HAVE THE
RIGHT GEAR
Not all
hitches are created equal. Your vehicle’s manual will specify how much weight
your vehicle can tow. You will want to install a hitch receiver that’s
heavy-duty enough to match your vehicle’s gross trailer weight (GTW) and
maximum tongue weight. It’s important to check this even if you’re only
planning to tow a small trailer, as you will also need to factor in the weight
of the trailer’s contents.
TRAILER
SAFETY CHECKLIST
Chains should serve as your hitch’s last
resort. In case the tongue ever loses its grip on the ball, chains will help
keep the trailer from flying off the guardrail into oncoming traffic. Cross
your chains beneath the tongue, that way it’ll land on top of the crossed
chains if it slips free.
Check your trailer-wiring harness. It
should feature an industry-standard plug and socket wiring and color-coding
scheme that makes it easy to connect properly. Prevent corrosion by spraying
the contacts with dielectric grease.
Check the brake battery. Faulty wiring or
lengthy storage can sap juice from electric brakes. Use a testlight or
voltmeter to make sure the battery is in good condition. If it’s not, you’ll
want to hook up an external charger.
Insufficient tongue weight is the most
common reason for swaying trailers. Tongue weight should be about 10 to 12
percent of your total trailer weight.
Inflate tires to the trailer manufacturer’s
recommended cold pressure. Properly inflated tires will run cooler and more
efficiently.
When you hook up your trailer, make sure
that all the lights are working. Simply turn on parking lamps and hazard
flashers to make sure everything is working correctly.
ON THE ROAD
Inspect the
trailer every few hours on the road and every time you stop. Keep in mind that
regardless of how tightly you cranked tie downs, road vibration can loosen
them. Make sure the hitch and wiring remains properly secured. When it comes to
driving with a trailer, the number one thing you can do is have patience. Make
turns and back out of spaces slower than you normally would. The longer your
trailer is, the longer it will take to follow your steering.
