Final answer:
When checking whether your towing vehicle and trailer are capable of safely towing your boat, consider the GVWR, towing capacity, tongue weight, and braking system.
Step-by-step explanation:
When checking whether your towing vehicle and trailer are capable of safely towing your boat, there are several things to consider:
- Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR): This is the maximum weight that your towing vehicle is designed to handle, including the vehicle itself, passengers, cargo, and the trailer tongue weight.
- Towing Capacity: This refers to the maximum weight that your towing vehicle can pull. It is important to ensure that your boat and trailer do not exceed this limit.
- Tongue Weight: This is the downward force exerted on the hitch ball by the trailer. It should typically be around 10-15% of the total trailer weight for stability.
- Braking System: Your towing vehicle should have a suitable braking system that can handle the additional weight of the trailer and boat.