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Continued...
SUV –
MATCHING
YOURSUVTO YOUR
TRAILER
“The more you hate how it rides, the better it will probably tow.” This is no longer true.
Over the last twenty five years, American’s increasing love affair with
their SUVS (sport utility vehicles) along with the strong growth of recreational
vehicles brought about the emergence of a variety of SUVs that
are not only designed to pull substantially more weights safely but do it
with comfort and style.
It’s not just the American manufacturers who have beefed up their
SUVs. Companies such as Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Range Rover, Infiniti,
Acura, Mercedes and Lexus have all vied for chunk of the market. As
a result, a variety of SUVs have come onto the market today that can
tow a two-horse trailer. In addition, the new innovations in braking systems,
suspension, and overall technology, are providing a much greater
margin of safety when towing, especially in adverse road conditions.
It’s important to note that unlike those who are pulling boats or travel
trailers, horse owners are pulling “live” weight. Professional truck drivers
will tell you that the heaviest weight in a trailer needs to be stacked
at the bottom with the lighter weight stacked on top to prevent shifting.
Most all the weight of a horse is resting on four legs at about four feet
off the floor and it will shift whenever it feels like it. This means that
specs on RV and travel trailer web sites and brochures that recommend
certain size tow vehicles for certain lengths and weights of
trailers may not necessarily apply to horse hauling. Also, never tow
more than a two horse trailer with an SUV. In fact, I always recommend
a gooseneck for three or more horses.
When choosing an SUV, look for three essential specifications: towing
capacity, wheel base length, and curb weight (actual weight) of the tow
vehicle. Determine how much weight your trailer can hold: There are a
number of ways to this. Weigh your loaded trailer at a highway scale,
estimate the weight by adding the empty trailer weight to the weight of
your horses and tack, or use the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)
of your horse trailer, located on the title and sticker on your trailer.
The GVWR is what the horse trailer manufacturer is stating that the
maximum total weight this two-horse trailer can be when fully loaded
and still be safe. For two horse bumper pull trailers, determine the
towing capacity of the SUV. I suggest that the towing capacity be 20%
more than the loaded weight of the trailer. As you look up this number,
it’s important to determine if it has an asterisk or a small number next
to it. This means that the pulling number has some restrictions. These
restrictions are often related to the overall weight of the entire rig (the
loaded trailer, weight of the towing vehicle, cargo and passengers).
This is called the Gross Combined Vehicle Weight Rating (GCVWR).
When you add weight to the SUV, such as passengers, it will reduce
the pulling weight of the vehicle. The GCVWR is a rating the manufacturer
states that the whole rig can weigh and still be safe. An asterisk
(or footnote) may also mean that there is a variance in the pulling
capacity depending on the model or whether it’s equipped with a “trailer
package.”
Determine the Curb Weight of the SUV:
Now that you know the weight of your trailer and the SUV’s towing
capacity, you must find the actual weight of the SUV, called Curb
Weight—a vehicle with a full tank of gas and fluids with no passengers.
This figure is also often found under specifications either in the SUV’s
brochure or on the manufacturer’s Web site. With live cargo, the weight
of the SUV should be substantial enough to handle the loaded trailer
weight in emergency situations, such as sudden stopping or swerving
to avoid something. Using an old cliché, you don’t want the tail wagging
the dog. A good rule is that the SUV used to pull a fully loaded, two-