Some of the most fun you can have involves hitching up a trailer and driving off into the sunset. Hauling a trailer isn't for the faint of heart though. It pays to be prepared. Whether you're heading to the lake or hitting the dirt track or heading off to the job site, here are our trailer towing suggestions so you can tow like a pro.
Whether you’ve been hauling large trailers for years or you’re about to embark on your first family vacation with a small travel trailer, towing isn’t something to be taken lightly.
To pull a trailer behind another automobile, a driver needs to develop a whole new set of skills. Just the process of hitching and unhitching a trailer from a tow automobile requires know-how and several steps, and forgetting even one crucial element in the process could compromise safety.
We talked to industry experts and chief mechanic and towing master, and consulted the National Highway Traffic Security Administration’s trailer towing guideline to compile a list of things all towers should think about before they hit the road. We delve into key tasks that should be part of any pretowing checklist and finish up with some driving tips to help towing adventures go more smoothly and safely.
Be sure to check out our primer on towing, a rundown of the tow ratings for the most common compact and full-sized pickups about dealer lots, and more on the construction needed to achieve optimum tow capacities.
With these towing tips, you can obtain convenient with towing and boost your know how, too:
1 . Get a Minor Help from a pal
The virtually all challenging part, for me, is parking, especially burning. Pulling right into a parallel car parking space is really as easy as car parking an SUV. However , burning takes a little patience, sensible mirror positioning, and the guiding palm of an individual you trust that will help you. It’s a lttle bit like playing pool area when you want going to the light cue ball into one ball as a way to tap another (how’s your geometry nowadays? ). My towing instructor instructed me to turn left to proceed right, and that made no sense to me until I tried it myself.
2 . Know Your Vehicle’s Tow Rating
One trailering acronym to know is UVW (Unloaded Automobile Weight), which is the maximum weight capacity that an axle will carry. For example, the Wolf Pup Travel Trailer by Forest River ( made in my hometown! ) has an UVW of just under 4, 000 pounds. Nissan’s Pathfinder can tow up to 6, 000 pounds plus the weight of its passengers.
3. Ensure the Vehicle and Trailer Are a Good Match
Overloading the vehicle means overloading the brakes, and that is a definite no-go. Knowing the maximum tongue weight is important, too; that’s the quantity of excess weight on the vehicle’s trailer hitch.
4. Stop the Sway
You don’t want your trailer to sway to the music or otherwise: to avoid trailer sway, place heavier cargo forward, in front of the trailer’s axle. Also center the cargo and tie it down, because shifting causes sway too. Balance the excess weight of the trailer with the placement and you’ll have a smooth ride.
5. Check the Tires
Ensure the tire pressure on both your tow vehicle and your trailer tires meet the specifications set by the manufacturer. Under-inflated tires will negatively affect handling and causes more of the tire’s surface to touch the ground. The result is more friction, which means the tires are more likely to overheat and blow out. You’ll get better fuel economy with properly-inflated tires, too.
Take a look at the tire pressure label (usually on the frame on the driver’s side ) to find the correct inflation pressures intended for your vehicle. Then check the velocity rating on the tires for the trailer and your vehicle, and stick a Post-it between your steering steering wheel, if you want to, to remind you to ultimately stay under that max swiftness.
6. Check the Back up Systems
Make certain the emergency breakaway wire is mounted on your towing auto before you drive apart. If the trailer in some way disconnects from the hitch, this cable is built to result in the trailer brakes and prevent it quickly. Think about the emergency cable as an emergency cord on a fitness treadmill - if it disconnects, it'll prevent the trailer quickly.
7. Always be Prepared
Pay attention watching the street a few cars in advance to anticipate any abrupt braking ahead. Each time you brake, your automobile and trailer press you forward a lot more than if you’re merely driving the vehicle alone, consequently you’ll want to be sure your speed is regular and any acceleration and slowdowns happen to be gradual, whenever you can.
It should get without saying, but just a little reminder won’t harm: let another person conduct the DJing for the music and answering the telephone. Keep your eye and practical the wheel and revel in the ride.