What You Need to Know to Tow a Caravan

Caravans are terrific recreational assets, but unlike RVs and other motor homes, they do not come equipped with an engine. So, if you just bought a new caravan, you will need to learn how to tow it with your vehicle. The first priority when towing a caravan, or anything for that matter, is safety. By learning the proper methods for towing, you can prevent accidents on the road, and protect yourself and your passengers from harm.

Continue reading to review some helpful tips for towing a caravan.

Caravan Towing Indianapolis Indiana 317-247-8484
Caravan Towing Indianapolis Indiana 317-247-8484

Know Your Total Tow Weight

You must determine how much your caravan weight before it is full of belongings and passengers. You will need this numeric value to calculate your total tow weight. You can usually find this number in the owners’ manual. If your caravan did not come with one, you can download a free manual online. Just find a portal and type in the make, model, and year of the camper.

When you know how much your camper weighs, estimate the weight of your cargo and then add the two values together to get the total weight of your caravan. After you have calculated the total weight of your camper, you can refer to your towing vehicle’s owners’ manual for information about its towing capacity. If the total weight of your camper is less than your vehicle’s towing capacity, you are in good shape for safe towing so far!

Towing Accessories

Your camper should have a trailer coupler that attaches to a towing hitch receiver on your towing vehicle. Be sure your hitch set-up has everything to deliver a safe tow. This includes the trailer coupler, hitch receiver, trailer ball, ball mount, electrical hookups, safety chains, and pins and clips. Again, refer to your owners’ manual for instructions on which receiver you need for your towing vehicle and camper. You must get towing accessories that can withstand the weight of your load.

Set Up and Inspections

Be sure you are completely familiar with these parts, especially how to hook them up, replace them, and inspect them for defects. And every time you set out to tow your caravan, always check that all the lights are hooked up properly and functioning. This includes taillights, headlights, turn signals, flashers, brakes, parking, and more.

Do you need some towing help in Indianapolis? Contact Zore’s Towing for 24 hour roadside assistance and towing services in Indianapolis and its surrounding locations. We operate 24/7, year-round.

Related Posts:

Pertinent Towing Laws in Indiana
Towing Acronyms for Vehicle Manufacturer Specifications
A Brief Explanation of Tongue Weight (TW)

Towing Wrecker Company Indianapolis Indiana 317-247-8484
Towing Wrecker Company Indianapolis Indiana 317-247-8484

Safety Tips for Towing a Camper or RV This Fall

Prime camping season is approaching fast, which means avid travelers are planning road trips to through wine country, to the coast, and much more!  When long road trips are on the itinerary, it is common for the voyage to include some type of towing or hauling. Common things to tow on road trips are boats, campers, recreational vehicles, motorcycles, and more. When this is in the plan, be sure to catch up on some safety tips for towing one of these commodities before starting your journey. Making sure everyone and everything on board is safe is the most important part of towing and RV or camper. 

Continue reading to learn the most common and basic tips for novice towers planning to hit the open road.

Emergency RV Towing and Roadside Assistance
Emergency RV Towing and Roadside Assistance in Indiana 317-247-8484

Vital Weight Capacity and Distribution Tips

Always be sure to consider the weight capacity of your vehicle, and the distribution of all items inside the haul. This is very important in order to prevent a multitude of accidents on the road, as well as, damage to the vehicles. Your camper or RV should have come with a manual or guide. In here, you can find the total weight of the vehicle you are planning to tow.  With this number in mind, compare it to the weight of the vehicle doing the towing. The heavier your vehicle is, the larger the load it can haul. If you have a lighter vehicle, it will only be able to tow light loads. 

On the same topic, not only does your load weight need to be an appropriate match to your vehicle’s towing capacity, it is important to evenly distribute the weight in both vehicles. Many people pack up their cars, trucks, or mini vans with luggage and supplies for their vacation, however, it is common and convenient to also pack up the camper or RV with supplies and other cargoes. This is perfectly safe and acceptable so long as the weight ratios remain similar. Packing too much in the camper or RV can outweigh the vehicle towing it, causing distress on the hitch and the vehicle doing the hauling. Be careful when considering how to pack for a trip while hauling an RV or camper.

Proper Towing Hitches

It is vital to be wise when buying a trailer hitch for the type of haul you’ll be performing. It should be able to hold the total trailer weight of the RV or camper. A stabilizer bar is another tool that can greatly reduce the chances of swaying and swerving on the road. It is highly recommended to use a stabilizer bar along with your tow hitch to ensure a safe and secure ride.

If you are unsure about which tow hitch to use, ask a professional for advice. They can give you accurate information about using proper tow hitches, for free.  Simply tell them what you are planning to haul, which vehicle is doing the hauling, and the weight of both. They can give you accurate information on which tow hitch to use.  You can call a professional towing company, or a retail company that specializes in tow hitches and related towing accessories.

Smartly Position Your Towing Vehicle

Once you have the right hitch, it is helpful to simply back the vehicle up to the front of the RV or camper. The towing ball should be set directly under the hitch. Then you can lower the hitch over the ball and complete all the necessary connections. For example, the RV or camper latch must be secure and connected properly, safety chains should be used to provide extra security, and brake systems should be tested and inspected before any departures.

