Tow Mistakes You Need to Prevent
Truck shops and RV service centers see more screwed-up tow rigs come through their doors every month than most of us will see in a lifetime. Over the past year or so, we’ve taken note of the most common towing mistakes they come across. Here are 3 common towing mistakes that you need to avoid.
Know Your Temps
Keeping an eye on a few pressures and temperatures will allow you to keep that powerplant humming along. At the bare minimum, every tow rig should have accurate coolant temperature, EGT (exhaust gas temperature), and transmission temperature gauges.
Overcompensating Weight Distribution
Those weight-distributing bars with chains come in different strengths for different tongue weights and are extremely tunable. Most consumers look at a set of those bars and think bigger is better. In this case, that is not true, so you’ll want to check your tongue weight and purchase accordingly. When loaded and with the correct bars, the goal is to have the load bars parallel to the frame of the trailer. Incorrectly set up weight distribution will result in excessive porposing (bouncing between the trailer and truck), and in many cases, loss of steering effectiveness, as well as the possibility of damaging the hitch and frame.
Brakes
If you’ve spent any time on mountain roads, you’ve undoubtedly seen a few trailer brakes smoking, or even bursting into flames. Considering the importance of the job they do, trailer brakes are one of the most overlooked and neglected trailer systems. The most common type is a drum design, applied using an electric magnet and cam and arm system in place of the hydraulic wheel cylinder. This magnet is a worn item, just like your tires or brake shoes.
If you need a towing service in Exton, PA, turn to Kenny's Towing. For more information, call us at (484) 299-9920 today and book an appointment with one of our services!