In many recent crash reports a trailer is found somewhere on or near the crash scene. Australia's National Towing Regulations, which apply to any vehicle with a Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) of less than 4.5 tonnes, limit the mass of any trailer to the vehicle manufacturer's towing recommendations or the capacity of the towing equipment fitted to the vehicle, whichever is least.
In the fight for this year's Best Tow Car Awards, for example, include the flyweight Fiat 500L alongside expected heavyweights such as the Range Rover Sport, proving that you don't need a large 4x4 to tow successfully - just the right car for your chosen trailer.
Verify proper operation of trailer lights, turn signals, electric brakes and breakaway connections each time you tow. It needs to be 114 inches MINIMUM to maintain vehicle stability while towing a trailer. A tow truck will be able to get your vehicle to a service station without any difficulty. And these towing mirrors do not power extend; the half-ton GM lineup still does not power fold or power extending towing mirrors. This is where a reputable and experienced towing service such as Central Towing comes in handy. But it does require me to tow a much larger unit and now I rely on my towing mirrors more than ever. When you arrive at your Ford towing mirrors destination you simply push your mirrors back into the closed position.
For tow bracket fitting we recommend using a business approved under the National Trailer & Towing Association 's (NTTA) Quality Assured scheme. I mean really, advertising an 11,000 pound tow rating to the masses when in reality only one version of the F-150, out of 56 available, can tow close to the advertised weight. If you have road side assist covered in your insurance policy then you do not need to bother about hiring a tow service. A tow hitch, or tow bar is attached to the towing vehicle and to the towed vehicle. While many half-ton trucks are powerful enough to tow your trailer, they might not have the space to do so without some modifications. In August of 2006 Ford announced the 2007 F-150 was capable of towing 10,500, and in January 2007 the tow capacity was increased to 11,000 pounds. They should always, however, be accompanied with caravan towing mirrors and, where possible, a friend or partner to be your second sight when on the road.
When towing over 2000kg, braking on all wheels of the towed trailer and an automatic breakaway system is required. Some of the fancier trucks on the road come with towing mirrors that have some elaborate options built into them. With a broad range of applications available, SPEC-D towing mirrors are the clear and economical choice.
Tow brackets must be tested to the appropriate British or European standard and use mounting points recommended by the vehicle manufacturer. Portable, clip-on mirrors:Â these come with installation instructions that you need to follow closely to get the right adjustment angle. These, as the name implies, spread the load as equally as possible over both the tow vehicle and the trailer.