Who to Trust for 24 Hour Roadside Assistance and Emergency Towing in Indiana

If your towing vehicle breaks down while hauling a camper or RV in Central Indiana, call Zore’s Towing at 317-247-8484 for 24 hour roadside assistance and emergency towing. Our friendly staff is waiting by the phones, ready to help you get back on the road, safe and sound. We operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year, so you can always count on us. Request a free estimate, today.

Indianapolis Towing & Recovery 317-247-8484

Tips for Loading Towed Vehicles

Indianapolis Towing Company 317-247-8484

Indianapolis Towing Company 317-247-8484

Learning how to drive a towing vehicle is one feat, but learning how to properly load the towed vehicle is another. And one commonly overlooked in terms of towing safety. Not only can improper towing cause serious accidents and losses, improper loading of trailers can also cause these types of damages. When it comes to towing, don’t stop at learning the basics; instead, be sure to cover all towing safety hazards and precautions, as well as, proper connecting and loading methods.

Continue reading to review some important tips about safely loading a trailer before you tow it.

Trailer Loading Physics

Loading a trailer takes some rudimentary understanding of physics, namely inertia. Inertia is the theory that objects in motion tend to stay in motion, whereas objects that are stationary tend to stay still. This idea can directly relate to the items loaded in a moving trailer or vehicle. Even if the brakes are initiated properly, trailers and their cargoes will still want to continue moving in the direction they have been. This is why it is important to position them in the trailer correctly, to avoid tipping accidents and other damages caused by imbalanced cargo.

There are several wrong ways to load cargo into a trailer. Too much weight in the front, or top-heavy loads, can cause a trailer to dive forward, and the towing vehicle’s front end to raise off the ground, when the brakes are applied. However, too much weight in the back can cause the trailer to violently sway, leading to traffic accidents and cargo damages. Weight distribution plays a major role in towing safety, and can make or break a towing journey. Here are a few tips to remember when loading cargo in a trailer that will be towed:

• Read vehicle’s owners’ manual for weight capacity.
• Glue mats down to the floor of the trailer to increase friction and reduce slipping.
• Distribute and spread cargo out as evenly as possible.
• Always place heavy items on the bottom and lighter items on top.
• Keep loads as low as possible for flatbed tows.
• Use straps and ropes to tie down large cargo items.
• Do not let anything protrude from the back of the trailer.
• Use a public scale to weigh your trailer after loading it.

Tips for Unloading:


• Always park on level ground.
• Use cement blocks if you must unload on an incline.
• Utilize ramps and dollies to reduce exertion and back injuries.
• Move heavy items slowly.

Zore’s Towing in Indianapolis

Indianapolis Towing

Indianapolis Towing 317-247-8484

Call Zore’s Towing at 317-247-8484 for fast and friendly tow truck services in Indianapolis and its surrounding areas. Our towing company retains an extensive fleet of towing trucks and equipment, allowing us to provide a wide range of tows for all vehicles and commodities. We offer 24 hour towing for all Indianapolis counties and neighborhoods. Call 317-247-8484 if you want reliable towing service at a reasonable price.

Safety Tips for Towing an RV or Camper This Spring

Indianapolis Towing 317-247-8484

Indianapolis Towing 317-247-8484

If you are planning a cross-country trip, or even a smaller scale of one, consider catching up on some safety tips for towing and RV or camper through Indiana before your journey begins. Recreational vehicles are a prized possession to certainly be proud of; but maintaining the safety of the camper, other drivers, and everyone on board is priority. Keep reading to peruse some tips on how to tow a camper safely through Indiana this spring and summer.

RV Towing Tips

The first thing you want to do when planning to tow a camper or recreational vehicle with your car or truck, is locate the towers manual it came with at the time of purchase. Every camper or RV should have a manual that retains information about towing rate, weight ratios, and procedures. If you cannot locate this, contact the manufacturer for a copy. Knowing the towing rate is imperative to hauling a camper or RV with your vehicle. If the load in the camper is heavier than your vehicle, it will not be able to sustain the haul. The manual also explains the proper hitch and tow procedures for your make and model camper.

Following the manufacturer’s instructions is vital to towing your RV safely. Another important area to check is your luggage and load items. Be sure everything is secure and in place within the camper and securely attached to your vehicle. This is to avoid items falling out of your camper and endangering other drivers. You also do not want to lose your luggage. It is also necessary to make sure all the items within your RV or camper is evenly distributed so it is all balanced. This puts less stress on the vehicle pulling the haul.

Be sure to have the correct hitch for your tow. It is a good idea to use a stabilizer bar as well, for a more secure and straight driving. It reduces the risk of swaying on the road. It is advised to seek out professional advice if you cannot locate the owners’ manual for your camper or RV. They can properly identify the make and model of your camper and find the information you need for a safe towing experience.

Zore’s Towing in Indianapolis

Zore's Towing Indianapolis 317-247-8484

Zore’s Towing Indianapolis 317-247-8484

Call Zore’s Towing in Indianapolis, IN for the most accurate and reliable RV towing and camper towing advice around. We are long-term veterans in the wrecker industry; serving Hoosiers for over 80 years! We have been Indy’s towing experts since 1927 and continue to grow in our business. We are happy to answer any questions you have about choosing a proper tow hitch, RV towing, and more! Visit our website at https://www.zorestowing.com, or call us directly at 317-247-8484 today.