Towing Maneuvers

How do you know what RPM to run if you want more power? Better towing? Better fuel efficiency. Find all the answers in this comprehensive gear ratio and tire size chart.

When you're moseying down the highway with a heavy trailer hooked up to your truck, there are a dozen things that could go wrong. But don't worry about your tires going flat yet: The biggest culprit in towing trouble is you.

By Cristen Conger

Dead weight and towed weight are terms that describe the maximum amount of weight that your vehicle can safely tow. There is a difference between the two, but that difference depends on your trailer hitch.

By Josh Clark

For impassioned towers among us, the debate over towing with an automatic or manual transmission is enough to start a riot. So it's not that heated, but it is a serious point to consider if you're going to haul a heavy load down the highway.

By Cristen Conger

Towing another vehicle isn't easy, but there are some things you can do to make it easier. You might be surprised how simple they are.

By John Fuller

When you tow a payload, you need to keep an eye on what's going on around you. What's the best way to use your mirrors when you tow?

By John Fuller

On the surface, towing seems simple. But if you're not careful, your load can get out of control, causing a serious accident. What should you know before you tow?

By Jonathan Strickland

Now it's your turn in the driver's seat to tow a boat, trailer or even another car. Suddenly, towing doesn't seem so simple, and you're worried about jackknifing. So how can you avoid it?

By Jane McGrath

Like carrying added baggage, towing burns extra fuel. But maybe there's no other way to get the job done, or you just really need that getaway to the lake. Can you go green?

By Jane McGrath

One of the most difficult things to do while towing a vehicle is to back up. In fact, you should avoid it if possible. So why is it so tough?

By Jonathan Strickland

The majority of the driving population takes a lot of things for granted. Their vehicles speed up, slow down, back up and turn when they require them to, and with relative ease. But add a couple of thousand pounds onto the back, and things get a litt

By Jessika Toothman

No matter how much the kids are screaming and the wife is glaring, the answer to "Are we there yet?" while taking a trip with a trailer doesn't mean you can just give it a little more gas. Towing a trailer is tricky business, and more speed makes it

By Jessika Toothman

Safely towing a trailer, even in a straight line, requires skill. Turning while towing, however, presents a completely different set of concerns -- even for an experienced driver. What makes turning while towing so difficult?

By Scott C. Benjamin

Slowing your vehicle to a stop usually doesn't require much effort on your part. But what happens when you have hundreds -- or even thousands -- of pounds of trailer weight attached to your rear bumper?

By Scott C. Benjamin

Passing another vehicle on the highway isn't all that difficult. In fact, most drivers do it without a second thought. But what if you were pulling a heavy camper trailer? Would that change the situation?

By Scott C. Benjamin

With practice, shifting gears in a car or truck isn't really difficult for most people. But when you add the weight of a trailer, finding the right gear might not be quite so simple anymore.

By Scott C. Benjamin