Towing

There is something special about camping, but if you’re like me and don’t like getting wet while you sleep, chances are you’re thinking about a trailer.

And if you are, or have, a wife like mine, chances are that not just any trailer will do. 

When we were shopping, I kept gravitating towards the trailers that our vehicle at the time could tow. My wife kept gravitating towards larger trailers that meant ditching the minivan for something that could really haul. In the end, we bought a cottage. 

But trailering does bring with it some considerations for a tow vehicle, and you have to keep in mind where you plan to take your new toy. 

Scott Dube, service shop foreman at Leisure Days RV, says many of the trailers available today can be towed by certain minivans or light trucks. The key is matching your trailer’s weight to the capability of the vehicle. Add 600 pounds to the weight of the trailer to allow for the food, utensils and other items you will carry in the trailer. 

Dube said, ironically, a common mistake by many drivers is not that they overestimate how much their vehicles can tow. “Actually, it’s the other way around. People underestimate — they think that if the vehicle is rated for 9,600 pounds and the trailer is 7,000 pounds that’s too much. But it isn’t.” The key considerations are all outlined in your vehicle’s owner’s manual (you know, that book that is likely still pristinely sealed in shrink wrap in your glove box!): tongue weight, gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR), gross combined weight rating (GCWR) and towing capacity.  

Tongue weight: the force pushing down on the hitch when the trailer is hooked upGVWR: the combination of vehicle weight, cargo weight, people weight and tongue weight applied by the trailerGCWR: the combination of vehicle weight, cargo and people weight and overall trailer weightTowing capacity: the weight the vehicle will tow.

Staying within the manufacturer’s specifications is important, as some jurisdictions watch trailer weight closely, and will, if you’re over, make you unhook the trailer and leave it parked until you can bring a vehicle that meets the requirements. 

The two vehicles we had on hand for our interview at Leisure Days RV were a 2011 GMC Sierra Denali HD and a 2011 Ford F-150 EcoBoost. The Sierra was a diesel, rated for towing up to 17,800 pounds. The Ford F-150, despite being a gasoline-powered V-6 engine with turbocharger, is rated for 10,600 pounds, identical to the towing capacity of the F-150 with a 6.2-litre V-8 engine. 

Dube said generally, the only reason to choose a heavy-duty truck — such as the Sierra HD or Ford’s Super Duty line of trucks — is because the trailer demands it. He did warn that you may wish to leave some headroom if you plan to trailer a lot in the mountains, where braking and engine and transmission durability may become a factor. 

Another consideration, particularly if you are only buying a truck to trailer and are only trailering a few times a year, is to opt not to buy and instead rent a truck. You get the capacity you need when you need it but without wasting fuel when you don’t. 

When purchasing a tow vehicle, let the dealer know you do plan to tow. The dealer should recommend adding towing packages that add transmission oil coolers, possibly extendable side mirrors, different rear axle ratios and integrated trailer brake controller that brakes the trailer when you hit the brake pedal and allow you to apply trailer brakes only in the event of the trailer swaying. 

And if you don’t have a lot of experience trailering, consider getting a rear back-up camera on your truck. It makes backing up to hitch on a breeze.

Automotive journalist Kelly Taylor is co-host of The Road Trip, heard Saturdays 10 a.m. to noon on CJOB68, and his work appears in publications across Canada and the United States. 

The specs
GMC Sierra Denali HD 2500
Engine: 6.6-litre Duramax diesel turbo
Power: 397 hp @ 3,000 rpm
Torque: 765 lb-ft. @ 1,600 rpm
Transmission: Allison 1000 six-speed automatic
Towing capacity: 17,800 lb.Base price: $35,735 (non-Denali model)
Price as driven: $59,210 

Ford F-150 EcoBoost 
Engine: 3.5-litre twin-turbo V-6
Power: 365 hp @ 5,000 rpm
Torque: 420 lb-ft. @ 2,500 rpm
Transmission: six-speed automatic with selectshift
Towing: 10,600 pounds (with Max. towing package)
Base price: $35,199 (Super Crew Cab 4x4)
Price as driven: $63,615 (Platinum)