Most towing advice focuses on the trailer and the hitch. But your truck or SUV does the real work: it pulls the weight, stops the weight and keeps the whole combination steady at highway speed. Towing puts extra stress on the engine, transmission, brakes, tires and suspension, so a vehicle that drives fine empty can struggle once a trailer is behind it.
This is Chapter 12 of our Towing 101 series. Here is how to prepare your tow vehicle before you hook up, whether you are pulling a 6x12 enclosed trailer across town or a loaded equipment trailer down I-75.
Step 1: Confirm Your Ratings
Start with the numbers, because no amount of maintenance raises them. Look in your owner's manual and on the door-jamb sticker for:
- Towing capacity: the most your vehicle is rated to pull.
- GCWR: the most your vehicle, passengers, cargo and loaded trailer may weigh together.
- Payload: what the vehicle can carry, and tongue weight counts against it.
- Hitch rating: stamped on the hitch itself. The lowest rating in the chain is your limit.
Chapter 4: Determining Towing Capacity walks through how these numbers fit together.
Step 2: Check the Tires
Tires carry the tongue weight as well as everything in the vehicle.
- Set pressure to the figure your owner's manual gives for towing or heavy loads, which may differ from everyday pressure.
- Check tread depth and look for cuts, bulges and uneven wear.
- Make sure the tires' load rating suits the weight you will carry.
- Check the spare and make sure you have a jack and lug wrench that work.
Step 3: Inspect the Brakes
Your vehicle's brakes have to slow both the vehicle and part of the trailer's momentum. Check pad and rotor wear, brake fluid level and condition, and how the pedal feels. If the trailer has its own brakes, you will also need a working brake controller. Our Towing 101 chapter on brake controls explains how to set one up.
Georgia law requires brakes on all wheels of a trailer with a gross weight of 3,000 lb or more. The Georgia Department of Public Safety FAQ also covers breakaway and parking brake requirements for business vehicles.
Step 4: Check Cooling and Fluids
Pulling a trailer makes the engine and transmission work harder and run hotter, especially on Georgia summer afternoons and long grades in the north Georgia mountains.
- Engine coolant: check the level and condition, and inspect hoses and the radiator for leaks.
- Engine oil: make sure it is fresh and at the right level. Many manufacturers list towing under a "severe service" maintenance schedule with shorter intervals.
- Transmission fluid: towing is hard on automatic transmissions. Check the fluid if your vehicle allows it, and follow the severe-service schedule.
- Transmission cooler: many tow packages include one. If your vehicle lacks it and you tow often or heavy, ask a mechanic whether one makes sense.
Step 5: Look at the Suspension
Tongue weight pushes down on the rear of your vehicle. Worn shocks or tired springs let the rear sag, which lifts the front end, reduces steering grip and aims your headlights at the sky. Look at how the vehicle sits when hitched. If the rear drops noticeably, a weight distributing hitch, suspension upgrades or a lighter load may be the answer.
Step 6: Mirrors and Visibility
You need to see along both sides of the trailer. Wider trailers, like 8.5-foot enclosed trailers, often block the view from standard mirrors. Clip-on or extendable towing mirrors fix that. Adjust them with the trailer hitched before you leave.
Step 7: Wiring and Brake Controller
- Test your vehicle's trailer connector with a tester or a helper before you hook up.
- Clean corroded pins and make sure the plug's cover closes.
- Confirm the brake controller powers on and is set for the trailer you will pull.
- Carry a 4-pin to 7-way adapter if you tow different trailers.
Step 8: Hitch and Receiver
Check the receiver for cracks, rust and loose bolts. Make sure the hitch pin and clip are in good shape, the ball is tight in the ball mount and the safety chain loops are solid.
Step 9: Pack a Roadside Kit
- Wheel chocks and a jack rated for the trailer
- Lug wrench that fits the trailer's lug nuts
- Spare tire for the trailer
- Reflective triangles or flares
- Gloves, flashlight and spare bulbs or fuses
Step 10: Take a Practice Drive
If you are new to towing or to this vehicle, take a short practice run before the real trip. Find an empty parking lot and practice turns, stopping and backing up. Then take a loop on local roads to feel how the vehicle accelerates, brakes and handles the extra weight. It is far easier to adjust a brake controller setting or mirror angle in a parking lot than on the shoulder of the interstate.
Tow Vehicle Pre-Trip Checklist
- Ratings confirmed for this load
- Tires at towing pressure, spare ready
- Brakes and brake controller working
- Coolant, oil and transmission fluid checked
- Vehicle sits level when hitched
- Mirrors adjusted for the trailer
- Connector tested and clean
- Hitch, pin, ball and chain loops checked
- Roadside kit on board
Next in Towing 101
Once your vehicle is ready, review Chapter 11: Towing Safety for driving tips, from braking distance to handling sway. If the trailer side needs attention, our shop in Jonesboro handles trailer wiring, brakes, bearings and inspections.
Come see us at 8834 Tara Blvd, Jonesboro, GA 30236, just south of Atlanta. We are open Monday to Friday 9 AM to 5 PM and Saturday 9 AM to 4 PM. Call (770) 603-8511 or text (404) 383-8194 and tell us what you need to haul.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I prepare my truck for towing?
Confirm your towing capacity, GCWR, payload and hitch rating, then check tires, brakes, coolant, oil, transmission fluid, suspension, mirrors, the trailer connector and the hitch before you hook up.
Should I change my tire pressure for towing?
Use the pressure your owner's manual lists for towing or heavy loads, which can differ from everyday pressure. Check the tires cold before you leave.
Do I need towing mirrors?
If the trailer is wider than your vehicle or blocks your view along its sides, yes. Clip-on or extendable towing mirrors let you see past wide trailers.
Does towing affect my maintenance schedule?
Often, yes. Many manufacturers treat towing as severe service, with shorter intervals for oil, transmission fluid and other items. Check your owner's manual.
Do I need a brake controller in my tow vehicle?
You need one to tow a trailer with electric brakes. Georgia requires brakes on all wheels of trailers with a gross weight of 3,000 lb or more.