Your Total Trailering Guide for Used Trucks

When it comes to towing, whether you're looking to pull heavy equipment from job site to job site or taking a trip out into nature with your small camper in tow, you'll need the proper trailering equipment to help make the process seamless. Many drivers choose used trucks to help them power forward, especially when they want to harness exceptional power and capabilities, all for a price that doesn't break the bank. Here at Automax Truck and Car Center, we're your top used truck dealer to trust when you want to shop from an incredible selection of high-quality models. If you're looking into trailering, let us help you know what you need by discovering the pros and cons of different trailering tech and parts. From what tech comes to the rescue for big hauls to what parts you need when occasionally towing your small trailer, we can help you decide what will work perfectly for you.

Trailering Apps

Trailering apps come in handy when you're looking to stay organized and safe on the road while you haul your camper, trailer, or even equipment for a job. Take GMC's ProGrade Trailering System, for example, which is available in the Sierra and Sierra HD, as it offers an in-vehicle app that allows you to create various trailer profiles based on what you're hauling, helps you monitor trailer tire pressure, and sets reminders for maintenance. You can also create departure checklists, which come in handy whether you're towing a lot or a little. Through the myGMC Mobile App, you're able to calculate your load, which helps prevent overloading your trailer; this is extremely helpful for those who don't tow very often and aren't quite sure what their truck can handle.

Advantages

• Easy to use and customize to meet your needs.
• Able to view important information right on your touchscreen or on your smartphone.
• It can benefit both those who are looking for more towing capability and those who occasionally tow.

Considerations

• Not required to be able to tow with your vehicle.
• A trailering app is often an available feature, which will cost more money.

Multiple Camera Views

It's always nice to be able to see more clearly, especially when you're traveling with your trailer. With many of today's trailering systems including multiple camera angles, drivers are more confident than ever on the streets. From being able to see better in your blind spots to actually being able to keep an eye on what's inside your trailer, specialized camera systems can really help out, especially for those who are looking for enhanced towing capability. With Chevrolet's trailering technology, you can take advantage of up to 14 available camera views, which allow you to see around your vehicle, behind your trailer, inside your trailer, and hitch your trailer easily and even park with precision. This advanced technology is handy for those who tow heavy loads for work and frequently traverse busy highways and interstates, allowing them to maneuver safely.

Advantages

• Helps create a safer travel experience.
• Allows you to keep an eye on your trailer at all times.
• Provides you with all the views you need to maintain control of your trailer.

Considerations

• Not crucial when you don't tow very often.
• Comes at an extra cost.

Smart Hitch Assistance

Hitching up your trailer can be a challenge, which is why so many drivers are drawn to hitch assistance features to help them confidently attach their trailer to their truck. Hitch assistance technology doesn't just help you attach your trailer with more precision; it also alerts you to any issues regarding your hitch so that you can address them before you tow a heavy load across state lines. This type of trailering equipment can benefit those traveling with large hauls, but it's especially helpful for those who don't haul often and aren't used to hitching up their trailer. Ford showcases an excellent lineup of hitch assistance, including Smart Hitch and Dynamic Hitch Assist, which provides an on-screen view of your hitch so that you can attach your trailer accordingly. Smart Hitch is also available to help you distribute weight properly so that you can travel with control, no matter how long your journey takes.

Advantages

• Helps make the challenging task of hitching your trailer much easier.
• Allows you to maintain better control through weight distribution management.
• Reduces the chances of damage to your truck or trailer when trying to hitch up.

Considerations

• Usually an available feature that costs extra.
• Not available on older models.

Trailering Safety Tech

From providing clearer views in your blind spots to ensuring maximum control on the highway, trailering safety technology is revolutionary in making this experience a safer one for everyone. This is especially helpful for those looking for more capability when towing heavy loads, as these loads can be difficult to maneuver. One misstep and you can cause a major accident, which is why big names like Chevy, GMC, Ford, and others allow you to arm your truck with some of the most advanced trailering safety features in the industry. Chevrolet's Trailer Side Blind Zone Alert helps you avoid fellow motorists passing you by, providing you with side-mirror alerts so you don't change lanes at the wrong time. Ford's Trailer Sway Control helps reduce the amount of movement from your trailer, which is especially helpful when traveling at higher speeds. When the environment is steep, available Hill Start Assist and Hill Descent Control come to the rescue to help you remain controlled in these situations.

Advantages

• Helps maintain control of your trailer.
• Allows you to travel safely and with more confidence.
• Protects you and fellow motorists, especially when hauling a large load.

Considerations

• Helpful for both experienced towers and those who are new or out of practice with trailering.

Onboard Scales

Knowing how much your truck can handle is essential when towing, but without the proper equipment, how can you figure this out without guessing? Guessing can get you into trouble, but with the help of handy scale systems, like Onboard Scales from Ford, the guesswork is taken out of the equation, and you're able to travel with assurance. Onboard Scales delivers your truck's load status to you so you know if you have loaded it up too much or can afford to handle more. After all, your haul needs to be balanced, and this feature is especially helpful for those looking for more towing capability or who don't have as much experience in towing.

Advantages

• Prevents overloading of your trailer.
• Eliminates the guesswork when loading up your trailer.
• Helps you travel with more control with a more balanced load.

Considerations

• Offers additional peace of mind for those who tow often and those who tow only occasionally
• Offers an approximation of weight.

Tow With Confidence

As you can see, there are plenty of trailering solutions to help make your time out on the road more controlled and confident. Not every one of these features is going to appeal to you. Some are meant for those towing heavier loads, and others are more suitable for those who tow occasionally. This is why it's essential to figure out what you need during your time towing so that you can create the best possible experience, one that's safe and controlled. Today's trucks can take on a lot, and the level of advanced trailering that can be harnessed makes any task more achievable, allowing you to travel with ultimate assurance with your trailer in tow.