Trailer towing advice


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Posted by Paul on February 12, 2000 at 21:43:41:

In Reply to: PW Hauling... posted by Johnny Burrito on February 12, 2000 at 17:57:01:

{{What's the best way to hook-up to the Townie ??? Specifics appreciated - I'm new to towing & would like the benefit of those with experience.}}

First and foremost, make sure you have a class III or IV trailer hitch receiver mounted securely to the frame. No bumper hitches for something this heavy. You'll pull the bumper right off. Next, you want an equalizing hitch to go in it. This will have brackets to add the equalizing bars. For a small trailer, you won't need them but with a big'n you will. The equalizers will take a lot of weight off the rear axle and spread it to the front.


You need to have electric brakes on at least one axle. If you're hauling a PW you want it on both. I've had good luck with solid state electronic brake controlers. You don't have to splice into the hydraulics with them and they are easy to transfer to another vehicle later.


One caveat though, when you wire the trailer connector, MAKE CERTAIN the wiring is sealed against moisture. I didn't do this once and water got into the connector by running down the wire. It rusted on of the connector screws inside and when I used my left turn signal, it engaged the trailers brakes each time it flashed. I didn't notice it until I had a loaded trailer and the brakes started pulsing going down the road.


If you're going with an open flat bed trailer, besides brakes on all the wheels, you want a removable or flip over fender on the left side. It won't make any difference on a PW as it sits high. However, if you haul a car, you'll have to crawll out the window as the fender usually won't let the door open. You also want self storing ramps. If you get a solid bed rather than one with two ramps, you can also use it to haul other stuff as well. A tool box is handy for storing straps, chains and tools. So is a spare tire carrier with a spare on it.

Is your townie an automatic or manual? If it's manual, you''ll want to use lower gears than normal. If it's an automatic, you'll want to add an auxilliary transmission cooler. Also be sure to let the vehicle idle for a bit to cool the tranny after you pull for a while. I've seen guys pull a boat up a boat ramp and then shut the truck off. The heat from pulling up the ramp then just sits and cooks the oil in the transmission.




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