When it comes to towing, dealership pros know best

When fuel prices surged, sales of light trucks fell. A sour economy hasn't brought a rebound. But even when new trucks aren't selling, one thing hasn't changed: people who tow need light trucks. And here's something else that hasn't changed: there's much more to towing than hitching up and driving off. Which leads us to still another towing constant: informed consumers who want safer, problem-free towing should see a towing specialist at a new vehicle dealership.

Need proof of the last statement? Test your towing knowledge with these true-or-false statements (see answers at end of article):

1. Vehicles with four-wheel drive can tow more than two-wheel drive vehicles.

2. Too little tongue weight doesn't affect vehicle safety and handling.

3. Vehicles with short wheelbases and long rear overhangs don't tow well.

4. Towing is harder on manual transmissions.

5. GCWR (gross combined weight rating) is what a vehicle and trailer weigh before they're loaded.

Midwesterners pull snowmobiles and icehouses, boats and personal watercraft, motorcycles and ATVs, RVs and horse trailers, restored cars and college kids' stuff - the list goes on. But even veteran towers know there's a lot involved in proper towing. Knowing how much weight you're towing and your vehicle's maximum towing capacity, for example, just starts the conversation about towing weights, which include:

Gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR – what a vehicle weighs fully loaded)

Gross axle weight rating (GAWR – how many pounds one axle can handle)

Gross trailer weight (GTW – the weight of a fully loaded trailer)

Tongue weight (TW – the number of pounds weighing directly on a hitch).

After discovering your towing needs and doing weight calculations, towing experts may also talk about transmission gearing and rear-axle ratios, sway bars, auxiliary transmission coolers, trailer brakes, larger side mirrors and, of course, hitches.

Towing experts will also discuss towing packages with you. These can include heavy-duty radiators, batteries, alternators and shocks; oil and transmission coolers; enhancements to brakes, suspensions and wiring; and different wheels and tires. Dealership towing experts also know when your complete towing system won't void a vehicle warranty.

If you're still not convinced about seeing a towing pro, please consider the "tail-wagging-the-dog" syndrome. That comes into play when vehicles pulling too much weight make an emergency stop or maneuver. If you're in that situation, you're playing a long shot if you think you'll stay on the road with everything attached.

It's not worth taking chances. Let a dealer towing expert greatly reduce your odds of dealing with any towing problem.