Tow rating standards are overrated. https://t.co/ToQMUcyuXI pic.twitter.com/Uojb8YmgIT
— Autoblog.com (@therealautoblog) June 23, 2016
Whether you're taking a trailer out camping, or towing a boat out to the lake, you'll want to check the towing capacity of your truck or SUV before hitching anything to it. Exceeding the payload or the tow rating of your vehicle is not only dangerous, it can cause your engine to overheat, and destroy your transmission.
Now, the skilled technicians at our auto repair center in East Petersburg would love to take more of your money, but you might prefer to stay within your vehicle's limits.
You can find the tow rating in your owner's manual, but before you consider yourself safe, there are a few limits to that rating you should know about.
Most automakers comply with the SAE J2807 standards for determining tow-weight ratings, by the Society of Automotive Engineers. The current guidelines assume the vehicle is loaded with a driver and passenger, each weighing 150 pounds. If you plan to load up your car or truck with more passengers and cargo, you may be lowering its tow capacity. SAE J2807 also assumes a tongue weight that is 10 percent of the trailer's weight. Check your trailer's actual tongue weight -- it may be up to 15 percent.
Finally, is your vehicle a base model with few package options? Higher trim levels with more features, or any accessories and add-ons can add to vehicle's curb weight, lowering its tow and payload capacity below the estimate in your manual.
The safest course of action is to invest in a vehicle with a tow rating well above what you plan to tow. If you are skirting too close to the listed rating, a trip to the scales may be in order.
