Does Hauling A Trailer Void Your Warranty?
It’s hard to resist the call of the open road, and when you feel the urge to go camping, you just have to respond! But before you do that, make sure to consider how it impacts your vehicle when you haul a heavy trailer. Does hauling a trailer void your warranty?
If you’re unaware, not all vehicles are built to haul a trailer. You must meet the require towing capacity and consider the overall weight of trailer being towed. Even then, you must take certain precautions to ensure you do it safely and prevent damage to your vehicle.
Key Takeaways
• Hauling a trailer is potentially damaging to your vehicle’s engine, suspension, transmission, and brakes.
• Before hauling a trailer, check your vehicle’s towing capabilities and do not exceed that limit.
• Follow the best practices for hauling a trailer to prevent damage and voiding your warranty.
• Hauling a trailer does not void your vehicle’s warranty, but it could potentially void warranty on certain parts affected by hauling.
Will Towing a Trailer Damage Your Car?
Let’s get straight to it: heavy loads can affect your car’s performance. Will it damage your car? Not necessarily, as long as you follow the recommendations on how to properly haul a trailer. It also depends on your vehicle’s engine capacity. It’s no wonder pickups are the preferred vehicle for towing because it has more power than an average vehicle.
There are several things that can happen to your vehicle when towing a trailer. It includes the following, so make sure you know how to address the potential damage.
Transmission Failure
The vehicle transmission plays a significant role in hauling a trailer as it brings power from the engine to the wheels. Hauling a trailer requires the transmission to work harder to move the load. It creates an additional strain on the transmission, causing it to overheat and could lead to transmission damage over time.
The extra weight and resistance put stress on the transmission components, especially if you haul a trailer regularly. It speeds up the wear and tear of the transmission fluid, causing your overall performance to dip.
Keep an eye out for signs of transmission strain when hauling a trailer. It includes a burning smell, unusual noises, or delay in shifting. If you ignore these signs, it could lead to more serious issues down the road.
However, hauling a trailer does not necessarily have to lead to transmission damage if you follow the best towing practices. You must consider the weight of the trailer that is being towed and make sure your vehicle is able to sustain the weight.
Brake System Failure
The most common risk associated with hauling a trailer is the possibility of a brake system failure. The extra weight of the vehicle being towed increases the vehicle’s stopping distance, adding strain to the brake system. It reduces braking efficiency and accelerates the wear and tear on the brake components.
Lower Fuel Efficiency
Another potential risk that you face when hauling a trailer is the reduced fuel efficiency. It’s unsurprising given the added weight and resistance. Your vehicle’s engine works harder and consumes more fuel to move the trailer.
Tire Wear
Since braking systems are vulnerable to damage due to hauling a trailer, it’s also common for tires to wear faster. It can also lead to uneven tire wear.
Suspension Problems
It is not uncommon for suspension components to suffer from damage when hauling a trailer due to the added weight on the axle. As a result, the suspension components are prone to wear and tear.
Tips for Hauling a Trailer Properly
Before hitching a trailer to your vehicle, consider these tips on how to properly haul a trailer.
1. Understand your vehicle’s towing capacity.
Before you hitch a trailer to your vehicle, you must check the owner’s manual to know the vehicle’s towing capacity. You must not exceed this limit. If you do, it can seriously damage your car’s engine and transmission. Do not assume that your tow ratings are identical with other vehicles.
It is essential to manage the towing vehicle’s weight and ensure you don’t overload it.
2. Choose the right hitch and hauling equipment.
Use only high-quality trailer hitch and hauling equipment. Aside from checking your vehicle’s towing capacity, make sure the hitch is capable of managing the trailer’s weight. Consider the different hitch designs and how it matches with the trailer weight.
Once your hitch is ready, make sure that it is securely attached to the chassis.
3. Load the trailer properly.
The ideal way to load the trailer is place up to 60% of the load to the front half of the trailer. You must evenly distribute to weight to both sides of the trailer. A balanced torque weight offers stability when hauling a trailer.
4. Check the tires of the towing vehicle and the trailer.
Underinflated tires create more rolling resistance, making your vehicle engine to work harder and consume more fuel. It also risks the tires overheating and causing a blow-out. Always check the ideal tire pressure to know the proper inflation pressure for your tires when towing.
5. Adjust your mirrors.
Fix your mirrors so you can see the end of the trailer. Depending on your vehicle, some allow mirror modifications to increase your mirror’s field of vision.
Does Hauling a Trailer Void Your Warranty?
Hauling a trailer won’t automatically void your warranty. However, it could result in issues when claiming your warranty if you are towing with a vehicle that isn’t build for hauling. It can be considered a ‘misuse’ of your vehicle because it is not capable of towing.
You must carefully consider the impact that hauling a trailer has on your vehicle. While it might not void your warranty, it could do this for specific parts of your vehicle, such as the suspension, transmission, or brakes.
The Bottom Line
If you need to haul a trailer, you must understand the risk both to the vehicle and to the trailer. Follow the best practices listed here to ensure you can haul trailer properly and safely.
If you’re worried about voiding your Mopar extended warranty, it’s best to check your warranty booklet to be informed about the conditions and terms regarding vehicle hauling. If you’re unsure, ask the experts or your warranty provider to protect your investment.
