Trailer Life Tow Guide 2019 - Good Sam

1 2019 TOW Guide - 11/5/18 2:12 PM - 1 - (Cyan). (Magenta). (Yellow). (BlacK). WEIGHT FOR IT: MOST EXTENSIVE RATINGS EVER! A SUPPLEMENT TO. WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE YOU TOW. HITCHING AND TOWING FUNDAMENTALS. TOW-VEHICLE TRENDS. TECHNOLOGY PAVES THE WAY. SPONSORED BY. 2 COACHMEN 10/30/18 3:37 PM - 2 - (Cyan). (Magenta). (Yellow). (BlacK). Whether you e ne it as time spent in oors ith ami y an rien s, or on peace u Home. a s ta in in other ature s eauty, hen you are in a Coachmen , you are Find your local Coachmen dealer today! Leader to the Great Outdoors. Visit 1 8/17/2018 1:21:07 PM. 2019 TOW Guide - 11/1/18 2:49 PM - 3 - (Cyan). (Magenta). (Yellow). (BlacK). 4 TOW VEHICLES AND TECHNOLOGY. C O N T E N T S New trucks, SUVs and evolving technologies promise an exciting future for RVing 12 HOW TO USE THIS Guide .

2 13 2019 TOW RATINGS. Trailer Life's 36th annual towing Guide consolidates manufacturer-assigned weight limits 26 TOWING FUNDAMENTALS. Tips for maneuvering a tow vehicle and Trailer , from sizing up your rig to practicing behind the wheel 30 HITCHING BASICS. Choosing the proper hardware for a tow vehicle and Trailer leads to a happy union on the highway ADVERTISING SPONSORS. Vice President National Sales B&W Trailer Hitches Terry Thompson, EDITORIAL Blue Ox Publisher Ann Emerson Advertising Manager Editor Valerie Law Katey Purgatorio, Coachmen Managing Editor Donya Carlson Technical Editor Chris Dougherty Advertising Representatives Geico Consulting Editors Chris Hemer, Jeff Johnston Lou Cicirelli, Production Director Bob Dawson Scott Oakes, Progress Manufacturing Production Manager Brenda Hutchinson Sue Seidlitz, Marketing Manager Lorisa Pierson Kim Whitaker, Redarc Electronics Tow Ratings Robin and Larry Walton Publisher Emeritus Bob Livingston Trailer LIFE.

3 2750 Park View Court, Suite 240 2019 Good Sam Enterprises, LLC. CREATIVE Oxnard, California 93036 Trailer Life is a registered trademark of Good Sam Enterprises, LLC. Art Director Rick Damien 805-667-4100, Unauthorized use of any of Good Sam's Photographer Shawn Spence , trademarks is expressly prohibited. Trailer LIFE 2019 TOWING Guide | 3. 2019 TOW Guide - New 11/1/18 3:12 PM - 4 - (Cyan). (Magenta). (Yellow). (BlacK). TOWING 2019. TOW VEHICLES AND TE. New trucks, SUVs and evolving technologies promise an exciting future for RVing N. ew vehicles used to appear once 2,000 pounds or more, but since then, two a year, but as manufacturers rush to more have been announced. Regular readers get new vehicles to market, or at least of Trailer Life know that each annual Guide to entice potential buyers to wait for the latest Towing contains information about the latest model, vehicle introductions can range from tow vehicles, but rather than rehashing what the first quarter to the last.

4 In the November we presented in November, we're going to 2018 issue of Trailer Life, we presented an focus on the very newest vehicles with an inter- article about new vehicles capable of towing esting twist: the technologies that are making today's tow vehicles more fuel efficient than CHEVROLET BLAZER. ever. The future is unfolding right before our eyes, and the result is the best of both worlds: performance and fuel economy. The Chevy Blazer is back, but for those who remember the original, it is tough to recognize. PHOTOS: MANUFACTURERS. Where the first-generation Blazers were a sim- ple design with the aerodynamics of a soap bar, the 2019 iteration is similar to its '70s prede- 4 | Trailer LIFE 2019 TOWING Guide . 2019 TOW Guide - New 11/1/18 3:13 PM - 5 - (Cyan).

5 (Magenta). (Yellow). (BlacK). by Chris Hemer I N T E R I O R M O T I V E S Inside, Chevy's all-new 2019 Blazer offers a wide range of styling choices for the different models offered. D TECHNOLOGY. allows the driver to make real-time adjustments to varying road conditions, can be disconnected on all- wheel-drive (AWD) models cessor in name only. Now the sixth crossover/ for better fuel economy when extra traction SUV in Chevy's lineup, the Blazer is positioned isn't needed. Edgy, athletic styling is comple- between the Equinox and Traverse, with two mented by available features like an automatic rows of seating and a choice of two powerplants heated steering wheel and heated/ventilated a four-cylinder rated at 193 horse- seats (linked to the remote start and/or power and 188 lb-ft of torque, and a climate-control system), adaptive cruise V-6 generating an impressive 305 horsepower control, hands-free power liftgate, wireless and 269 lb-ft of torque, both of which are paired phone charging and six USB ports.

