83
M.
TOWING THE ALTO
Towing Vehicule Equipment
If you plan to buy a new vehicle to tow your travel trailer, we suggest that you include in your
purchase the towing options offered by most vehicle manufacturers. These include such things a
heavy-duty alternator and radiator, heavy-duty springs (See Notice below), shock absorbers,
transmission cooler, heavy-duty fan and flasher unit and others, depending upon the make of the
vehicle.
NOTICE: Be realistic when ordering heavy-duty springs. Only springs heavy enough to support
your loaded vehicle (excluding trailer) are necessary. Too harsh a spring rate will only
shorten the life of the tow vehicle and trailer, and will make your journeys less enjoyable.
Transmissions may be manual or automatic, but an automatic transmission may prolong your tow
vehicle’s life and generally does a better job of controlling engine loads than the average driver
using a manual shift.
Having adequate power is very important when considering the purchase of a new vehicle or the
trailer towing capability of your present one. American manufacturers realize that more than 30%
of the vehicles they sell will be used for towing some type of trailer. The dealers are provided with
guidelines to use when helping a customer decide on a tow vehicle. The guidelines are not just
determined by the power output of the engine. The gear ratio of the differential is also a very
part of the guideline.
Inspect vehicle’s hitch regularly for loose bolts or nuts, cracked welds, loose ball mounts, worn
parts, etc.
New trailerists often carry more food and other supplies than really needed. Remember that
every item you take along is one more thing to stow that adds weight to the total load you must
pull. Consolidate items in shelves, lockers, and in the refrigerator. It is better to have one full and
one empty locker than two half-empty ones. Special care must be taken not to overload the front
and rear ends of the trailer.
Electric Brakes
The brakes operated by 12-volt power from your tow vehicle must be hooked up so that you have
an integral system with your tow vehicle brakes. To prevent problems and insure satisfactory
braking action, install an electronic controller in line with the brakes in your tow vehicle.
An electronic controller installed in your tow vehicle will synchronize the trailer brakes with your
tow vehicle brakes. It is designed to apply the trailer brakes along with your tow vehicle brakes.
Your brake controller should be adjusted to provide for a slight lead of the trailer brakes over the
tow vehicle brakes. Follow the directions provided with your controller and keep the information
for future reference. Don’t be afraid to ask questions! If you don’t understand the directions, have
the installer explain the procedures.
Due to normal brake lining wear, the brakes and the controller settings should be checked and
readjusted every six months or 15,000 km (10,000 miles) whichever comes first.
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