Trailer Towing Safety Tips For Drivers

Essential trailer towing safety tips can mean the difference between a successful road trip and a breakdown or a serious accident. Hauling a trailer requires hitch knowledge and skillful driving techniques perfected over time. Follow these guidelines when practicing trailer towing safety.

Check Connections Before Departure

The hitch should be properly connected, with two chains attached diagonally from the trailer to the vehicle. If the electrical wiring was connected correctly, the brake lights and directional signals should all work.

Set Aside Time for Practice

If you do not have a wealth of experience, allow yourself driving practice in an empty parking lot before entering a busy road. Before driving on a highway with tunnels and bridges, write down the trailer’s clearance and keep it inside the vehicle for reference.

Handling Techniques

One of the most important parts of towing a trailer is the speed at which you drive. Never accelerate quickly or maintain a high speed over the local limit. Ease your vehicle onto the highway at the speed of traffic, but never exceed more than a moderate pace. At high speeds, the trailer is more likely to sway and rock behind the vehicle. This contributes to instability, causing it to drift into adjacent lanes, endangering other motorists. Additionally, it is harder to come to a sudden stop. Keep the overall speed low, and you will reduce the chance of a rear-end accident.

Maneuvering Tips

When passing another vehicle, ensure you have enough space between the back of the trailer and the front of the other car before signaling and entering the lane in front of them. Do not pass on steep inclines. It will tax your vehicle’s engine to climb a hill while passing, or your vehicle may accelerate dangerously on a decline while passing. On narrow roads, beware of the road shoulder. If the trailer’s tires suddenly hit soil rather than pavement, it may jackknife and cause you to lose control of the vehicle.

Backing Up and Parking

Trailer movement is sensitive when backing up. Only adjust the steering wheel slightly. Make no extreme directional turns. If possible, always post a guide to direct you in reverse since your vehicle’s mirrors have insufficient sightlines with a trailer attached. Do not park on an incline. The weight of the trailer may cause your vehicle’s transmission to become stuck in the park position. If you must park on a hill, place blocks of wood behind your trailer wheels. Turn on the emergency parking brake, shift the gears into park, then take your foot off the brake – in that order. This will minimize the risk of a seized transmission.

Accident and Breakdown Prevention

Always closely follow all manufacturer trailer towing recommendations and use caution when navigating roads. If your vehicle’s hitch breaks or the load becomes too much for the engine to handle and it begins to smoke, call a tow truck right away. An ordinary towing agency may have to tow your vehicle and your trailer separately, but a team with a full fleet of heavy-duty towing machines can transport both to the location you desire.

Call Stauffer’s Towing if you need a fast vehicle and trailer towing service. As Utah’s most proficient towing company, they have the equipment needed to assist all motorists, and they will offer reliable advice on trailer towing safety from their own experience.