Whether you’re a full-time RVer, a weekend warrior, or just bought a new travel trailer, your journey will be smoother once you master RV hitching and towing. Fortunately, we can help you choose the right RV towing accessories to ensure you have everything you need to hitch and tow your RV safely.
When planning an RV trip, it’s natural to focus on the destination, but many RV campers find the journey far more exciting. The trick is making the journey exciting for the right reasons—not due to unexpected issues related to towing problems, especially when they’re avoidable with the right RV towing parts and accessories.
Key Takeaways on RV Towing Accessories
- Essential Towing Equipment: Proper RV hitching and towing require key accessories, including a hitch receiver, ball mount, weight distribution hitch, tongue jack, and trailer locks, ensuring safe and stable towing.
- Safety & Control Features: Backup cameras, brake controllers, and wheel chocks enhance towing safety by improving visibility and braking efficiency, and preventing accidental movement.
- Navigation & Expert Guidance: An RV-specific GPS simplifies route planning, while Camping World specialists help RVers select the right towing gear for their specific setup.
Hitch Receiver
A quality hitch receiver is a must-have for anyone towing an RV behind their vehicle. It is the connection between your tow vehicle and your towable camper. Hitch receivers are typically bolted or welded to your tow vehicle below the rear bumper. Once secure, a hitch receiver can attach the ball mount to connect a trailer.
Choosing the right hitch receiver requires understanding RV weight ratings. We can divide hitch receivers into five main classes depending on how much they are rated to tow safely. Fifth wheel hitches are another example of a hitch receiver for fifth wheel towing. These are bolted or welded to your tow vehicle’s frame but are located in the truck bed rather than beneath the rear bumper.
Our Towing Calculator may be useful when selecting the right hitch receiver.
Ball Mount & Hitch Ball
To complete the connection between your vehicle and the RV you’re towing, you need a ball mount with an appropriately sized and rated hitch ball. When fully assembled, a ball mount includes a shank and a trailer ball. The shank inserts into the hitch receiver and the tongue of your trailer lowers onto the trailer ball. Once secured, it allows your RV to follow your tow vehicle smoothly.
Don’t forget pins and clips! While some ball mounts are comprised of a single piece, others are adjustable and have the option to use a hitch pin or clip. They’re easy to use but also easy to lose—stock up just in case.
Weight Distribution Hitch
Equal weight distribution is a necessity to keep your RV from bouncing up and down or swaying side to side. A weight distribution hitch reduces the chance of losing control by keeping the RV’s weight balanced and evenly distributed while in transit.
Weight distribution hitches also help you tow more efficiently by leveling your RV and tow vehicle, decreasing wind resistance. While you’ll still need to load your trailer correctly for optimal weight distribution, a weight distribution hitch with sway control is recommended for most towing setups.
Learn more about towing accessories for RV weight distribution:
- Do You Really Need a Weight Distribution Hitch?
- Weight Distribution Hitch Setup Procedures
- Weight Distribution Hitch Adjustment Tips
Tongue Jack
A tongue jack, created to aid in lifting and lowering the tongue of your trailer for coupling, is your best friend for hitching up your RV to tow. Tongue jacks are also essential for setting up and leveling your RV when you get to camp.
There are two main types of tongue jacks: manual and electric. Electric trailer jacks make things much easier, but they have more mechanical components that may require repairs over your RV’s lifetime. Manual camper jacks are less likely to malfunction, but they require more work to raise and lower.
Whether you choose an electric or manual tongue jack, this is one RV towing accessory you should never go without.
Learn more about leveling & stabilizing RV towing accessories:
- Choosing the Best Trailer Jack
- Power Tongue Jack Installation Guide
- Why Is My Power Tongue Jack Not Working?
Hitch & Trailer Locks
When you’ve invested in your trailer and everything inside, consider RV security. You need camper towing accessories to successfully hitch and tow your RV, and the last thing you want is for them to go missing—not to mention the possibility of your entire trailer being hooked up and hauled away if you don’t take precautions.
With a trustworthy hitch or trailer lock, you can protect your camper against tampering and theft. Prevent hitch uncoupling and protect your RV with a high-quality lock that stands guard when you step away.
Backup Systems & Accessories
While mastering the art of towing forward may come easily, you must also set yourself up to back up safely. Putting your vehicle in reverse while towing is a little more challenging and takes practice to perfect.
So many new RVs are prepped for backup camera and side marker observation systems, making plug-and-play installation quick and easy. There are many options to choose from, but the added visibility makes them a worthwhile investment. It will make navigating into campsites easier and may prevent unnecessary arguments with your spotter.
Learn more camper towing accessories for easier RV navigation:
- Best Wireless Backup Cameras for RVs
- Trailer Life Pathway Backup Camera Review
- Should You Add Furrion Cameras to Your RV?
Brake Controls
Let’s slow down for a moment and talk about trailer brake controls. The heavier the load you’re towing, the longer it takes to brake and come to a complete stop. The extra weight makes safe braking more difficult, especially when traveling at higher speeds.
While many trucks intended for towing come with built-in brake controls, smaller trucks, and SUVs aren’t always equipped. In the latter cases, a brake controller is required to activate your trailer’s braking system. Electrical signals sync your trailer’s brakes with your vehicle’s brakes, so your RV slows in sync with your towing vehicle. It’s one of those items you’ll wonder how you ever lived without once implemented.
Learn more about RV towing accessories for braking:
Wheel Chocks
Next on our list of RV towing accessories is chocks. RV wheel chocks are the best way to prevent accidental movement when loading, unloading, and hitching up your towable camper. Chocks keep the wheels from rolling and also help protect everyone—and everything—around.
Technician Tip: Per DOT requirements, wheel chocks should be wider than the width of RV tires. Although physical inspections can be rare, it is safer and far more effective than using narrower chocks.
RV GPS Units
Navigating in your RV can be a struggle if you’re reliant on the small screen of your smartphone or even if you’re still the paper atlas route planner. One trip using a GPS unit will have you itching to make another. Created to make traveling easier, an RV GPS helps you find RV-friendly roads and avoid obstacles so you can enjoy a stress-free journey.
For example, the Garmin RV 1095 is an advanced navigation tool designed for RV travel. You’ll get custom routes that account for the size and weight of your RV, road warnings alerting you of steep grades and sharp curves, a directory of RV parks, and more. It’s the best co-pilot you could ask for!
Using These RV Towing Accessories
Use this list of camper towing accessories to prepare for safe, secure RV towing. Depending on the exact type of towable camper you’re hauling, additional skills and considerations may be required. Retail specialists at all Camping World locations are a great resource to help you find the properly sized and rated RV towing equipment for your setup.
For more information regarding all things towing, check out the articles below:
- Tips for Towing a Trailer on Steep Grades
- Fifth Wheel Tow Hitch Buying Guide
- Does Your RV Need a Sway Control Kit?
- Best SUVs for Towing a Camper
- Emergency RV Essentials
Are you experienced when it comes to towing an RV? Give your best tips and advice in the comments below!
