Following a little bit of fun last week with our thoroughbred expose, it’s time to get back to business. In past months our blogs have ranged from traveling checklists to trailer tire selection and maintenance.  At this point it almost feels as if we’ve discussed nearly every possible topic related to towing horse trailers, toy haulers and RVs.  However, as with everything we do, our dedicated staff is committed to consistently providing a quality product for our visitors and customers each week.

It’s probably safe to assume that many of you are familiar with big box retailers like Lowe’s and Home Depot.  If so, it’s likely that you have seen someone loading their vehicle with a much heavier burden than what it’s designed to carry; to the extent of shattered leaf-springs, blown-out tires or front wheels lifting off the ground.

If laughter truly is the best medicine, then hang around the contractor’s area long enough and it’s almost certain you will see someone overloading their compact SUV or hybrid crossover.  You will be healed…repeatedly.

So why are all these folks over loading their vehicles?  Maybe no one ever told them that too much weight in the trunk or bed can greatly affect the way their car handles (i.e. braking and steering) not to mention causing unnecessary wear to the drive-train, suspension and tires.  Maybe they think that a few extra bags of concrete over the axle of their tilt-bed trailer won’t make that much of a difference.  Or maybe they just don’t care.  Whatever the reason, let this anecdote serve as a warning: DO NOT OVERLOAD YOUR VEHICLE.

Vehicles are built to withstand certain load extremes set by the manufacturer and ignoring these regulations can land you in serious trouble.  You can be fined for hauling more weight than what your vehicle is rated and potential repairs would only add insult to injury.  That is why we have included a link to the Online Towing Guide that outlines a variety of popular vehicles and the towing capacity that they are rated for.

If you tow a trailer or use your truck or SUV for light duty hauling, do yourself a favor and find it on this list.  Doing so will save you a lot of time and money in the long run.  You can avoid costly and unnecessary damages to your vehicle and you won’t have to take off  work to plead your case at the local courthouse.

That goes without saying that you will keep everyone who rides in your vehicle safe.  And as we remind our readers each and every week, safety is the most important part of hauling and towing.   Once you have that covered, your mind will be at ease and you can enjoy the rest of the trip.

As always, if you have any questions regarding towing guidelines, custom trailer construction, trailer repair or trailer maintenance please feel free to contact Phoenix Coach Works for more information.

Be safe and enjoy the ride!

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