How Well Do You Know Your Truck?

Drawing of a truck camper

This Is A Truck  Quiz 

  1. What is the purpose of a macerator pump?
  2. What’s the difference between midsize, full-size, heavy-duty, and medium-duty pickup trucks?
  3. Which axle ratio is better for efficiency, and which is better for towing?
  4. What does the Tow/Haul mode do?
  5. What types of trailer braking systems exist?
  6. How does a truck’s exhaust brake work?
  7. What’s the difference between a Full exhaust brake and an Automatic exhaust brake?
  8. What’s the difference between a C-channel and a fully-boxed frame truck?
  9. What is the first thing you should do when connecting or disconnecting a tow-behind trailer?
  10. What percentage of the trailer’s weight should be on the truck’s hitch (tongue weight) for a properly loaded conventional trailer?
  11. What can happen if your trailer’s weight is improperly distributed?
  12. List some of the items you must check on the truck/trailer connection before leaving on any trip.
  13. What is the difference between a 3500 (class 3 truck) and a 5500 (class 5 truck) other than their payload, weight class, and power specs?
  14. What is the typical payload range rating on 2500 series or 3500 series heavy-duty truck tires?
  15. When should you deflate (aka. air down) your tires when you go off-roading, and what benefit does it provide?

  16. What is the purpose of a sway bar in a TC’s suspension system?

  1. To break down the contents of your black and gray tank waste for easier disposal.
  2. Pickup truck classes are defined by the vehicle’s GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating).  Midsize is Class 1 with a GVWR of 0 – 6,000 lbs., full-size is Class 2a with a  GVWR of 6,001 – 8,500 lbs., the heavy-duty is Class 2b & 3 with a GVWR of 8,501 – 14,000 lbs., and medium-duty is Class 4, 5, & 6 with a GVWR of 14,001 – 26,000 lbs.
  3. The lower the numerical axle ratio, the better the truck’s efficiency. For example, Ram 1500 trucks use a 3.21:1 gear ratio for efficiency. A higher numerical axle ratio is better for towing. 
  4. It’s not the same for every manufacturer. This mode primarily changes the automatic transmission’s gear-shifting schedule. This means a certain gear is held for longer while accelerating, and Grade Shifting helps you reduce speed downhill by automatically selecting lower gears (sometimes more aggressively).
  5. Surge brakes (mechanically actuated hydraulic brakes, mainly on boat trailers). Electric brakes (the majority of small to medium trailers, usually associated with drum trailer brakes). Electric-over-hydraulic brakes (often used on larger and heavier trailers that are not semi-truck trailers).
  6. This typically applies to turbo-diesel engines. Either the turbocharger valves (vanes) are adjusted to provide back pressure to slow the vehicle, or a separate valve is partially closed to add back pressure to the exhaust system.
  7. This feature has been popularized by Ram HD trucks. The driver can select between these two modes. The Full exhaust brake will apply maximum pressure to slow the vehicle to a near-complete stop. The Automatic exhaust brake system will apply just the right amount of pressure to maintain a speed set by the driver while on a downhill. This speed can be set by the driver simply letting off the accelerator pedal while going downhill, or by using the truck’s brakes to reach a specific speed. This may also be tied into your truck’s cruise control.
  8. The open C-channel frame has more flex built into it. It may be better for overall chassis compliance over bumps and for suspension articulation. It may weigh less than a comparable fully-boxed frame. Fully boxed frames are typically more rigid.  This is not a bad thing. It can provide chassis engineers with greater precision to tune the suspension springs and shocks for improved ride quality. A fully boxed frame offers a better platform for towing a heavy trailer with full-size or heavy-duty pickup trucks.
  9. Make sure the trailer’s wheels are chocked, and the truck’s parking brake is set.
  10. 10%-15% of the trailer’s total weight. Excessive tongue weight can result in dangerous trailer sway while overloading the truck’s suspension.
  11. The truck’s tires are properly inflated; the trailer coupler is properly connected to the hitch and locked; the trailer jack(s) are raised; safety chains and breakaway cable are connected; trailer lights are checked; trailer brakes are checked; tire chocks are removed.
  12. The medium-duty 4500/5500 trucks generally have a wider front track and can make significantly tighter turns than class 2b or class 3 trucks.
  13. These trucks have load range D or E tires. The E-rated tires have a higher payload capacity for heavy towing or carrying a slide-in camper. E-rated tires can handle higher pressure for maximum weight-carrying capacity, but they also tend to be heavier and stiffer than lower-rated tires.
  14. You should do this when you plan a slower-speed off-roading trip (aka. rock crawling or driving over mud or sand). Doing so will provide better grip and/or flotation, as a slightly deflated tire has a larger contact patch with the road surface. Deflating also provides a more compliant ride over rough terrain. Do not lower the tire pressure too far; the lower the PSI, the higher the likelihood of the bead separating from the rim.

  15. To enhance stability and control.

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