Discussions

Hi.  
 
My husband and I are looking at getting a rv this year. Wondering what I need to know about installing a tow package on his truck? Where do I go? What do I ask for? How much does something like this cost?  
 
TIA.

You can call your truck dealer, trailer dealer, a repair or accessory shop. But they will need size and weight of your rv, what truck you have and how it is equipped. Some trucks come completely equipped for towing and others need everything added, like hitches, brake controllers trailer plug etc. You will likely have to visit the store of your choice so they can determine your needs.

What kind of truck do you have to start? Looking at 5th wheel hitch or bumper pull? 1/2ton/3/4 ton/1ton gas/diesel? Does you truck have a factory installed trailer brake? Have you researched your trucks towing capacity? Any idea the size of trailer you are looking to pull and its weight? Also the tongue/hitch weight is important. Your truck should have a sticker inside drivers door starting max cargo capacity. Usually that's based on a 150 or 165lb driver only(cant remember exactly off hand). Any passengers/cargo/trailer hitch/tongue weight must be subtracted from that number. Remember the numbers from trailer manufacturer for hitch and tongue weight are empty weight. Once you add cargo/ into your trailer that weight jumps. Alot of the rv dealers will tell you you can pull heavier than your truck is safely capable of. And many of the "1/2 ton towable trailers" especially in 5th wheels are based on 1/2 tons with max tow packages in excess of 10,000lb towing capacity. Most 1/2 tons are not usually optioned this way.

Not sure if all automatic transmissions are now equipped, but getting a transmission cooler will extend the life of your transmission if you intend to do any extended amount of heavy towing.

Before you get ahead of yourself, what kind or truck do you have? You need to know it's towing capacity. Then you start looking at trailers based on the fact that you do not want to exceed that towing capacity. You will see many people state their camper is half ton towable but that may not legally be the case. You do not want to be underpowered either.

Some trucks already have a towing package. What year , make , model of truck do you have?