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Your Discount RV Trailer Parts and Towing Accessories Store.

TowShop is owned and operated by R. Clark Enterprises. We have been supplying discount priced recreational vehicle, tow rig, utility trailer parts and accessories since 1982. If you are looking for some of the best prices anywhere for RV and hitch accessories we can help you. From electric tongue lift jacks to brake controls, receiver hitches, truck camper jacks and tie downs, our prices are hard to beat. If you want to do some maintenance on your motorcycle, cargo, boat, utility or horse trailer we can help. B&W Turnover Ball goosenecks and Fifth wheel Companion hitches, Atwood, Fulton and Bulldog trailer lift jacks, Draw-Tite, Eaz-Lift and TorkLift SuperHitch receivers, Tekonsha, Draw-Tite and Hayes Lemmerz electric trailer  brake controls are just a few of the great products available. Want to add a towing related accessory to your tow rig such as a Firestone Ride-Rite air helper spring or onboard air compressor kit? We also specialize in add on accessories for your truck or slide in camper. Take a look at our ever expanding online catalog. If your item isn't in the catalog send us an email. We probably have it available and can have it to your door in just a few days. We change our sales regularly and run FREE SHIPPING SPECIALS so make sure to put our site in favorites and check back often. To learn about our order processing and shipping requirements please read our "Terms & Policies".

We receive new "Frequently Asked Questions" almost every day.
Check back often or
Contact Us by email with your own head scratcher.

          Hitches

1. Do I really need a weight distributing hitch?
2. How do I determine the WD hitch I need?
3. How do I figure out the drop shank I need?
4. What is a Sway Control and do I need one?

1. The answer to this question is influenced by the weight on the trailer tongue, total loaded trailer weight, tow vehicle Gross Vehicle Weight Rating, receiver hitch weight rating, etc, etc.. You get the idea. The easiest answer is, if your trailer tongue weight plus the weight of any load you are carrying in the tow rig equals or exceeds the "Weight Carrying" capacity on your receiver hitch then you need a WD hitch. Stated weights on Data Plates attached to the trailer can vary dramatically from actual weights.  The best way to get it right is to weigh the truck, trailer and trailer tongue on something like a DOT truck scale, truck stop scale or gravel pit scale. Yes, it can be a hassle and very inconvenient but your safety and that of others on the road outweigh that hassle tenfold.


2. Tongue Weight includes the trailer tongue weight with full gas, water, waste systems and a packed trailer. Estimate the towing vehicle's cargo load. Match the sum of these weights to the proper WD Hitch. For example, a tongue weight of 500 lbs. coupled with a vehicle cargo load of 200 lbs. equals a total hitch weight of 700 lbs. This combination would require a WD hitch rating of 750 lbs. Make sure the tongue weight and the gross trailer weight do not exceed the tow vehicle manufacturer's recommended capacities. The hitch selected must have a maximum Gross Trailer Weight rating equal to or greater than  the total loaded weight of the trailer. Tongue weight should be at least 10% of gross trailer weight.


3. Tips for calculating proper shank drop/rise:

Measure from ground to top of receiver hitch opening.
Measure from ground to inside top of trailer coupler.
Subtract hitch ball height (not including trailer ball shank) from coupler height measurement.
Difference between receiver height and final coupler height measurement is the amount of
shank drop or rise needed.
Example: Top of receiver measures 24"
Top of coupler measures 19"
Trailer ball measures 3" high
Drop needed 8"


4. A trailer sway control is any device used to eliminate or reduce unwanted trailer side-to-side motion caused by wind, rutted roads, etc. The simplest and usually least expensive is the "friction" type controller. It incorporates a sliding bar mounted inside a metal housing with friction material similar to automotive brake pads. This device is mounted to the trailer at one end and hitch at the other with miniature "trailer balls" to allow for articulated movement. As the trailer tongue swings through an arc side-to-side the bar slides in and out of the housing. The amount of friction applied to the bar can normally be adjusted to suit the particular trailer and truck requirements. Most enclosed box style (camping, car hauler, horse, etc.) trailer will benefit from a sway control. These trailer are easily influenced by wind gusts, even from larger passing vehicles like semi trucks.
 

 

          To search for a product enter keywords (Ride-Rite, etc.) or
          a manufacturer's part number in the search box below.

                                

       Online Shopping Products Index


Atwood Electric Trailer Jacks
Barker Electric Trailer Jacks
Ultra-Fab Electric Trailer Jacks
Truck Camper Jacks
Manual Trailer Jacks
   Atwood
   Bulldog
   Fulton
Misc. Jacks, Feet, Caster Wheels
Fifth Wheel Trailer Landing Gear Jacks
RV Levelers & Stabilizer Jacks
Truck Camper Tie Downs
Weight Distributing Hitches
    Draw-Tite
    Eaz-Lift
    Equal-i-zer
Trailer Sway Controls
Trailer Hitch Balls, Mounts, Etc.

Aluminum Rapid Hitch
TorkLift SuperHitch Receivers
TorkLift SuperTruss Extensions


Fifth Wheeler Hitches
    Draw-Tite 5th Wheel
    SuperGlide Slider (PullRite)
    5th Airborne Pin Boxes
Gooseneck Trailer Hitches
    B&W Turnover Ball
    Draw-Tite
    Fifth Wheel to Gooseneck Adapters
Trailer Hitch & Coupler Locks
Receiver Hitches
    Eaz-Lift
    TorkLift
Electric Trailer Brake Controls
    Draw-Tite
    Hayes Lemmerz
    Tekonsha
    Wiring Harnesses
Trailer Breakaway Battery Kits
Diesel Exhaust Brakes
Portable Power Generators


Firestone Ride-Rite
  Chevy/GMC
    Commercial Trucks
    Motorhomes
    Pickups
    SUVs
    Vans
 Dodge
    Motorhomes
    Pickups, SUVs, Vans
Ford
    Commercial Trucks
    Motorhomes
    Pickups, SUVs, Vans
Import Pickups SUVs Vans
Jeep Vehicles
Freightliner Spartan Workhorse Class A Motorhomes
Onboard Air Compressor Kits & Accessories

  

TowShop LLC
PO Box 313
Eagle Creek, Oregon  97022
503-637-5050

Copyright © 2000-2008 [R. Clark Enterprises] All rights reserved.