Imagine yourself cruising down the highway to your lakefront vacation or camping trip, towing along your supplies behind your truck. If you have a powerful truck and have ever wanted to use it to tow something, you may be wondering how to enhance your vehicle’s towing capabilities. With these tips, you’ll be towing a trailer, camper, or even a boat behind your truck in no time!
Choose the Right Hitch
Without a tow hitch, you won’t be able to tow anything. Without the right hitch, you may be able to tow, but the trip won’t be pretty. Choose a hitch with a weight rating appropriate to the weight of the object you’ll be towing. This will allow for proper weight distribution throughout your vehicle’s frame, which will help it to handle all that weight.
Invest in a Programmer
Investing in a vehicle programmer will give your vehicle the extra torque and horsepower it needs to tow a load. Programmers do this by adjusting the settings of the vehicle’s computer to provide this extra power. Keep in mind, you may sacrifice fuel efficiency for the additional power.
Improve the Braking System
When you’re towing a heavy load, your vehicle’s braking system is even more important than usual. Before towing with your vehicle, upgrade its braking system for the heavier weight and make sure that all its components are working properly. You should also ensure that a braking system is installed on whatever you’re towing, making it easier to stop.
Upgrade the Suspension
Next on the list of parts to upgrade is your vehicle’s suspension. Whenever you’re towing a heavy item, it can take a toll on your suspension system. To help distribute the weight and avoid potential maintenance issues, replace the parts of your system with heavy-duty parts. Installing a suspension lift kit to your vehicle can also help raise it a few inches and keep it from sagging under the weight of the item being towed.
Strengthen Your Axle
Like the suspension system, your vehicle’s axles will be put under a lot of pressure while towing. To keep your axles in good condition, consider replacing them with heavy-duty axles that can support more weight.
And there you have it—that’s how to enhance your vehicle’s towing capabilities. Before you jump to make these upgrades, however, be sure to check your vehicle’s towing capacity. If your vehicle isn’t built to handle the weight it’s towing, you risk seriously damaging your vehicle. Keep your vehicle and its load safe and be smart about any upgrades you choose to make.
