How to Tow a Trailer Safely
10 Common-Sense Trailer Towing Tips
Let's begin with proper trailer towing practices.
1. Choose the right equipment
Having the right tool for the job is paramount in towing. The weight capacity of your vehicle and equipment must be enough to handle your trailer and cargo load.
The size of your hitch and other components is also key to ensuring a secure fit.
2. Hitch up your trailer correctly
Before towing, make sure you have followed the proper procedures for hooking up your trailer. Double check all connections, including the coupler and wiring, and make sure your safety chains are crossed under the trailer tongue and securely connected.
3. Allow plenty of stopping distance
You need to increase your following distance when towing a trailer. This means increasing the amount of space between you and the vehicle in front of you. It takes longer to stop with a trailer than it does with your vehicle alone.
Also, it will help prolong the life of your vehicle if you can avoid sudden acceleration, braking and maneuvering.
4. Anticipate problems ahead
The leading cause of accidents both in towing and in normal driving situations is driver error. Some of the main reasons people get into accidents is because they are not paying attention, they are driving too fast, they are tailgating the person in front of them and so on.
Since it takes longer to accelerate, stop, change lanes and turn with a trailer, scan the road ahead farther than you normally would. You can see many problems developing a long way off.
Observe traffic flow and be ready to react if needed.
5. Watch out for trailer sway
Crosswinds, large trucks, downhill grades and high speeds can all lead to trailer sway. If you are not careful, your trailer can start swinging back and forth like a pendulum behind you. The best way to address this problem is with some kind of hitch stabilization device.
If you experience trailer sway, you can also take your foot off the gas and manually apply the trailer brakes with a brake controller. Press the button once and your trailer should align with your tow vehicle.
6. Be extra careful when changing lanes
Changing lanes on a highway is a challenge, even when you’re not towing. With a trailer, your blind spots increase, and you can't accelerate as quickly. When changing lanes with a trailer, make sure you have plenty of space and move slowly from one lane to the other.
You can also install tow mirrors to increase your view.
7. Be patient when passing
While towing, you have to allow more distance and time when passing another vehicle or being passed by a vehicle. Passing on a two-lane road should almost never happen. Make sure you have plenty of room to get your vehicle safely up to speed with the trailer in tow.
When being passed by another driver, be patient and remain calm, even if they don't return the favor.
Relax! You'll reach your destination soon enough!
8. Stop gradually whenever possible
Towing a trailer requires extra work from your brakes. You can help prolong the life of your vehicle and trailer brakes by easing into stops as much as possible. Anticipate stops and begin braking sooner than normal.
It is also important to keep your trailer brakes properly adjusted and your brake controller calibrated.
9. Don't drive in if there's no way out
It is easy to get stuck or blocked in with a trailer. For example, you might pull into a small parking lot easy enough, but to get out, you'll have to perform a complicated backup maneuver.
Make sure wherever you pull into that there's plenty of space to make a complete turnaround. Choosing a parking spot that's farther away may be the best option.
10. Keep your towing setup secure
Trailer theft is a serious problem and is always unexpected. A trailer left unattended on its own or even coupled can easily be uncoupled and stolen while you are away.
Use a hitch lock to keep your trailer hitch secure and a coupler lock to keep your coupler protected against theft.
Post time: Jan-07-2022