Q: What kind of cars or trucks can tow a Chalet?
A: A Chalet is one of the lighter camping trailers you can buy, which allows a wide range of vehicles to tow it. But that doesn’t mean any car on the road can. For a quick answer, look in your tow vehicle’s owner’s manual. If it is rated to tow less than 2,000 pounds, you probably should pass on a Chalet or consider buying a more appropriately sized vehicle for the task. Cars such as the Subaru Outback, many small SUVs and many pickup trucks can tow a Chalet.

For a more definite answer, look at your tow vehicle’s owner’s manual and determine what the max trailer weight is. Then figure a basic empty Chalet is going to weigh 1,300 pounds. Then figure you’ll need to fill up the water tanks, add a battery, fill the propane tanks, fill the refrigerator, pack all your clothes, camp chairs, blankets, the dog, your spouse, your satellite dish antenna—whatever else you bring camping with you. All that stuff adds weight! Depending on what you pack, you can get the weight of your loaded Chalet up to 2,000 pounds or more. Just make sure your tow vehicle can safely pull this weight.

And simply piling all your gear in the tow vehicle doesn’t necessarily help. There are limits to the total combined weight as well. Putting a luggage carrier on a small sport utility and piling four adults inside with all their gear can overload a vehicle even if the trailer weight is well below the listed maximum.

If your tow vehicle is on the small side, talk to your Chalet dealer for advice and go easy on the options.

Q: What do all these acronyms about the weight stand for?
A: Here’s a quick rundown:

GVW = Gross Vehicle Weight. This is how much a vehicle weighs right now. This could refer to your car or your trailer.

GVWR = Gross Vehicle Weight Rating. This is how much your vehicle’s manufacturer has determined is a safe maximum weight for your vehicle. This figure includes the base weight plus all the cargo, fuel, water, people and anything that you pile inside or on top.

GAWR = Gross Axle Weight Rating. This is how much weight your axle is designed to support. The Chalet axle is designed to support 3,500 pounds, even though we specify a lower GVWR of 2,600 pounds.

GCWR = Gross Combined Weight Rating. This is how much your tow vehicle’s manufacturer has determined is a safe weight for your trailer plus your tow vehicle plus all the people and gear in both of them. It’s possible to have a trailer under the maximum allowed weight and still overload your vehicle because of too much cargo in the tow vehicle.

Q: Why are electric brakes important?
A: Electric brakes are a good idea for any trailer, and they’re included as standard equipment on our Alpine, Arrowhead and Aspen models (optional on the LTW). There are several reasons electric brakes are important.

First, many tow vehicle owner’s manuals specify that you must equip your trailer with electric brakes if the trailer weight exceeds a certain amount. Sometimes it’s 1,000 pounds, sometimes 2,000 pounds.

Secondly, some states have laws that require brakes on trailers over a certain weight. Ask your dealer about this. California, for example, requires brakes on trailers weighing more than 1,500 pounds.

Finally, we recommend brakes for everyone as a key safety feature. They add a little bit of extra weight, but if you ever have to make an emergency stop, the electric trailer brakes can mean the difference between a close call and a bad accident. Chances are your tow vehicle can benefit from the extra stopping power of trailer brakes.

Q: How many people can sleep in a Chalet?
A: Most Chalet products can sleep four adults comfortably. The LTW is more comfortable with one or two people. We have two teenage boys and are very comfortable camping with them. Most nights they will camp outside in their tent unless the weather is bad. We have plenty of room to all eat inside and enjoy each other’s company. Couples find our products to be just right. They often leave the bed set up on one end and the table set up on the other.

Q: How do I make my Chalet last forever?
A: Everything is going to show wear if you use it, but there are a number of simple things you can do to keep your Chalet looking shiny and new for a long time.

The biggest thing is to keep it clean. Treat it like a new car. Use gentle dishwashing soap or automotive soap on the exterior to wash off road grime, bugs and other dirt.

The next best thing is to keep it out of the elements. Store it in a garage, in a shed or under a breathable cloth RV cover—anything to keep the sun off it. Your Chalet will hold up fine if you must store it out in the open, but as with most products, the sun’s rays do take their toll over a long period of time. Especially in the Southern states where it’s hotter and sunnier more days of the year.

Q: What type of maintenance do I need to do to keep my Chalet operating safely?
A: The most important area to maintain is your running gear. Check your tires for proper inflation before every trip! Check for excessive tread wear or other damage to the tires often—at least a couple times a year. Maintain the wheel bearings once a year according to the instructions in the axle manual.

Perhaps of more importance is the condition of your tow vehicle. Weigh your trailer before you head out on your first full trip, to make sure you aren’t exceeding the safe weight limits of your tow vehicle. Be sure the tires and brakes on your tow vehicle are kept in good working order, since towing a trailer places a higher than normal strain on them.

Poke your head under the hitch receiver on your tow vehicle periodically to make sure everything is secure. Sometimes mounting bolts work loose or frame welds crack. If the hitch comes off your tow vehicle, your trailer is probably a goner.

Propane is a potential safety concern. Don’t travel with the bottles open. If you are in an accident it’s possible the gas lines will rupture, and it would be better to have the bottles closed to keep propane from escaping and catching fire. If you ever smell propane you should close the bottles and investigate for the cause of a leak. On a hot day the tanks can vent extra pressure, which might make you smell propane, but ordinarily the system is completely closed and you should not smell anything.