Even if your particular truck is large and powerful enough to handle a drop hitch (such as those from Geny Hitch), your towing work will put the vehicle under a lot of strain. This is especially important to watch out for if you've had your truck for a long time and some parts of it are clearly less functional than others. So before you put a large drop hitch on your truck, take some time to inspect these three systems.
Brake System
Though a partially worn down brake may work fine when you're driving under normal circumstances, extra weight from a trailer will create significantly more momentum on the road. This momentum will force you to press harder on your brake and decrease the rate at which you can slow down. This is both annoying and potentially dangerous if you have to traverse unfamiliar and hectic streets.
So before installing the hitch, drive your truck through a snowy or muddy patch of ground and see how the brake responds. If the truck fails to stop in a rapid and controlled way, take it to a mechanic for a brake system examination.
Engine Cooling System
The more weight in the trailer you'll be towing, the harder your truck's engine will have to work. An engine cooling system that's already strained by the pressure it's under could break entirely while you're pressing hard on the gas pedal, forcing you to get expensive repair work done.
Cleaning an old engine cooling system to increase its capacity is a much more palatable option for you. Alternatively, if you only have to haul cargo across short distances, you can limit the speed and acceleration you subject your truck to during towing.
Bolts On The Truck's Frame
Since it's made of metal, it's easy to imagine that the frame at the bottom of your truck is invulnerable to damage caused by trailer weight. But when your drop hitch is attached directly to a frame and the weight from the trailer is so heavy that it causes the hitch to bend downwards, all the tension will be concentrated on the bolts holding the frame in place.
So get down on your back and make sure that all the bolts on your truck's frame are both securely in place and free of rust. Try to jiggle the bolt heads around with a pair of pliers; if they stand firm despite all your efforts, you can rest easy.
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