Will Towing Hurt My Transmission?
If you are thinking, will towing hurt my transmission? Then the answer is that it shoudln’t if you do it within the specified limits and it will if you do it wrong. to this question depends on how you tow your truck.
There are many factors and aspects related to towing. A few of them are discussed below to portray a clear picture for you.
If you are wondering what effect towing will have on your vehicle then keep reading!
You may be wondering how to travel with weight towed at the back of your car? Well, don’t worry all this may seem hard but this is achievable.
Will towing hurt my transmission?
If the weight you are pulling is greater than your car’s capacity then it will affect your vehicle’s transmission as it will put a strain on it. Every vehicle has a certain towing capacity you need to know yours before attempting to tow any heavy object.
You can find your vehicles towing capacity in your car’s manual a good rule of thumb is that an average car can tow about half of its weight unless it is like a truck that is specifically equipped to tow.
When you tow a heavy object with your car, this added weight puts strain on your vehicle but as long as you are not towing over the limits of your car then it should be fine.
TIP: Another great way to find more about your car’s towing capabilities is by going to uhaul.com or a trusted hitch website that has huge database and all you need to do it simulate that you are buying a hitch for your car. There you will see the recommended hitch for your car with all it’s information like towing limits and tongue limits.
What are tongue and towing weights?
Tongue weight limit in a car hitch is the weight limit that a hitch can hold when the weight is fully resting on the hitch.
For example sometimes people use this to put a rack that holds 3 or more bicyles or this can also be seen when transporting a handicap cart. or in rare cases people transporting traveling bags or barbeque pits.
Towing weight limits is when the car is mainly pulling the load behind it and the load is resting its weight on a set of wheels.
For example sometimes it is only two wheels when it is something small like a water jet ski and sometimes it is four wheels if it is a bigger load like a landscaping trailer filled up with tools or a trailer with horses.
Here is more information about other factors to keep in mind that may hurt your transmission when towing:
● Tow Ratings
Every vehicle has a certain capacity it can bear to tow objects. This capacity is known as the tow rating of the vehicle.
Before you tow any heavy object you must first analyze your truck’s tow ratings. To successfully pull a heavy object with your vehicle, you need to assure that your vehicle can tow the weight you are about to pull.
If you fail to do so, this added pressure on your vehicle will lead to heated transmissions, damaged suspensions, and brake failure. Not only this, the overheating of the system can do irreversible damage to other parts of your engine.
How you can determine the tow ratings of your vehicle through the manual provided by the car manufacturer. The GVWR, GAWR and GTW can help you determine the tow rating of the car. You can also calculate the tow ratings on your own by subtracting the weight of your vehicle weight from GCvWR(Gross Combined Vehicle Weight Rating).
● Tire Pressure
Check your tire pressure before you begin to tow. Why is this necessary? Because friction is created when your tires are not inflated up to the required amount.
The low and high pressure in your tires puts added work pressure on your tires which creates friction and heats the surface of the tire. This can result in the blowing up of the tire. Which is extremely dangerous when you are traveling on the road at high speed.
● Manual Vs. Automatic
Manual and automatic transmissions vary from one another. The towing technique used on a manual transmission is very different from an automatic transmission vehicle. Automatic transmissions are more sensitive than manual vehicles.
If you are towing with an automatic vehicle then be sure to pay extra attention to its acceleration. Pressing the accelerator quickly can result in overheating of your engine.
On the other hand, manual vehicles are better in terms of performance if compared to automatic vehicles as they have more control over the accelerator and you can help your can with the different shifting of gears.
● Know Your Business
If you are new to towing then before hitting the road you should practice in a nearby secluded area.
Driving with a heavy object towed at the back of your car is very different from regular driving therefore if you lack expertise in this area then you should practice before hitting a long route on the road.
You can practice various turns and slopes to learn the techniques to maneuver your vehicle on the road. A lack of these techniques and knowledge can result in serious accidents on the road.
Knots For Hitching
Now that you have adequate knowledge of what things to keep in mind before towing a heavy object. You must learn how to tow a vehicle. The first and most important step is tying a proper knot of rope between your vehicle and the object you are hitching.
Which Knot For Hitching?
There are many types of knots that you can use to tie a rope from the towing object to your vehicle. There are five basic kinds of knots;
1. Bowline Knot
2. Heavier Line Knot
3. Prusik Knot
4. Fisherman’s Knot
5. Square Knot
Any of the above knots can be opted for based on the preference of the user. The best and optimal choice for hitching is the bowline knot.
Can You Tow Without A Hitch?
Towing without a hitch is hazardous but not impossible. You can tow your car without a hitch by using heavy-built ropes or chains.
You just have to tie both ends to a solid part of your vehicle and the towing vehicle. The driver must ensure the movement of the towed vehicle is aligned with the towing vehicle.
This technique can be useful for short trips only but it is extremely dangerous to you and others on the road.
Are Tow Hitches Universal?
Yes, they are universal. Many people have the idea that hitches are only for larger vehicles such as trucks.
It’s not true, even smaller cars have a certain towing capacity and these hitches can come in handy while towing objects. Some hitches are designed for specific vehicles but a standard hitch may apply to most of the vehicles if not all.
The Final Word
Towing may seem like a professional job but this is also achievable by an ordinary man if he follows all the above steps correctly and carefully.
Having a hitch attached to your vehicle for towing makes the whole process a lot easier. To select the best hitch for your vehicle give this article a read.
Once you have adequate knowledge of your vehicle’s specifications and little maneuvering experience of a towed object on the road, you can certainly be the jack of this trade!