When it comes to selecting the right lock for your trailer and hitch, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. There are a number of factors that you need to carefully consider before making the final call. It’s essential to consider these followings – what kind of receiver you have on your vehicle, how often you tow, and if you own multiple trailers. Without taking these into account, it’ll be hard to identify the lock that’ll be able to adequately defend your valuable cargo from theft. With a good lock in hand and a truck full of thoughtfulness, you can know that your…
Author: Keith Hoover
A hitch setup that rattles, shakes and shimmies can ruin an otherwise pleasant road trip or camping excursion. Not only is the constant noise obnoxious, but the vibrations can compromise your safety by distracting the driver or even causing components to shake loose or fail. Stabilizing your trailer’s connection to the tow vehicle is worth the effort and investment to ensure a quiet, stable ride and give you peace of mind out on the open road or off the beaten path. There are multiple ways to stabilize your towing connection and ensure a smooth ride. Four common methods for securing…
Whether you’re on the road with just a suitcase or having to haul around all your furniture, it always pays off in spades to have some security measures put into place. The phrase “better safe than sorry” rings true when deciding to protect your belongings you’re taking out on the road. Just as you wouldn’t head off on a road trip without your seatbelt buckled, it’s important to secure and safeguard everything inside any trailers you may be towing. When you’re away from your car and the world, two unfortunate scenarios may rear their ugly heads: either someone’s trying to…
If you like going off the beaten path, then being stuck in one is no fun. Whether it’s rain or mud that got ya’, having a tow hook handy can getcha’ outta sticky situations – even if your car isn’t broken down! For off-roaders and those taking a detour on a rough or icy road, when Mother Nature is against you, having a tow hook attached to your vehicle can provide aid in dire times. When your car is stuck in the mud or unable to move after a breakdown, it might be wise to use the tow hook and…
The right recovery straps and how to use them can make the difference if you can pull your vehicle out safely or if you have to wait on a tow truck. A high quality strap without hooks attached to it is the strap you want to use for getting a vehicle unstuck. Now look below, this is NOT a recovery strap: This is called a “tow” strap. The main reason not to use this for recovery is simple. If the recovery strap or your recovery hardware breaks, it’s not safe to have a metal hook flying off at speeds in excess of…
If you take your Jeep off road at all, even for moderate camping, a front recovery point is a must. Unless your Jeep came stock with Mopar tow hooks, you don’t have anything up front that is a safe place to be pulled from. After researching tow hooks and a front hitch, I decided to get a DrawTite Class III front receiver. I received my front hitch only a few days after I ordered and I was eager to install it. Before installing my hitch I crawled underneath my Jeep to see exactly how it mounts. The hitch uses four…
No matter the skill, every off road enthusiast will need to use Jeep tow hooks or another recovery method to get unstuck from time to time. Although, it does take experience to know which hardware to use to get unstuck. I’ve seen so many people attach a recovery strap or winch directly to the Jeep’s underbody. This is asking for bad news! The frame of a Jeep Cherokee is a uni-body, and attaching a recovery strap or winch line to it is just asking for trouble. After a hard pull you could be left with a bent frame, which is…
So, you want to explore the outside world but that does not mean that you are willing to trade your creature comforts for a life of totally surviving off the land, right? Well, you don’t have to. Exploring outdoors does not necessarily equate to roughing it. Even the most ardent wilderness enthusiast would not mind having access to his porcelain throne in the midst of the wilderness. Everybody could use a break once in a while to explore the vast wilderness. That’s where a travel trailer comes in – Travel trailers are great because they enable you to have your…
The ability to haul a towed vehicle behind your motorhome is a real blessing. Old friends of ours who recently starting motorhoming with their first-Class A rig are bemoaning the fact that it isn’t like the old days when they could park their little Class C rig anywhere. Without a toad, they’re at the mercy of parking where their rig will fit–definitely a drawback, as she is a “Stop! Pull over at that little stand there!” kind of traveler. But toad cars have their own set of drawbacks. One major problem is trying to back up the rig with the…
Presumably you are here because you have decided that a tow-able RV makes sense for your travel style and budget. Leaving aside pop-up campers, which aren’t really in the same class, your choices are travel trailer (TT) and fifth wheel trailer (5er). As with other decisions in the RV spectrum, there is no single right answer. Both have their strong points and drawbacks. Think about your needs in relation to these pros and cons and the choice will be easier. And if you haven’t already done so, it’s a good idea to visit one or two dealers and tour a few coaches…