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EARTHBOUND RECREATIONAL VEHICLE TRAILER OWNER'S MANUAL
Section 2 -‐ Towing
TOW VEHICLE EQUIPMENT
If you plan to buy a new vehicle to tow your trailer we suggest that you include in your purchase the towing options
offered by most tow vehicle manufacturers. These include such things as a heavy-‐duty alternator and radiator,
heavy-‐duty springs (See Note:) and shock absorbers, transmission cooler, heavy-‐duty fan and flasher unit and
others, depending upon the make of the vehicle.
Transmissions may be manual or automatic, but an automatic transmission may prolong your tow vehicle’s life and
generally does a better job of controlling engine loads than the average driver using a manual shift.
Having adequate power is very important when considering the purchase of a new vehicle or the trailer towing
capability of your present one. American manufacturers realize more than 30% of the vehicles they sell will be used
for towing some type of trailer. The dealers are provided with guidelines to use when helping a customer decide on a
tow vehicle.
Inspect the tow vehicle's hitch regularly for loose bolts or nuts, cracked welds, loose ball mounts, worn parts etc.
New trailerists often carry more food and other supplies than really needed. Remember that every item you take
along adds weight to the total load you must pull. Consolidate items in shelves, lockers, and in the refrigerator.
Special care must be taken not to overload the front and rear ends of the trailer.
NOTE:
Be realistic when ordering heavy duty springs. Too harsh of spring rate will only shorten the life of the tow
vehicle and trailer and will make your journeys less enjoyable.
WARNING
: Too stiff of springs can hinder the action of the weight equalizing hitch and prevent
the transfer of weight to the front of the vehicle.
