This is going to be a short segment, but an extremely important one if you do any towing or plan to do so in the future. The odds are increasing that you will since more and more people are getting into camping and boating these days.

People sometimes have curious priorities. When they think about buying a boat they think about what kind of boat to buy, where and how they can use it, what sort of trailer to buy, the not inconsiderable maintenance involved--in short they give deep thought to everything but how they are going to get the boat to the water in the first place. You've got to tow it with something and the family jalopy is probably not going to measure up to the task.

Twenty years ago, towing was not such a big deal. That was the era of giant V-8 engines, when a 350 cubic inch displacement engine (about 5.7 liters) was considered "small" and 450 cubic inch (7.3 liter) monsters were common in family transportation. Today, most cars on the market have engines of 2.5 liters or less. Not only are engines dramatically smaller and lighter, but drivetrain and chassis construction have followed suit.

Twenty years ago almost any large American family sedan right off the showroom floor could tow a 2,000 pound trailer without any special equipment and, with the special trailer towing packages that were available, tow weights of 5,000 or even 6,000 pounds were feasible.

Another part of the reason is that most cars back then still used heavy body-and-frame construction. Today, frameless construction is the rule and, although modern bodies are strong and safe for their intended purpose, i.e., for carrying passengers, they are simply not up to the task of serious towing. Even with special trailer towing packages, which are available on new cars from most manufacturers, tow weights of more than 2,000 pounds are uncommon.

The point here is that if you decide to do some towing, consider very carefully the demands you are making on your tow vehicle. The following trailer towing tips will help:

First, consult your owner's manual.
It is essential that you find out what the tow weight limits are for your car. If your owner's manual does not have this information, check with a dealer handling your make, access the manufacturer's web site, or make a post to your automobile's specific newsgroup. Rigorously follow the manufacturer's recommendations regarding equipment and permissible weights. Failure to do so can result in serious damage to your vehicle and possibly the invalidation of your warranty.

Beware of overheating.
A chronic problem with towing is engine and transmission overheating. When climbing grades, shift into a lower gear. This will make your engine fan and water pump go faster for better cooling. When you are stopped in traffic, shift into neutral and let the engine idle at neutral's higher revs.

Protect your transmission.
If anything goes wrong due to poor towing practices, it is most likely to involve your automatic transmission (most towing experts advise against towing with a manual shift transmission). You should always downshift into a lower gear if your engine starts to strain or lug, particular when climbing hills. Failure to do so can have disastrous (and expensive) consequences for you car's transmission. A special transmission cooler--sort of an add-on cooling system for your transmission--is highly recommended.

Be meticulous about fluid levels.
You will need to change engine oil far more often on your tow vehicle--and don't forget to check and change your transmission fluid more often, as well. Your car's engine and transmission are under a lot of unusual stress during towing and need all the help they can get.

Take all safety precautions seriously.
Get special outside mirrors. Buy a top quality hitch, have it professionally installed and always use the safety chain. Check all lights and brakes fequently. Be sure to carry a spare tire, jack and lug wrench for the trailer, as well as for the car. Take along some emergency flares whenever you tow and keep a fire extinguisher handy at all times.