Cars and trucks are not just meant to take you anywhere. They can also be used for something else, such as towing. From campers to trailers, boats, trees, and a whole lot more, your own vehicle may be your saviour.
However, before you start connecting or towing just about anything into your car, do note that not all of them are capable of doing so. Moreover, while there are so many options, particularly pickups, the best one depends on a number of factors.
Why You Should Know the Towing Capacity
A vehicle is like a human’s body: it is composed of many parts all working together to make sure that it runs. As well, in the same way like the body, if one component is damaged or in a poor condition, it affects the rest of the vehicle.
One of the things that can damage your car is towing. All vehicles are produced with a weight threshold. Anything more than that can place a lot of strain in the transmission, engine, fuel efficiency, suspension, wheels, tire treads, and many other things. The more they are strained, the more they are worn. The faster they are worn, the quicker your vehicle depreciates too.
When your vehicle depreciates quickly, it loses its resale value fast also. The life span of your car or truck may also be shorter than what’s standard, and you may end up spending a lot more with regard to insurance. Of course, early wear means more money to allot for maintenance and repair.
What’s Best?
Here are some of things to consider when trying to determine the best vehicle for towing:
Kind of Vehicle – Pickups or trucks are the best vehicles for towing simply because they are huge, strong, and durable. In fact, many of them are built with towing in mind, so their capacity is expected to be very high. Nevertheless, pickups that have extra cab are more likely to have a lower capacity as well as vehicles that are classified as 4WD (four-wheel drive).
Towing Limit – The towing limit refers to the maximum weight of the load to ensure you don’t end up damaging your vehicle in the process. You can find the information in the owner’s manual. Light-duty pickups, for instance, are capable of towing objects up to 10,000 pounds.
On the other hand, just because the object is within the vehicle’s towing capacity doesn’t mean you skip maintenance and inspection. It’s always recommended to check the parts before and after towing. It’s also essential to take into account the weight of passengers, the vehicle itself, and accessories. Lastly, towing capacity may change depending on model, year, or make, so always check the manual to confirm.
Engine: Diesel is not only cheap, but it’s also ideal for filling up cars or trucks used for towing. It is highly fuel efficient especially when you’re driving in faster speed.
Frequency: How often do you tow? Cars can be used for towing lighter objects provided that you only do so occasionally.
