How to Tow a Trailer
Certain outdoor activities, like boating and camping, require you to bring numerous equipment, meaning you need to have a trailer along with your vehicle. Before you proceed, you should first learn how to properly tow your trailer. Here’s how to do it.
What You’ll Need:
Trailer
Vehicle
Companion
Procedure:
Make a thorough check of the vehicle. You must make sure that all parts of the trailer are in goodc condition. Make sure you also have a ball and a hitch that are of the same size. These can either be 1 7/8 inch, 2 inch or 2 5/16 inch.
trailer towing
Find the tongue of the trailer, found at the front, and check that the load’s balance is not too heavy. If the gravity’s center is too far forward on the trailer, whiplashing can occur. The trailer will put too much weight on your vehicle’s back, affecting your braking and steering.
Carefully attach the trailer to your vehicle. First, make sure that the hitch lock is unlocked, as you lower the trailer on the ball. Once the trailer’s tongue is on the ball, lock in place. Then, put a padlock or bolt through the ball lock mechanism, so it won’t accidentally open.
Attach safety chains to the hooks found near the hitch of the vehicle frame. Make sure there’s enough slack in the chains, but not too much, so they won’t drag on the ground.
Using the tongue jack, see if you can raise the tongue off the ball carefully. If you’re able to do this, it’s either the ball isn’t properly locked or the tongue and ball sizes don’t match. In this case, replace the ball with the appropriate size. Try again.
Finish raising the jack, so you get maximum clearance. Afterwards, attach the lights using the wiring harness.
Ask your companion to check if your lights are working properly. Ask him to stand behind the trailer and watch as you tap the brakes, and take a left and right turn signal alternately.
Secure the trailer’s load. This will prevent things from flying out of your trailer and causing damage.
While you’re on the road, reduce your usual driving speed. Make it wider when going around corners, because the trailer usually swings in a shorter arc than your car.
Brake and accelerate carefully. As you drive, give yourself extra space, like you’re driving on snow or ice.
It can be difficult to back a trailer at first. When you turn your steering wheel, expect that the trailer goes to the opposite direction. Always back slowly, making small corrections. Use the side mirrors as your guide.
Outdoor trips become more manageable if you have a trailer. Learn how to tow it properly, so you’ll know you and your equipment are safe while riding on the open road.