Video How to match truck and trailer

[John E Davies]

This is excellent and has a great summary of GVWR, CVWR, GAWR, payload, hitches, controllers etc etc.

 

http://rvsafety.com/rv-education/matching-trucks-to-trailers

 

The only thing I dispute is that he says the GVWR includes a 150 lb driver and full fluids and gas. Not all manufacturers include a driver, you must research this if you are flirting with overloading your truck.

 

He does mention that for all types of trailers, over half of all rigs exceed at least one of these ratings.

 

One thing to understand about towing the bigger Ollie is that not only does your receiver need to be rated over 7000 lbs, the mount and ball must also be that strong. You can't expect a 2 inch 3500 lb ball to be as strong as a 7500 or higher rated ball. Check the info stamped on the parts. You do not want something to break when you hit a bump at speed....

 

Finally, they did not address one factor that most RVers never need to worry about: articulation. If you think you might one day take your rig off-road, meaning off of a graded surface, and through sharp dips or gullies, consider an off-road coupling that will allow the truck and trailer to move to more extreme angles without binding or breaking parts. A typical ball coupler (even the excellent Bulldog that comes on the Ollies) is hopeless and even dangerous in these situations.

 

John Davies

 

Spokane WA

[Overland]

John, you might be interested in the McHitch couplers from Australia.  They're fully articulating and come in a variety of tow ratings.  They also come with a weight distribution add-on if you want.  A bonus is that the couplers are so unusual that any would-be thief is going to have to completely replace the coupler to carry your trailer away.  The only thing I don't know is how easily they'd attach to the Oliver's tongue.

 

http://www.mchitch.com.au/automatic-couplers

[John E Davies]

John, you might be interested in the McHitch couplers from Australia. They’re fully articulating and come in a variety of tow ratings. They also come with a weight distribution add-on if you want. A bonus is that the couplers are so unusual that any would-be thief is going to have to completely replace the coupler to carry your trailer away. The only thing I don’t know is how easily they’d attach to the Oliver’s tongue. http://www.mchitch.com.au/automatic-couplers

Those are indeed cool, but I really don't want to turn this thread into a coupler discussion, we could start a new one, I guess.

 

I did start one here, and maybe some useful info will appear. .... http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/164062-Where-to-buy-a-Treg-Poly-Block-coupler-Max-questions?

 

John Davies

 

Spokane WA