Recent content by DW_Gray

Ford and some other brands will have the following note in the owner's manual for half-ton or smaller size vehicles. Note: Make sure to take into consideration trailer frontal area. Do not exceed 36.5 feet² (3.39 meters²) if your vehicle is equipped with the standard towing package, or 60 feet²...

What I would or would not do is only for me personally. I said I won't buy a Ford. I don't tell what others they should do. I provide facts, options, and the appropriate tool for them to make an educated decision. No one can know what vehicle is best for their towing needs until the following...

"...factors to consider than charts right?" Absolutely! The biggest problem is that most consumers read only the charts and don't read the other instructions, cautions, and warnings written in the owner's manual. I have written and published many articles covering multiple factors in selecting...

Now some of you seeing the frustrations I've had to deal with the last 4 years interpreting the crapy Ford charts and specs. After the second year, I decided then I'd never own a Ford truck just because of the mental headaches it caused me. Dag-nab-it, the 2018 charts are coming too soon.

Let’s discuss using the Lippert Level Up as a means to change a tire and safety practices. Lippert’s hydraulic system is more than capable of lifting and holding a trailer up off the ground, even for extended periods of time. I lifted my empty Cyclone off the ground at a storage lot for 8...

Here's the scoop. So far it appears that only conventional trailers with ball attachment couplers rated 10K# or less have an SAE standard for safety chains. Surprisingly, the Standard is not mandatory and it is entirely optional for the manufacturer to include safety chains. I have not...

The gooseneck hitch is not covered under the SAE J684. I'll have to find out if SAE has a standard for that. Good question. That's another I'll be researching. Update: Covered under SAE J2638. I'm getting it soon.

Even the SAE J684 states "The safety chains shall be crossed under the trailer tongue and connected to the hitch assembly or to other towing vehicle members." SAE J684 also notes that "Crossing the chains under the tongue typically reduces the probability of stressing or breaking the chains...

It happened again. From what I’m able to surmise from the report, I suspect the following possible problems contributed to the loss of control. 1. Safety chains not crisscrossed. 2. Safety chains too long. 3. Safety chains rating too light. 4. Incorrect safety chain hooks or rating too light...

The morning after Memorial Day 2017, I became aware of a horrific tragedy in Lincoln County, Kentucky. It was caused by a travel trailer that unhitched from a truck. The trailer then moved into the opposite lane and met head-on into an SUV. The SUV driver was killed, and six-month-old Colt Tuff...

As long as the chains are removed from the bars, that's fine. You don't need to remove the whole system. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

There are two different calculators. One for fifth wheel and one for conventional towing.

If you really want to know the realistic vehicle towing capacity for any vehicle, I recommend you use RV Tow Check. Towing guides are worthless most of the time.

Okay, let me hopefully make this a little easier for you. Go to Fifth Wheel Street and start with the 4-Step Weight Safety Plan. Without the convenience of getting the recommended wheel-by-wheel weighing, the 4-Step Weight Safety Plan is the best option if you don't know all the required...

J2807 does not cover payload requirements. J2807 "defines procedures and requirements to determine Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) and calculate corresponding Trailer Weight Rating (TWR) for any tow-vehicle." Ram and Chevrolet do the best job at calculating payload. For that matter, Ram...