Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway or a cross country trip in a camper, you’ve probably wondered, “Can I tow a trailer with a car?”
The answer to that question depends on a number of factors, and I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about towing a trailer with your car.
Can a Car Tow a Trailer or an RV?
To put this in the simplest way possible, the likelihood of your car being able to tow a trailer- or anything else- is bound to the car towing rating.
Some cars aren’t designed to tow anything at all, while others might be able to haul anything averaging from 2,000 to 3,000 lbs.
While this number might sound like a lot, it can only be enough to pull small-sized trailers, off-road ATVs, and jet skis that lie within that weight range.
The average full-size camper can weigh anything from 3,000 to 9,000 lbs depending on its construction materials, overall size, and the internal items from furniture and appliances.
Such a heavy overall camper weight can easily outweigh the power of a small car, and requires a vehicle with a high tow rating to pull towing off… or it’ll cause some serious damage to the vehicle.
If your car is a large sedan, SUV, or a crossover, it might have a higher towing rating that can easily tackle towing a small-sized trailer (without the addition of heavy furniture or appliances).
Most trucks are designed with a towing capacity of up to 7,000 to 9,000 lbs. This allows them to easily handle the weight of the largest of trailers without a problem.
However, even cars of the same model can vary according to towing capacity and rating, so you should keep that in mind.
Things to Know Before Towing a Trailer with a Car
To avoid damaging your car’s frame in the process of towing a trailer that’s much larger than the car’s ability to haul, there are some factors you need to consider.
By keeping the following in mind, you’ll be able to tell whether your own car will tow the trailer in question efficiently all the while maintaining the health of your car.
The Car’s Towing Rating
Car towing ratings are set by the manufacturer. It’s the maximum weight limit that your car is able to tow safely.
Ideally speaking, the car’s towing rating is the gold standard to determine whether your car is able to tow a trailer (and if so, what size).
The tow rating weight describes not only the RV or trailer weight, but also includes the weight of passengers, cargo, and even the pipeline liquids in the towed vehicle.
Although the gross vehicle weight rating is the total amount of weight you can tow, many experts suggest that you should stay under 80% of that maximum weight limit for the safety of your vehicle, especially for long distances.
Trailer’s Weight and Rating Terminology
There are some terms that you should be familiar with in order to understand the weight ratings of both the trailer and your car. These include:
- Dry Weight: Similar to the curb weight in cars and trucks. Dry weight describes the weight of the trailer or RV without including passengers, additional cargo, or liquids.
- Trailer Gross Weight: The overall weight of the trailer after adding the liquids, passenger, and additional cargo. This is the weight that you should include while determining if your car can tow a trailer.
- Gross Vehicle Weight Rating: The car’s maximum weight that a car is able to pull. You should consider keeping it under 80% (for a car that can tow up to 3,000 lbs, you should tow up to 2,400 lbs)
- Tongue Weight: Describes the downward pressure that you should place on the hitch where the trailer is connected to your car. The tongue weight should be around 10 to 15% of the trailer’s gross weight for stability. That’s why you should keep the rating below 80%.
Why You Shouldn’t Base Your Judgement on Looks or Power
One thing you should never overlook is finding the actual weight rating of your car before attempting to tow any trailer no matter how small it can be.
Many people might take the short route of assuming that their powerful American muscle vehicle will always be able to tow a trailer due to the immense amount of torque and horsepower they pack.
On the other hand, others might assume that their simple looking sedan can’t pull a trailer, only to be surprised to learn that their car is actually designed to allow for towing!
One popular example to show this vast difference is comparing a Toyota Corolla to the new Ford Mustang.
By checking both car’s gross vehicle weight rating, you’ll be surprised to know that the Corolla can tow up to 3,580 lbs versus a mere 1,000 for the high torque vehicle!
The reason for that difference is that safety measures are the key to the car’s weight rating. Of course, the powerful Mustang GT will be able to move a 7,000 lbs trailer, but not for a long haul before the chassis of the vehicle becomes remarkably damaged.
On the other hand, a much smaller Corolla can easily tow up to 3,580 lbs consistently for a long-distance because it’s chassis, engine, and brakes system will be able to support this weight efficiently and without taking damage.
How to Find the Maximum Towing Capacity of Your Car
The best and easiest way to find determine your vehicle’s weight rating is to check your car’s manual. Such information is usually clearly stated in the specifications section.
There, you’ll be able to get information about the vehicle’s gross weight (GVW) as well as the gross vehicle weight rating, which is usually the sum of both the car’s weight and the maximum weight it can safely carry.
If the car doesn’t tow, it should be clearly stated in the manual. However, you can always contact the customer service for your car’s brand and inquire about all this information.
How to Find the Trailer Weight
While finding the gross vehicle weight rating is fairly simple, finding your trailer’s weight can be quite a bumpy ride. This is because it varies according to some aspects.
Similar to your car’s weight limits, you can also check the manual to find out the gross trailer weight. If you can’t find such information in the manual, you can check Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) which is found on the trailer’s plate.
However, if the trailer is homemade, you might have to weigh it using an industrial scale. Such scales are usually available at truck stops. Simply get your trailer towed there using a tow truck and get its weight.
Don’t forget to also measure the tongue weight to prevent the trailer from swaying on the road. By comparing the gross trailer weight and tongue weight to the gross vehicle weight rating, you can easily predict whether your car would be able to tow a trailer or not.
How to Tow a Trailer with Your Car: A Step by Step Guide
If your car is able to tow your trailer, here’s how to do it efficiently to stay stable on the road:
- Reverse your car slowly to line up in front of the trailer connection.
- Position the car’s hitch ball slightly below the trailer coupler metal socket.
- Unlock the trailer’s coupler latch to land over the hitch ball.
- Once the two parts connect, read your manual on securing the hitch. This is usually by locking the latch and inserting a security pin)
- Attach the safety chain in a cross pattern to act as a last hitch resort. You can easily pull it off by running and overlapping the safety chain just below the tongue and connecting it to the opposite side of the first chain.
Wrap Up
Don’t assume that you need a large vehicle to tow a trailer; Your small car might surprise you with its towing abilities!
By checking the car’s manual and comparing the GVWR to the gross trailer weight and tongue weight, you’ll be able to determine if your car can safely tow your trailer for a long distance.