Know Before You Tow:
Steps to Follow Before You Hook Up Your Trailer and Get on the Road

When you’re packing a trailer for a big move or attaching your SUV to your motor home before you go on vacation, ensure safety before you tow.

Before You Travel

Seasoned towers pay attention to key details before they even get on the road. Here are a few things to help you get started:

• • Know the capacity of your lead vehicle. Now’s the time to read your RV or pickup manual and pay special attention to the section on towing. Always follow your vehicle’s towing capacity. Forgetting this detail may compromise your safety, or even cause more wear and tear on your engine during your trip and long after.
• • Choose the right hitch. Now’s the time to read your RV or pickup manual and pay special attention to the section on towing.. Even if you have everything hooked up properly, you won’t get very far if your hitch isn’t appropriate for the task.
• • Load the smart way. Now’s the time to read your RV or pickup manual and pay special attention to the section on towing.. It may seem obvious, but it helps to put over half of your cargo weight in front so you distribute its weight evenly, and make sure you have the proper tongue weight. Know your legal load limits and follow them! For open-air trailers, be sure to effectively tie down your load.
• • Conduct thorough trailer tests. Now’s the time to read your RV or pickup manual and pay special attention to the section on towing.. Carefully inspect your hitch connections, and make note of electrical hook-ups to brake lights and other signals. Keep your tires well-inflated, and double check all fluid levels, just as you’d do with your main vehicle.

When Taking a Test Drive

If you don’t have a lot of experience with trailer towing, it’s imperative that you take the time to practice, preferably in a low-traffic area. Here are a few things to try:

• • Take time to adjust your side-view mirrors for optimum visibility. Extended-view side mirrors are helpful for seeing in back of your trailer.
• • Use a low-traffic roadway to practice acceleration and slow-downs. Gently press the brake to test stopping distance at a given speed.
• • Go slowly! Even when you get more confident, remember, your stopping times are much longer than when driving only one vehicle. Stay safe and avoid the dangers of fishtailing or flipping.
• • Be sure to signal well in advance before you change lanes. This gives vehicles behind you or beside you ample time to note your intentions, and keeps everyone safer.
• • Consider down-shifting to cut speed and save wear and tear on brakes.
• • Practice parking in more than one parking situation (parallel or parking lot) to be sure you are safe with other cars around you. It’s very helpful to have someone step out of the vehicle to help guide you during parking.

For the Long Haul

By following Hitch City's towing reminders, you and your cargo will more easily reach your destination, and you’ll keep travel safe for everyone else on the road, too. Happy towing, and stay safe for the long haul!