first time towing

Practice in advance. Read towing tips on the Internet. Gear down going up. Gear down going down.

What I do myself is check out google maps, but I click on the bicycle instead of the car (implying that I'm going to bike the route) then it will show elevation in a very helpful graph.

Here's a link, and you can explore alternative routes that way too by dragging the blue line around.

Map with elevation

Brettmm92 Nice tip.

I agree with Lwiddis. I was taught to use the same gear going down the hill that I had to use going up the hill. It's a real pretty drive, so enjoy the view.

There’s a lot of mountain 2 lane driving between Silver City and springerville.
But you knew that.
What are you towing with?
Just make sure your trailer brakes are in good order, take the downhill grades slow from the top, don’t ride the brakes, keep tens downshifted where you’re in the 3000rpm + range for engine braking and despite what some will tell you, when you need to slow down on down hill grades, get into and out of the brakes quickly rather than minor braking more often. Longest time span you can provide for brake cooling between applications is the best.
Good trailer tires aired up properly as well. It’s hot out...
It’s a beautiful drive though!

Hi, do you have any other experience towing anything else? If so, that will help.

These big beasts feel totally different than anything you may have towed, even enclosed trailers are typically lower and more aerodynamic.

Basically, the trailer is going to get some push by passing vehicles and the wind.

Make sure your WD hitch is dialed in, same for your brake controller, same for your sway control (if using sway bars (if so, you should really be using TWO bars))

Also, my speed limit is 58 MPH while towing. Life is so much happier at 58 MPH for me. That was that way with my previous rig and with a Dually and my current rig with my Tahoe. 58 MPH and I happily let people pass me as I am in the slow lane.

Thanks!

And all is JMHO based on experience..

Jeremiah

Jerem, I notice the "push" from other vehicles. I can feel when a semi-truck is passing me before I even see it.

Do you suppose it's the air from the semi pushing the trailer away from it causing that feeling?

Brettmm92 wrote:
Jerem, I notice the "push" from other vehicles. I can feel when a semi-truck is passing me before I even see it.

Do you suppose it's the air from the semi pushing the trailer away from it causing that feeling?

Yes! You will be able to feel the different types of semi’s too! The new aerodynamic Semi’s with the skirts on the sides and on the sides of the trailer barely push me.

The old Kenworth’s push a lot more.

The goal is to have your rig dialed in so that you feel the push from the passing vehicles as one push against your trailer and truck. The feeling of the trailer swinging from the push followed by the tow vehicle is not comfortable or safe.

So, my TV is what some would not call optimal being it’s a 116 inch wheel base and the trailer is 31 ft long bumper to tongue.

I had to put a little work in to make it rock solid but it is now, my favorite TV I have ever had, that includes a F350 long bed dually crew cab!

Basically, shore up your tires, you want a STIFF side wall tire. These are easiest to find in LT tires in old range D or E. I put Load Range E LT tires and I air them to 44 PSI for towing.

Ensure your weight distribution hitch is dialed in and then add two friction sway bars. I prefer standard round bar weight distribution hitches over square bar hitches because they ride so much better in my experience.

Anyway, probably way more info than you wanted but vehicles pass me and I get the push (just like I did with a Dually) but it’s one solid push that usually doesn’t even require any steering input.

Thanks and good luck!

Jeremiah

I'm glad you posted that information. I honestly didn't know about those factors affecting towing. My tires are nearing the end of their life so that information came at the right time.

Don't fight the trailer. It will move around ( I call it squirm ) and if you move the steering wheel for every little motion you'll be "white knuckle" all the way.
As mentioned your hitch set up is more important than anything else in determining whether you have a pleasant or hair raising experience.