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1 001-TL1002 TG Cover LO 12/4/09 12:35 PM Page 1. Go To: Comments Contents .com 003-TL10 TOW guide ADS 12/4/09 12:46 PM Page CV2. MAN, TRAILERS ARE LIKE. WILD. ANIMALS. They're always trying to get away from you. Until now. Trailer sway control, standard. Go To: Comments Contents .com 003-TL10 TOW guide ADS 12/4/09 12:46 PM Page CV3. FORD F-150. FIND OUT MORE AT Ford Motor Company, go to Go To: Comments Contents .com 004-TL1002 TG Contents LO 12/7/09 12:21 PM Page 4. EDITORIAL. PUBLISHER. BOB LIVINGSTON.

2 EDITOR. KRISTOPHER BUNKER. MANAGING EDITOR. MARLEEN CANNIFF. CREATIVE. CONTENTS. ART DIRECTOR. MIRANTE ALMAZAN. EDITORIAL/BUSINESS OFFICE. 2575 VISTA DEL MAR DRIVEE, VENTURAA, CA 93001. TEL (805) 667-4100 FAX (805) 667-4484. ADVERTISING. Ventura, California VP/NATIONAL SALES. TERRY THOMPSON. BUSINESS MANAGER. DENIELLE STERNBURG. BOX 8510, VENTURAA, CA 93002. TEL (805) 667-4100 FAX (805) 667-4379. Elkhart, Indiana MIDWEST SALES DIRECTOR. CHUCK LASLEY. NATIONAL ADVERTISING SALES. TACY HENDERSHOT. NATIONAL ADVERTISING SALES.

3 LOU CICIRELLI. 2300 MIDDLEBURY STREETT, ELKHARTT, IN 46516. TEL (574) 295-7820 FAX (574) 522-0418. Seattle, Washington NATIONAL ADVERTISING SALES. SCOTT OAKESS, JOHN MARCIANO. 1818 WESTLAKE AVENUE N, #420. SEATTLEE, WA 98109. TEL (206) 283-9545 FAX (206) 283-9571. Detroit, Michigan CROMPTON HOLDINGS. SCOTT CROMPTON. 2031 FERNWAY DRIVE. MONTGOMERYY, AL 36111. TEL (334) 613-2040 FAX (334) 356-7740. TRAILER LIFE IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF. AFFINITY GROUP INCC. COPYRIGHT 2010 BY AFFINITY. GROUP INCC.

4 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. TRAILER LIFE (USPS. #454-970) IS PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY AFFINITY GROUP. INCC. SUBSCRIPTION PRICEE, AND POSSESSIONSS: 1 YEARR, $ ; 2 YEARSS, $ ALL OTHER. COUNTRIESS, ADD $12 PER YEAR. FOR MORE INFORMATIONN, VISIT OUR WEB SITE AT. 2010 guide to Towing Sponsors Ford Motor Company (800) 392-3673. Hensley Manufacturing Inc. (800) 410-6580. 4 | 2010 TRAILER LIFE Towing guide Go To: Comments Contents .com 005-TL1002 TG Choose Wisel 12/4/09 12:41 PM Page 5. W Weight Matters 2010 TRAILER LIFE Towing guide | 5.

5 Go To: Comments Contents .com 005-TL1002 TG Choose Wisel 12/4/09 12:42 PM Page 6. rating for the tow vehicle you plan to buy. accurate weight figures. Gross Combination Weight Rating (gcwr): The gvwr figures are neither guidelines nor The total allowable weight of the tow vehicle, the estimates; they are limits, and there are numer- trailer, the cargo in each, fluids and occupants. ous valid reasons the manufacturer arrived at Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (gvwr): The the figures given. If you think these figures are total allowable weight for the vehicle, including close enough or have a fudge-factor percent- fluids, options, hitch, cargo and trailer-hitch age built in, think again.

6 Your warranty cover- weight. The trailer's gvwr is the total allowable age, and your safety, may be at risk. weight of the trailer, fluids, occupants, options The only sure-fire way to find out what your and cargo. trailer weighs is to load it as usual for a trip and Gross Axle Weight Rating (gawr): The total weigh it at a public scale. Without forming a allowable weight on any given individual axle. long line of commercial trucks waiting their This includes the weight of the tires, wheels, turns at the scale, get the hitch weight, axle brakes and the axle itself.

7 Weight and total weight. Assuming that the axle Maximum Tow Rating: The manufacturer's weight is below the gawr, the total is below the weight limit for towed loads. For conventional gvwr and the hitch weight is below the maxi- trailers, this normally includes a hitch-weight mum given for your tow vehicle, you can then limit as well; for fifth-wheels, the pin weight is move on to tow-vehicle selection. applied to the truck's gvwr and its rear-axle gawr. When purchasing a trailer, consult the weight sticker on the unit of your choice on a Trailer and Tow Rig Matchup dealer's lot and refer to the uvw and ccc.

8 Estimate how much cargo you will add, being mindful of the gvwr, and use that number while selecting a tow vehicle. To a lesser extent, tow-vehicle weight is variable as well. Brochures and tow guides fre- quently list how much a tow vehicle weighs, but this number generally applies to the most basic model in that configuration, without any op- tions. In some cases, distinctions are made by engine, transmission, drive system (2WD or 4WD/AWD) and, in other cases, by cab or bed styles. If the dealer does not have a vehicle equipped as you want that is available to weigh, or cannot provide option weights, you can form rough estimates but exact figures are the The gvwr and gawr for all motor vehicles are only way to be certain.

9 Listed on the data plate, typically affixed to the Bigger engines add weight, diesels more so driver's door frame, fuel door, glove box, end of because they come with additional accessories the dashboard or other easy-to-access loca- (up to 700 pounds more than the standard gas tion. Brochures and window stickers may be in- engine is common). Add up to 175 pounds for accurate. All trailers should have a weight an optional transmission, about 400 pounds sticker normally found in an interior cabinet for 4WD and a bit less than 300 pounds for that lists the trailer's Unloaded Vehicle longer beds.

10 Then add other options like luxu- Weight (uvw), gvwr, weight added by freshwa- ry-trim levels, as all those electric motors add ter and LP-gas and the resulting cargo carrying up. The towing package and hitch could add capacity (ccc). another 100 pounds, and larger wheels and In many cases, especially on older trailers, tires can also have an effect. optional equipment such as air-conditioning Following is how to calculate the realistic units, generators and the fuel they run on towing capacity of the vehicle that interests you.