What to Know About Triple Towing

If you’re not quite sure what triple towing is, you might know it as “double towing” or “hauling doubles.” Triple towing is for the adventurer who needs an extra set of wheels. This includes, for example, a trailer, car, golf cart, boat, or maybe even an ATV. Whatever adventure you go on, make sure you know the triple towing safety guidelines and regulations. Read below to start your journey! 

Towing Safety & Regulations

• Training: Proper training for “what-if” scenarios are critical when it comes to triple towing. Proper education that a bus or truck driver would go through goes the same way for triple towing. Some states require training and education to get an endorsement on your license. 
• Legality: Each state has different laws regarding triple towing, so do your research on your state beforehand! Most states on the east coast don’t allow it, while the west coast does allow it. For example, different heights and widths of your motorhome are different per state, as well as proper training and education, as stated earlier. 
• Breaks: Commercial towing generally has air brakes that connect to all of the wheels, so even the farthest item being towed will stop. Recreational vehicles could have air brakes on the motorhome and electric brakes on the trailer, creating no brakes on the third towing device. Properly using your brakes while triple towing is critical to your safety and to keep your motor vehicles in quality condition. 
• Lifestyle: Triple towing isn’t for everyone and especially isn’t for every vehicle. Don’t be a mechanical burden on your vehicle. Learn the regulations of each state and if your primary vehicle has the capacity to triple tow. 
• Responsibility: Adding 2 trailers to your vehicle creates a lot of responsibility, especially with that second trailer. From stopping to traveling in tight spaces, to backing the trailer up, education and taking the proper safety precautions is vital and is your responsibility! Ensure the safety of yourself and others by doing your research. 

Start your next adventure today at Terry’s Auto Body & Trailer Sales. Contact Terry's Auto Body & Trailer Sales for all your trailer needs, repairs, and maintenance. Avoid disaster and keep your family safe while driving. Call 641-985-2536 or visit our website at ricevilletrailers.com.

Source:

http://rvlife.com/rv-triple-towing-laws/

https://www.rvsafety.com/rveducation

Let’s Get Hitched: Different Types of Trailer Hitches

The perfect accessory can make an outfit, and the perfect trailer hitch set up can make your life easier. If you’re new to the world of trailers and trailer hitches, this is a great place to start. Here are a few basic types of trailer hitches, which will help you understand the world of trailers.

Ball Mounts
Towing vehicles, such as a pickup or SUV, usually come ready with a hitch receiver. A hitch receiver is a square opening under the back bumper of your vehicle that allows a ball mount to slide right in and be secured with a locking pin. Your ball mount needs to match the class of your hitch, which should reflect how much weight you plan to pull. There are five classes, broken down as follows:

• Class I: 2,000 lbs
• Class II: 3,500 lbs
• Class III: 5,000 lbs
• Class IV: 10,000 lbs
• Class V: Anything > 10,000 lbs

Hitch Ball
A hitch ball is a trailer accessory that fits into the ball mount. The shank of the hitch ball comes in different diameters, so it's important to match the hitch ball to both the diameter of the ball mount and the coupler on the front of your trailer. Many trailer retailers sell packages with different sized hitch balls, allowing you to be able to tow a variety of different trailers.

Couplers
Couplers are the part that attaches to the front of your trailer. Couplers are similar to ball mounts in that they’re rated based on their weight capacity. There are two types of couplers: an A-frame and a straight-tongue. In both designs, a cup will be placed over your hitch ball, and a spring-loaded latch will secure the two pieces together. Since the opening of the coupler will need to fit over the hitch ball, you’ll need to make sure they’re the same diameter.

While there are many more different types of trailer accessories, these three are a great place to start when trying to understand the basics of hauling a trailer. If you want to learn more about trailer hitches, please don’t hesitate to reach out to any of us here at Terry’s Auto Body and Trailer Sales. We’d love to help you learn more, so give us a call at 641-985-2536, or visit our website.

---

References

https://www.uhaul.com/Articles/Tips/119/Select-A-Hitch-Guide/

https://auto.howstuffworks.com/auto-parts/towing/equipment/hitch-accessories/10-most-popular-hitch-accessories3.htm