6 With a nine-speed automatic transmission. Hot on the heels of the Tahoe RST intro- Perhaps more importantly, Chevy tells us that the Blazer offers real capabilities to RVers, with a max tow rating of 4,500. pounds and two helpful technologies: Hitch Guidance and Hitch View, both of which leverage the backup camera to make hitching easier. Standard Traction Select, which CHEVROLET SUBURBAN RST. Trailer LIFE 2019 TOWING Guide | 5. 2019 TOW Guide - New 11/1/18 3:03 PM - 6 - (Cyan). (Magenta). (Yellow). (BlacK). TOWING 2019. FORD EDGE ST. duced last year is the performance-focused four-cylinder is now the only engine choice . Suburban RST. Like its two-door sibling, the unless you opt for the new Edge ST. This baby sumo-size Suburban is powered by a packs a specially tuned version of the V-8 with state-of-the-art technologies like V-6 EcoBoost that generates 335 horsepower direct injection, Active Fuel Management and and 380 lb-ft of torque, gains of 20 and 30, continuously variable valve timing.

7 It packs respectively, over last year's engine. Like 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque, and is the base EcoBoost, it's backed by a new backed by a new 10-speed automatic transmis- eight-speed automatic transmission. Stan- sion. Keeping all this mass in check is a Mag- dard all-wheel-drive, sport-tuned suspension, netic Ride Control system with performance a unique front fascia with mesh grille, dual calibration that reads the road surface every exhaust outlets, 20-inch wheels and red ST. millisecond, and can affect damping changes in badging tell onlookers that this is no ordinary the electronically controlled shock absorbers Edge. Maximum tow rating is 3,500 pounds. in as few as five milliseconds, according to GM. Like them or not, driver-assist technolo- Separating the RST from its more plebian gies are here to stay, and the 2019 Edge will be brethren are details like 22-inch wheels wear- the first ute in Ford's lineup to feature the new ing Bridgestone rubber, a body-color grille Ford Co-Pilot360 system as standard equip- surround and door handles, gloss-black grille ment.

8 Co-Pilot360 includes Pre-Collision As- and mirror caps, and blacked-out roof rails, sist with Automatic Emergency Braking, Blind window trim, badging and Chevy bowties. Spot Information System with cross-traffic Available enhancements include a Brembo alert, Lane-Keeping System, rearview cam- performance brake package with 16-inch era, auto high-beam headlamps, post-impact front rotors clamped by six-piston calipers, braking and rain-sensing wipers. Ford Co- and a Borla dual-side-exit exhaust system. Pilot360 Assist+, standard on SEL, Titanium Preliminary reports are that this new Suburban and ST models, adds Adaptive Cruise Control will have a tow rating of 8,100 pounds. with Stop-and-Go and Lane Centering, Evasive The Ford Edge finally lives up to its name, Steering Assist and voice-activated navigation with bold new styling that eschews the house- with SiriusXM Traffic and Travel Link.

9 Hold-appliance look and more closely follows the design language of other SUVs in Ford's Need for Speeds lineup. Available in SE, SEL and Titanium It doesn't seem like that long ago that a five- trim levels, all models feature new front and speed manual or six-speed automatic were rear fascias, grille and liftgate, along with five the norm in cars and trucks. Gradually we newly styled wheel designs. progressed to six speeds in each, but in the The normally aspirated V-6 is no past decade we've witnessed a drastic change: longer on the menu, as the EcoBoost Manual transmissions are all but gone, and 6 | Trailer LIFE 2019 TOWING Guide . 7 BLUE 10/30/18 3:36 PM - 7 - (Cyan). (Magenta). (Yellow). (BlacK).. No Excuses! Rain or shine. Stop driving 20mph Friction hitches stop working slower than other traffic.

10 In wet weather conditions. Sway prevention SwayPro prevents sway in the fast lane. in any weather. Fast Hookup. Quiet. Load the chains. You won't hear any of the Rotate the latches. annoying noises created Go. by friction hitches. Versatile. Tow with nearly any vehicle. Tow almost any Trailer . 2019 TOW Guide - New 11/1/18 3:03 PM - 8 - (Cyan). (Magenta). (Yellow). (BlacK). TOWING 2019. automatics have progressed from six to eight to nine and now 10. speeds. Why? The simple answer is fuel economy. Manual transmissions, due to the fact that they're con- trolled by a human being, are not as consistent, and therefore not as economical, as contemporary, computer-controlled automat- ics. As manufacturers struggle to cope with ever-tightening Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards, no stone re- mains unturned as engineers look at every possible way to squeeze more efficiency from a given vehicle.