Towing is a delicate balancing act that puts everything at risk, even more so when the tow vehicle is marginal. No matter how many miles you may have covered, each foray onto the highway is another roll of the dice, and there is nothing routine about it. Nobody tows for fun. We do it because we have to.

Any time you connect two wheeled vehicles, you make one new vehicle with completely different handling characteristics, and a different set of laws apply. Should there be an accident, not only could you lose the truck and trailer, but people could get hurt, and you could be found liable if your rig is overloaded or improperly hitched. That could get really ugly. Your insurance company might not cover the damages if you are operating illegally, and you could be held personally responsible for financial restitution for other parties involved. Managing the risk is a matter of doing your homework, getting the right equipment for the job, and driving in an appropriate manner.

Recognizing that not everyone has a 1-ton dualie at his disposal, manufacturers offer relatively lightweight travel trailers, some quite generously sized. That makes it possible to enjoy RV travel safely using lighter tow vehicles-minivans, crossover SUVs, or compact pickups-with the right tactics and equipment. These lightweight trailers come with good brakes and wide stances and are easier to tow. But that does not mean that they can be towed without concern for the specifics. It's easy to mismatch the trailer and tow vehicle, and unfortunately the consequences of doing so can be severe. Figuring that out for sure requires some homework.

This is easier said than done, because the charts can be complex. Towing capacity ratings for a typical pickup might run 8-10 pages of fine print, charting multiple configurations. The ratings vary by engine, 2WD or 4WD, automatic or manual transmission, and by axle gearing, cooling capacity, type of hitch, type of trailer brakes, tire capacities, and even the weight of the options on the truck. Some of these are obvious features; some-such as axle gears-are not.

For example, take the Suzuki Equator pickup, also sold as the Nissan Frontier. The truck is advertised to tow 6,500 pounds "properly equipped." By checking the owner's manual, you will see it can handle 6,500 pounds, but only if it's the V-6-powered, Extended Cab, 2WD version with the automatic transmission and Sport Package. All others are rated to tow less, and in some combinations much less. A four-cylinder 2WD Equator, with the manual transmission, is rated to tow 3,500 pounds, no more. This is not at all unusual. Typically the actual towing capacity of a given vehicle will be substantially less than advertised.

If you no longer have the owner's manual for the vehicle you want to tow with, usually towing capacity information is on the manufacturer's website (or you can probably find a replacement on eBay). To check axle ratios in vehicles like pickups, which are offered with multiple ratios, you may have to climb under your truck and find the axle tag or housing stamp.