1st time tow question

[Speed2000]

Never towed before and Ill have to rent a U haul trailer to move some furniture from Florida. I have a 22 FX4 that has the factory hitch. Before I go to U haul and they try to sell me whatever they say I "need", what do I need?

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[Maverick123]

What size trailer are you renting?

Does your truck only have the 4-pin electrical connector, or does it have both the 4-pin and the 7-pin?

The minimum you'll need is a 2" hitch (with a 2" drop should be correct ball height with a Maverick) with the appropriate sized ball for the trailer you'll be renting, and a hitch pin

You can check the prices of those items at Harbor Freight or similar to see if U-Haul's prices make sense or not

 

[Speed2000]

Its got the factory 4 pin and trailer is 5×8 and about 900lbs.

 

[Hunters Edge]

Its got the factory 4 pin and trailer is 5×8 and about 900lbs.

Then the max towing is 2000lbs including the trailer. Also the 4 pin is just trailer light hook up and you won't be able to use trailer brakes which is required by most if not all states if towing 3000lbs or more including the trailer.

Also the same limitation of max tongue weight still applies and if you are hauling extra weight in your Maverick people and stuff in bed you may not be able to tow the 2000lbs because you can't go over GVCW rating. Lost of u-tube videos to explain this.

Backing up is opposite on the steering to get the trailer to turn. Also when going around a corner a trailer will cut the corner shorter. This can cause trailer to go over curbs or side swipe posts etc. Not trying to make it sound to difficult just wanted to give you heads up.

Best of luck on your trip and towing experience. Keep in mind with extra weight it is going to take longer to stop and can be seriously affected by wet pavement.

 

[SafetyGuy]

Then the max towing is 200lbs including the trailer. Also the 4 pin is just trailer light hook up and you won't be able to use trailer brakes which is required by most if not all states if towing 3000lbs or more including the trailer.

Also the same limitation of max tongue weight still applies and if you are hauling extra weight in your Maverick people and stuff in bed you may not be able to tow the 2000lbs because you can't go over GVCW rating. Lost of u-tube videos to explain this.

Backing up is opposite on the steering to get the trailer to turn. Also when going around a corner a trailer will cut the corner shorter. This can cause trailer to go over curbs or side swipe posts etc. Not trying to make it sound to difficult just wanted to give you heads up.

Best of luck on your trip and towing experience. Keep in mind with extra weight it is going to take longer to stop and can be seriously affected by wet pavement.

Just a slight typo there, so jumping in for clarity...

4 pin plug means you have a 2000 pound row capacity and I do believe a 400 lb Hitch weight limit...the weight on the trailer Hitch on the ball of your truck.

My 2 cents, get an adjustable Hitch that goes into your truck Hitch receiver ad the trailer SHOULD BE FLAT WHEN LOADED, or EVEN BETTER, A SLIFHT NOSE DOWN WHEN LOADED.

Sorry for shouting, your safety is important. Hitch weight should be no less then 10% of your total towing weight..
12% is better. 2000 lb total load including trailer weight should result in a Hitch weight MINIMUM of 200 lbs.

Don't tow like you want your stuff to all fall out when you open the back door....

You can use a bathroom scale you don't maybe like, once you are loaded...slowly...just in case it is more!

You don't know what you don't know till you ask. Now is a great time to ask any other questions as we are here to help.

And I know I will be waiting, just in case.

Good fortune,

Andy

 

[SafetyGuy]

Sorry for the typos, I was in a hurry.

I am starting a new thread on towing safety and it is not me writing it...it is pictures of the SHERLINE guide and it is comprehensive to aid towers of all experience levels.

Andy

Coming shortly!

 

[Speed2000]

Drove delivery truck for 20 plus years so know about turning radius and backing up. Also ware of loading heavy items up front and light stuff at the rear and won't be putting too much in there. Just wasn't sure what else I might need other than the reciever and which one I should get.

 

[SafetyGuy]

Okay,

I just quickly attached a lot of photos of expert towing info in the off-topic area of this site...it is fast and dirty, I mashed the wrong key as I was hurrying,

but it has critical towing info for beginners and experts alike!

I hope this helps everyone who cares to look.

Andy

 

[Hunters Edge]

Drove delivery truck for 20 plus years so know about turning radius and backing up. Also ware of loading heavy items up front and light stuff at the rear and won't be putting too much in there. Just wasn't sure what else I might need other than the reciever and which one I should get.

The problem is you will not know the type of hitch receivers you need because trailer heights are different. That's why an adjustable receiver may be better even though it's most likely more expensive. It allows adjusting it to maintain the trailer being towed is level. This reduces trailer sway as well as the loading or weight distribution on the trailer.

Also I disagree on loading heavy items in front. Weight should be 60/40 but not to go over the manufacturers posted tongue weight limit. On the Maverick that has already been posted tongue weight max is 400 lbs.

Another thing if you bought an adjustable receiver you should be able to use it on other trailers in the future. I have one utility trailer that's low and I use a 6 inch drop on the Maverick to keep it level. It's an old tilt trailer. The downside is majority of weight needs to be in front of the axle. The axle is forward more to allow the tilting of the bed, as well as a low height. I have a lot of receivers thinking of picking up an adjustable and aluminum to be lighter and allow more room rather than carrying a minimum of 3 different receivers for trailers with different heights that I own/tow.

 

[SafetyGuy]

My current trailer and favourite Hitch and lock.

Adjustable means flexibility

as to trailers Hitch height, as mentioned above...a good idea.

Andy

 

[Hunters Edge]

My current trailer and favourite Hitch and lock.

Adjustable means flexibility

as to trailers Hitch height, as mentioned above...a good idea.

Andy

Similar to one I have on my Polaris Ranger.

 

[ThisWas]

Never towed before and Ill have to rent a U haul trailer to move some furniture from Florida. I have a 22 FX4 that has the factory hitch. Before I go to U haul and they try to sell me whatever they say I "need", what do I need?

Do you have time to go to U-Haul before you rent, to ask what they recommend? Then you can see the trailer, confirm its wiring, and think about what you really need compared to what U-Haul tells you.

I like the adjustable hitch idea for flexibility. My hitch isn't adjustable, as I own a boat trailer so I could buy a hitch with a drop custom-fit to my trailer. I added an anti-rattle device because the noise whenever I stopped and started was annoying.

Don't forget to rent or buy padding for the furniture and more straps than you think you'll need.

 

[blueboy]

Make sure that the trailer comes with a spare tire.
Insurance, if they asked you to buy it, make sure it covers damage to the trailer. HD insurance on the trailers doesn't cover any of it.

 

[OleFordGuy]

There's a chance U-Haul's trailers may use a 7-pin connector, for trailers lights and electric trailer brakes. If that's the case you will need a 4-pin flat to 7-pin round wiring converter. I would imagine U-Haul has them but may be priced higher. An example is below:
Hopkins Plug-In Trailer Connector Adapter - 4-Way Flat to 7-Blade Hopkins Trailer Wiring HM54RV

 

[heady]

Uhauls are all 4 pin lights, the ones with brakes are hydraulic surge brakes on the tongue, none need brake controllers. You need a 2" ball for any of them even the car hauler which is too heavy for a Mav, but that's about it. Only the 6x12 size of enclosed cargo trailer has brakes, the small ones don't. Load them front heavy with your furniture. They don't come with spare tires or anything like that, if you flat they want you to call them; you could plug and puff roadside with a tire repair kit which I what I'd normally do, but they don't want you doing that either.

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