Scott began his career in Detroit, Michigan, writing and producing corporate video programs and technical training materials for automotive clients (Chrysler/GM). He wrote and edited hundreds of articles for HowStuffWorks, mostly for our automotive channel. He was also the cohost of the podcast "CarStuff." When Scott’s not driving, he enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter, traveling, reading true-crime books, attempting minor home repair and improvement projects and he’s always on the lookout for the world's best pizza.
Recent Contributions
If you've never had the experience of towing a trailer, then you probably don't know what tongue weight is. Sure, it may sound funny - but to someone hitching up a heavy load, it's very serious.
Wouldn't it be great to get an even bigger trailer to pull behind your heavy-duty pickup truck? With a fifth wheel hitch, that might be possible. Fifth wheel hitches are built for heavy loads.
If you're planning to tow a four-wheel-drive vehicle, you should learn how to do it safely and without damaging the towed vehicle's transmission or other components. So what are your options?
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Automotive recalls are often front-page news -- and for good reason. Recalls warn consumers that a specific product poses a potential threat. What do you do if your car is recalled?
Some cars just seem to overheat more than others, and many trucks are known to suffer the same fate. Do you know how to prevent your truck from overheating?
If your trailer's wheel bearings have failed, then you probably need new spindles, too. Spindles are a critical part of the axle assembly. In fact, every trailer needs at least two. But what are spindles, anyway?
There are several examples of drawbar pull in front of us each day -- you just need to know what you're looking for in order to spot it. But what exactly is drawbar pull, anyway?
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When it comes to grease caps, you really don't have a choice. If you use them, your wheel bearings continue to work. If you don't, your wheel bearings fail. But what are grease caps, anyway?
A number of accessories can attach to a tow vehicle's rear-mount receiver. But just imagine how useful some of those accessories might be at the front end of a pickup truck, SUV or recreational vehicle.
If you're planning to tow a two-wheel-drive vehicle, you should learn how to do it safely and without damaging the towed vehicle's transmission. Good thing you have a few options available.
Enclosed areas can get a little stale or even musty -- that trailer in your driveway is no exception. Trailer roof venting provides improved airflow when you're parked or while you're cruising down the highway.
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Some weights associated with towing are fairly complex, but not every weight connected with towing is hard to calculate. In fact, some are remarkably straightforward -- gross trailer weight (GTW) is a good example.
Do you know your vehicle's gross axle weight rating? That's all right -- not many people do. But if you're planning to tow a trailer, it's a good idea to learn your vehicle's GAWR.
If you ever plan to tow a trailer, it's a good idea to know the tow vehicle's gross combination weight rating. If you don't learn it, you could be in for some serious repair bills.
It's relatively simple to determine when you've added a little too much weight to your car, truck or SUV. But what if you were loading something much bigger -- perhaps a massive recreational vehicle?
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Safely towing a trailer, even in a straight line, requires skill. Turning while towing, however, presents a completely different set of concerns -- even for an experienced driver. What makes turning while towing so difficult?
Most people can tell you the fuel economy numbers for their vehicle. Some even know the horsepower and torque in their car or truck. But what about the gross vehicle weight rating? Who knows that?
Slowing your vehicle to a stop usually doesn't require much effort on your part. But what happens when you have hundreds -- or even thousands -- of pounds of trailer weight attached to your rear bumper?
Passing another vehicle on the highway isn't all that difficult. In fact, most drivers do it without a second thought. But what if you were pulling a heavy camper trailer? Would that change the situation?
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With practice, shifting gears in a car or truck isn't really difficult for most people. But when you add the weight of a trailer, finding the right gear might not be quite so simple anymore.