Towing Tips

Pulling a camper, horse trailer, off-road vehicle or any other trailer can be a fun and economical way to move your favorite items around. But towing a trailer requires a different set of driving techniques. Without special care taken you and your family could get hurt. Before you set out on the road, be aware of some of the potential risks and how to avoid problems. Once you understand the special nuances of towing a trailer, you can tow with greater confidence, safety and enjoyment.

Potential Problems To Be Aware Of:

• Towing too large of trailer can overwork load-pulling components of your vehicle such as it's engine, transmission and wheel assemblies. Premature transmission failure is a common problem cause by improper towing techniques and maintainence. Damage caused by towing may not be covered under your vehicle warranty.
• Handling characteristics change dramatically while towing a trailer. Maneuvers take more time and precision and going around corners and turning require special care. The sluggish handling means you won't be able to make the same type of sudden evasive manouvers like you would be able to under normal driving circumstances should you encounter sudden obstacles.
• Braking distance can increase 3 - 4 times more than normal increasing the risk of rear ending other vehicles. In addition, turning around corners requires special care or you could end up in a ditch.
• Rear warning lights often fail or don't work properly creating a situation where other drivers may not be aware of your braking or turning intentions. Trailer lights require regular attention.
• Trailer brakes (if your trailer is so equiped) may require adjusting to function safely and properly.
• Trailer hitches and ball hitches need to be properly selected, fitted and installed. They must be frequently inspected to prevent the possibility of your trailer from coming unhitched.

Driving Tips

If you have never towed a trailer before, you may be suprised how different a vehicle handles with a trailer behind it. Braking and cornering require more room, time and foresight than normal. The handling usually feels sluggish at first, almost like driving in mud. To get used to the new handling characteristics, it's a very good idea take a few minutes to practice first. Hook the trailer up and practice turning, stopping and backing in an area away from taffic until you get the feel of it. Start with the trailer empty, then, try it again with it loaded. It's fun and you'll look great towing that new trailer around.

• Before starting out, check operation of vehicle and trailer lights and all vehicle-trailer connections. Make sure the chains are tight and cannot fall off. After driving a short distance, stop and recheck the lights and connections. Trailer lights require a lot of surveylance and maintenance.
• Start out slowly. Avoid putting unnecessary stress on your vehicle and trailer by avoiding jerky starts or sudden acceleration. If your vehicle has a manual transmission, prevent excessive clutch slippage by keeping engine rpm low and not racing the engine as you take off. Always start out in in the lowest gear. Once you get moving, shift the transmission at higher rpms than you normally would (manual transmission).
• If your vehicle has an automatic transmission, start out slowly and allow the transmission to shift at a higher rpm than normal. It will probably do so automatically. If the engine seems to be running at an excessive rpm, let off the accelerator for a moment and let the transmission shift into the next gear. Allowing the transmission to shift at higher rpms will significantly reduce strain on your transmission and engine.
• Avoid jerky steering and quick, sharp turns. Make smooth, wide arching turns. If you turn too sharp, the trailer could hit the rear corner of your vehicle. Sharp turns significantly wears the tires on tandem axle trailers. Don't brake around corners, slow down BEFORE making a turn to avoid the possibility of the trailer pushing the rear end of your tow vehicle to one side or another, especially if your trailer does not have brakes.
• Do not use fifth gear (manual) or overdrive (automatic), unless you have a very small trailer and load.
• Braking. Your trailer rig may require 3 to 4 times more distance to stop than normal. Stopping distances increase the more weight you tow. Therefore you must plan each and every stop ahead of time. Always watch the road ahead of you and be on the look-out for potential dangers and obstacles.
• Downshift before coming to a stop. Repeated braking or riding the brakes down long grades may heat the brakes up to the point where they loose some braking power. Avoid this by slowing down and shifting down into a lower gear and using the braking power of the engine to help slow you down.
• Avoid stop and go traffic where vehicles may pull in front of you and suddenly stop - rear ending someone could be a real threat and ruin your day.
• Never brake around corners. The tendancy of most trailers is to plow straight ahead which tends to push the rear end of your tow vehicle sideways as you brake around a corner. Breaking too hard around a corner could cause your rig to jack-knife.
• When making a turn, especially sharp turns like entering fuel stations, hotels and sity streets, the trailer wheels will be closer to the inside of the turn. Compensate for this by making wider than normal turns.
• Take special care in rain and particularly on wet asphault where tire adhesion may be significantly reduced.
• Passing. Avoid passing other vehicles on single lane highways. Passing requires considerably more distance than under normal circumstances. After passing a vehicle, do not forget the length of your trailer. Also, be sure you have plenty of room before changing lanes.
• Beware of crosswinds and rough roads, they will adversely affect the handling of your vehicle and trailer. Particular wind concerns include going over long bridges and overpasses and being passed by semi-trucks and busses. If conditions are right, aerodynamic effects caused by large passing trucks on a windy day can cause you trailer to sway radically. Prepare yourself for being passed by migrating towards the edge of the road (furthest away from the upcoming tk.), reduce your speed by letting up the accelerator and keep a firm grip on the steering wheel. If necessary make subtle, not wild, steering corrections. Once the vehicle has passed, the vehicle and trailer will stabilize.
• Overheating. Due to the added load of the trailer, your vehicle's engine may overheat on hot days or when going up long or steep grades with a trailer. Avoid using the air conditioning on hot days.While you are towing, keep a watchful eye on your vehicle's temperature gague. If the engine temperature gauge climbs and you have the air conditioning on, turn it off and see if it stabilizes. You can also turn on the heater and fan on high to cool the engine down. If the engine temperature gauge get's into the "hot" zone, find a safe spot to pull off the road and allow the vehicle to cool down.
• Mechanical failures. The added stress of towing a trailer seems reveals weak mechanical components on older vehicles in short order. Weak belts break, fragil transmissions begin slipping and oil and coolant leaks seem to spring up out of nowwhere. Most of these problems can be prevented by having your vehicle thuroughly inspected before setting out with your trailer. Get a good tune-up and replace any questionable components. If you have a truck and your rear end seal is a little wet, it's a good bet that it'll be a lot wetter halfway into your trip - change it. It's cheaper to do it before you leave than be broken down in the middle of nowhere. Even then, while you are out towing, make regular inspections as you fuel up or stop to eat. One good way to check for oil leaks is to check for oil spots on the back of your vehicle or front of trailer.
• Backing up with a trailer is difficult and requires practice and extra care. Have someone guide you when backing to reduce the risk of an accident.
• When you are not towing, make sure you are always parked on relatively flat terrain. If you must park on an incline, park 90 degrees to the incline to prevent the trailer and vehicle from rolling. Always place wheel blocks by the vehicle and trailer wheels. If you don't have wheel blocks, use a suitable piece of wood or a nearby rock. Apply the parking brake as well.