|
RV Tow Vehicles
Back to RV Camping Guide Table of Contents
If you will be towing an RV travel trailer or fifth-wheel
you'll need to know what to look for in an RV tow vehicle.
This is such an important issue that I advise that you do as much research as possible.
Your safety and that of your vehicle and RV will depend upon your decision. Since there
are so many different possible configurations of RV sizes and makes I can only give you a
few general guidelines.
Rest assured that your selection of a tow vehicle will have a major impact on the quality
of your RV’ing experience. Choose wisely. If you want to see what your tow vehicle is
made of, pull your RV up the winding Eastern Continental Divide highway from South
Carolina into North Carolina.
For personal safety, and to ensure the long-term durability of your tow vehicle and RV,
buy a tow vehicle with a towing capacity greater than your maximum towed load.
A heavy-duty auxiliary engine cooling system is mandatory. You will generate tremendous
amounts of engine and transmission heat towing your RV. Make sure that one is either
installed on your vehicle or have one installed.
The suspension system on your tow vehicle must be heavy-duty. Otherwise, you risk damaging
the frame of your vehicle, putting your personal safety at risk, and potentially losing
your RV.
You must have a heavy-duty transmission system. Pulling an RV places tremendous stresses
on your transmission in addition to the rest of your vehicle’s operating systems.
The rear-axle ratio in your vehicle absolutely must be a proper ratio in relation to
your maximum towed load. You’ll sacrifice some gas mileage, but that is better than
burning up your engine or transmission.
Make sure that your mirrors extend out far enough to give you a clear view to the rear of
your RV, on both sides of the highway.
Whether to go with a gas or diesel powered engine is more an individual matter. We have
had both and for overall performance would not go back to a gasoline-powered engine for
towing. We have met other people along the way who feel just the opposite. Go figure.
Passing all the vapor-locked gas-powered engines on the side of the road at high
elevations in Rocky Mountain National Park made us feel good about our decision to go with
diesel.
As a general rule, maintenance for a diesel-powered vehicle will be more expensive. On the
other hand, if you properly maintain your diesel truck, it can still be running many years
after it’s gasoline cousin has been crushed in the scrap yard.
Back to RV Camping Guide Table of Contents
|
RV Camping Home Page
Free RV Camping Guide
RV Parks and Campgrounds
Discount RV Camping
RV Camping Jobs
Volunteer RV
Camping Jobs
RV Camping Articles
Recommended Books
Earning
Money While Traveling
Health Advice For RVers
RV Travel Destinations
Writers Needed
Resources For RV'ers
RVing
Discounts
Free RV Classifieds
Important Need-To-Know Facts
Interesting Websites
Site Map
|
