This is particularly true of the US big 3 full size pickup trucks. So be careful how you read these ratings. Going from a V6 with a numerically low axle ratio to a V8 with a high ratio can double the tow rating.

If you are thinking about buying a LL and want to know if your current TV can safely tow it, look here. If you are thinking about upgrading your TV then also look here to see what you can safely tow with it.

The Towing Guides do not list maximum hitch weight and do not discuss the need for a weight distributing hitch to meet the higher tow ratings. Some manufacturers do so in their specific product bulletins, but many often don't. Whether you need a WDH or not is often a practical evaluation, ie how it tows without one. And it also depends on what fraction of the tow rating you are using.

For example, a mid size SUV with a tow rating of 6,000 lbs probably needs one to tow at or near that rating, but not if you are towing 4,000 lbs, with the recommended 10% on the hitch. In general the closer you are to hitting the tow rating, the more likely you need a WDH.

So, use the Towing Guides for screening the tow capability of your TV, but always consult the manufacturer's product bulletins and try to stay at least 10% under those ratings.

David

[gbpack]

Nice job Merlin! Very concise and informative!

[djsamuel]

Great list. I didn't know about RVUpgradeStore.com