Trailer Services in Tampa | Champion Trailers

-Outstanding traction
-Better distribution in footprint
-Reduced working time
-Reduced fuel consumption
-Longer tread life
-Comfort and handling on the
road
-Sidewalls an tread are independent. Sidewall flexing is not transmitted to the tread, it provides:

--A flat, stable and wider footprint on the ground
--Less distortion of the contact patch surface
--Better ground friction on the ground

Black Streak Removal
-you be the judge-

before before & after

Acid Wash

Hitch systems, towing packages, tongue weight, and driving permits—there’s
a lot more to towing a trailer than just hitching up and taking off down the road. This

brochure provides general information and tips that can help you make safe decisions when

purchasing and driving a tow vehicle and trailer for noncommercial, personal use. It covers the

following topics:

How the size and weight of a trailer affect the selection of a tow vehicle

Things to consider if you already have a tow vehicle

The importance of trailer manufacturers’ tow ratings

How to measure the weight of a trailer

The hitching, braking, and wiring systems that connect tow vehicles with trailers

Tire safety

Proper loading and weight distribution of cargo and equipment

State and local requirements for towing a trailer

A pre-departure checklist

Safety tips for driving with a trailer

Safety tips for maintaining a tow vehicle and trailer

This brochure is not a substitute for the technical information found in manufacturers’ towing guides
and vehicle owner’s manuals. Its purpose is to give you some basic information about factors to
consider and equipment you will need to ensure your safety and that of your passengers, as well as
the safety of other people on the road, when you are towing a trailer.

Most SUVs, pickup trucks, vans, minivans, and passenger cars can be equipped to

tow a trailer. However, the selection of an appropriate tow vehicle and the proper equipment

to tow a trailer depends on the type of trailer, its size and weight, and the amount of weight being

towed. There are numerous types of trailers, but in general they fall into four categories:

flatbed or open trailers, boat trailers, enclosed trailers, and recreational vehicle trailers

(including travel trailers, fifth-wheel trailers, and folding camping trailers).

Check the owner’s manual and review the manufacturer’s guide to see if the vehicle you plan

to buy can tow a trailer. After you have reviewed the vehicle capabilities, you also must investigate

the capabilities of compatible hitch systems for the vehicle. This is especially important if you plan

to purchase a hitch from a source other than the vehicle manufacturer.

You may find that vehicle manufacturers offer specially designed towing packages that define

the equipment necessary to tow different types of trailers depending on their fully loaded weight

and size. A towing package may include a heavyduty radiator, battery, flasher system, alternator,

suspension, and brakes, as well as an engine-oil cooler, transmission-oil cooler, wiring harness,

specific axle ratio, and special wheels and tires.

Towing packages also may include the trailer hitch receiver, which is mounted

to the tow vehicle, but towing packages rarely include the draw bar, or ball mount,

and hitch ball. The draw bar is a separate assembly on which the hitch ball

is mounted. The draw bar then slides into the hitch receiver on the tow vehicle and is secured

with a locking pin. The front part of the trailer that hitches to the tow vehicle is referred to as the

tongue. At the end of the tongue is a coupler into which the hitch ball is inserted and secured.

A manufacturer may offer different towing packages to safely tow various sizes

and types of trailers. Towing packages indicate both equipment that must be installed on your

tow vehicle and equipment that is optional or recommended. For example, not all trailers

require the tow vehicle to be equipped with extended side-view mirrors. But

if you are towing a trailer that is wider than your tow vehicle, you will

need extended side-view mirrors to see rear- and side approaching traffic.

If you already have a tow vehicle, look up its tow rating—size, maximum loaded weight,

and maximum tongue weight of a trailer that the tow vehicle is capable of towing. The vehicle

owner’s manual contains these specifications. Most automotive manufacturers and dealerships

have towing specification guides with tow ratings and detailed information if extra equipment is

needed to tow a trailer. While your vehicle may have certain tow ratings, remember you must

have a matching hitch system that can handle the same specifications. To ensure safety, you may

have to install extra towing equipment.

Manufacturers’ Tow Vehicle Ratings

Manufacturers’ tow vehicle ratings address tongue weight as well as the individual, combined, and

fully loaded weights at which a tow vehicle can safely tow a trailer. They also can be used to guide

the selection of brake and hitching systems as well as tow vehicle tires. Together with the hitch

system specifications, these weight considerations will help you purchase a safe tow vehicle. In

general, manufacturers provide tow ratings for the maximum

• Amount the tow vehicle may weigh when fully loaded, or gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR).

• Weight a vehicle can tow. This figure may vary depending on the vehicle’s equipment, such

as a manual or automatic transmission and whether it is equipped with four-wheel drive.

Introduction

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8119 E. 20th Ave., Tampa, FL 33619