Trailer Towing Guide
Trailers are an indispensable part of any hauling operation. Whether you’re looking to haul vehicles, equipment, boxes, crates or machinery, a trailer provides you with a safe and stable platform for transporting goods over hundreds or even thousands of miles.
However, it’s important that you take the time to learn how to tow your trailer safely to avoid damage to the trailer and its contents or your towing vehicle. You also need to be mindful of your own safety and the safety of other drivers around you on the road. Connecticut Trailers, located in Bolton, is your New England trailer dealer. Read on to learn how to safely tow a loaded trailer on the highway.
Choose the Right Equipment
Before you can tow anything, you’re going to need to make sure that you have the right towing equipment on hand. This includes your trailer and your towing vehicle, as well as the hitch, towing chains, lights and brakes. Your towing vehicle needs to be able to handle the full weight of the trailer and its contents, whether that’s moving boxes, power equipment or a whole car. The trailer should not be overloaded past its hauling capacity. Both vehicle and trailer need to be in good condition with aired-up tires and functional signals and brakes.
The hitch should be capable of handling the weight of the trailer as well, and it should work with both your towing vehicle and its trailer. Towing chains are a necessary precaution to keep the trailer connected should your hitch fail.
Hitch Up Your Trailer
You’ll want to refer to your hitch’s owner’s manual to ensure that you’re correctly using it. Double-check all of your connections, from the coupler to the wiring for brakes and lights. Anchor your safety chains to the corners of your rear bumper and cross them underneath the tongue of the hitch to hook them to the trailer. Test the signals and brakes before you depart.
If you are new to towing a trailer, you may need to put in some practice in an empty lot to ensure that you are comfortable with the weight and length of your trailer. You'll want to practice reversing, turning, braking and parking with the trailer in tow, as these can present challenges.
Be mindful of whether or not you are able to see through your rear-view mirror. Some flatbed trailers with a low-clearance load can allow you to use your rear-view mirror, but enclosed trailers or very high-clearance payloads make this impossible, so you’ll have to rely more heavily on your side-view mirrors instead.
Increase Following Distance
When you’re on the highway, make sure to leave more distance between yourself and other drivers on the road. Your trailer and its payload make your vehicle heavier; thus, you will need more time to slow down and bring the setup to a complete stop if you need to hit the brakes. Go five to ten miles below the posted speed limit, avoid changing lanes and try to brake as far in advance as possible.
Scan Ahead For Obstacles
You’ll also need to be vigilant when it comes to watching the road ahead. Because you cannot move your vehicle and trailer as quickly, you’ll want to make sure you’re aware of what’s happening with traffic. Watch for brake lights, swerving drivers, construction, and animals or people in the road. Be prepared to react to a sudden shift in traffic flow.
Control Trailer Sway
Finally, you’ll want to do what you can to reduce the risk of trailer sway. Trailer sway occurs when winds buffet your trailer from side to side and cause it to swerve into other lanes, which in turn can drag your vehicle to one side or the other. If you feel your trailer sway, try to apply the trailer brakes slowly as you reduce your speed. If winds are very high, you may need to pull over to let them pass. You can also get a hitch stabilization device that helps to reduce trailer sway.
We hope this guide helps you to haul safely! If you’re in need of a trailer, browse our website to see the full selection of new and used trailers we have for sale at our Bolton, CT, dealership. Connecticut Trailers proudly serves the city of Hartford, CT, and all of New England.