We have come across a variety of terms when we need roadside assistance. To help us understand them better, here’s an explanation of these terms that operators and drivers use when trailering:

a.     Hitching

This is the connection between the tow vehicle and the trailer. Proper hitching and electrical connections affect the way our vehicles handle corners and brakes during trailering. The types of hitches are:

1. Weight-distributing hitch – It’s an attachment installed to a receiver hitch. It distributes the vertical load imposed by the trailer tongue from the rear of the car, to its front and the rear of the trailer.
2. Weight-Carrying Hitch – It’s the most common type of hitch that we use to carry the entire vertical load weight imposed by the trailer tongue. There are two types; the receiver and step bumper hitches which are differentiated by the way they are attached to the car. Receiver hitches attach to the car through permanent ways such as bolting. They are the most common types.
3. Gooseneck hitch/ Fifth wheel hitch – This hitch is meant for heavy towing such as travel trailers and horse trailers, and they are located in the bed of the truck. They balance the trailer’s main weight near the truck’s rear axle.

b.    Tongue weight

It’s the downward weight of the trailer on the vehicle hitch. It’s the force transmitted through the trailer tongue and carried by the towing vehicle. We can determine it by placing the tongue of the trailer on a suitable scale.

c.      Gross Combination Weight (GCW)

It’s a combination of the weight of the vehicle and the trailer. This includes the weights of the passengers, driver, fuel all equipment in the car, and cargo in the vehicle and trailer.

d.    Gross Combination Weight Rating

This is the total allowable weight of a completely loaded tow vehicle and its trailer. For safety during towing, it’s important to maintain that weight.

e.     Curb Weight

This is the weight of the vehicle only including its standard and optional types of equipment such as a full tank of fuel. It excludes the weight of the passengers and their cargo.

f.       Maximum Trailer Weight Rating

We can calculate this rating by subtracting the base vehicle weight from the Gross combination weight rating. The base vehicle weight includes the curb weight plus 150 lbs each for the driver and a front passenger. Therefore more passengers, cargo weights, and equipment undermine this rating and the amount of our towing weight

g.     Cargo Weight

The weight of the cargo and additional equipment to the curb weight makes up the cargo weight. In trailering, we include the trailer tongue weight to the cargo weight.

h.    Maximum Payload

Each towing vehicle has a maximum allowable weight of its passengers and cargo. When we exceed this limit we undermine the stability of the trailer and hence our towing safety.

i.       Gross Axle weight

It’s the total weight exerted on each axle in the front and rear of the vehicle.  The Gross Axle Weight Rating is the weight that each axle is able to support. For safe towing services, the Gross Axle Weight must not exceed this rating.

j.       Sway Stability

This term refers to the ability of a trailer to stay in the direction in which it’s traveling and sway back to the center whenever it’s deflected. You can know more about what you need to know about towing safety here.