Noob at towing

Howdy TW,

I've done a fair amount of general research but wanted some TW members input. I am moving locally this month and am planning on buying a hitch and renting a uhail cargo trailer. This will be my first time towing anything. I have helped my dad hitch up an old snowmobile trailer.

My initial question would be on hitch recommendations. I was planning on picking up something like this, but let me know if you recommend going a different route? I don't plan on towing much in the future, so don't want to spend too much money on it.

Also any general tips for towing? I'm only moving about 5 miles so I'm not too worried but any tips or tricks from veterans would be appreciated!

Cheers fellas.

EDIT; Thanks for moving this to the Towing forum. Didn't even know there was one!

 

Any old hitch will do, just make sure you know what ball size you will need and roughly how much drop so you can buy accordingly. You want the trailer to be level or slightly elevated to the truck. If you plan on leaving the mount on all the time you could spring for stainless steel or something more impervious to the elements. Those black painted steel bars and chrome plated balls rust quick if exposed to salt.

 

That ball should be fine, we have one like that plus one of those 3 way ones with different sized balls for rental trailers etc.

 

This is a pretty good video to explain weight distribution as well.
https://youtu.be/Z9tVD9LnIXc

 

Go slow and steady, brake early, don't cut corners (literally and figuratively)..

 

Thanks y'all. Reading the Uhaul site looks like i need to look for...

• Must have 1-7/8" or, 2" hitch ball (2,000 lbs. minimum)
  
• Must not exceed maximum allowable hitch ball height 25

So I should be good with the 2" hitch. I'll look into stainless steel, otherwise it'll rust in a second in Minnesota. I'll measure the height of hitch after work and go from there.

Load distribution video is good help! thanks a lot.

 

You have a 2 inch hitch, the ball can be either of those sizes.

 

good catch! i'm getting the nomenclature confused lol

 

Great tips. Reversing is probably my biggest fear, hoping to be able to avoid doing it at all if possible. I've heard about that tip with hands on the bottom and moving your hand towards where you want the trailer to go. I may just have to try it out in an empty parking lot or something. Thanks!

 

If your renting a trailer I doubt you want to waste the time practicing backing up.
Is it possible to just pull up in front of both locations?

No need for stainless steel hitch. Just remove it when not using it for limited times.

 

Put more weight on the tongue than on the back, if you can stand on the back of the trailer and jump and it wants to lift off the ball, move some weight forward.

Also like others have said, swing a little wide, drive a little slower and prepare to stop with a little more distance.

You'll do fine

 

You can also put your hand at the top of the wheel and turn towards the problem. IE if you’re heading towards something on the left turn the wheel to the left. The trailer will turn right.

Bottom of the wheel works best when you’re looking out the back window.

I drive a semi for a living and we use top of the wheel because you can’t see out the back such as with a enclosed trailer behind you. It has made backing the camper much easier when you just steer towards the problem. Same with smaller trailers.

 

I’m all about towing but for this singular event, why not just rent a box truck?

 

Easier than I thought!

 

One more checked box on the “been there done that” list.

 

Like anything else, do it enough and you get good at it. Glad to hear it went well