- Find Out What Your Car Can Tow
- Check the Towbar, the Tyres and the Lights
- Make the Trailer Visible and Secure
- Be Ready for a Safe Trip
Even a perfectly working car might struggle with a heavy load, potentially worn-out towing gear, and restricted visibility. Find out how to check the towing capacity of your car, examine the trailer, and ensure you have the necessary safety gear. For example, a warning board for trailers and caravans can also help other drivers see an oversized load more easily, where required by law.
Find Out What Your Car Can Tow
Before you even buy a car that you might want to tow with, you need to make sure you’re allowed to. A car’s engine size doesn’t directly equate to its ability to pull a load. Look in the car’s manual and other documentation to find the maximum permitted trailer weight for both braked and unbraked trailers. You’ll also want to know the car’s maximum legal capacity for both gross train weight and its own gross vehicle weight.
This is even more crucial for used cars. The previous owner might have gone over the car’s limits in the past, and wear and tear can reduce performance. Have the car’s brakes, steering, suspension, tyres, and cooling system checked before you attach anything, and if there’s a towbar on the car, make sure it’s the right one for the car and doesn’t have any corrosion or damage. Make sure you’re actually allowed to tow, you’ll need a suitable licence and should check your government’s rules around towing. These will vary depending on the weight of the trailer and the licence required, too, and whether it’s braked or not.
Check the Towbar, the Tyres and the Lights
The thing that’s stopping your trailer from crashing into the back of your car should be your main focus. Now take a look at the tyres on the car and the trailer. Other than the usual damage and wear, check for things like mismatched tyres or sizes, and less than 1.6 mm of tread depth, especially on the towing vehicle.
Making sure the trailer is wired up properly is crucial, too. Make sure you’ve connected the electrics correctly, then get a friend to help you check the registration plate light, rear lights, indicator, brake and hazard lights. Lastly, you’ll want to look for any dashboard light warnings about your lights and check the brakes, if applicable. Also, make sure the handbrake works, as does the breakaway system, where fitted, before driving.
Make the Trailer Visible and Secure
Think about the load itself. Keep cargo and equipment weight distributed evenly, place heavy objects as close as possible to the trailer axle, and make sure everything is secured so it can’t move around during travel. An unsteady load can interfere with a trailer’s handling, particularly when you turn corners or come to a stop, so be careful to prevent any problems. Don’t exceed the categorical gross mass of the trailer, and try not to load a trailer’s towball mass with more than its approved weight. Finally, make sure everything is correctly closed, locked, and attached doors, storage containers, any other exterior parts or equipment and in good condition before you take to the road.
Be Ready for a Safe Trip
Line up your mirrors so you can see vehicles next to and behind the trailer. If you want to, you can also expand your view by using towing mirrors, which aren’t included in your main mirror set. Have a sighting plan to be sure these mirrors fit the bill for your towing vehicle.
Think about route planning based on your trailer’s weight and size. It’s possible that some small sections of road, bridges, hills, and corners may be difficult or impossible to use with the trailer attached. Give yourself more time to reach your destination, particularly if you are a newer driver towing a trailer. Keep more distance between you and the car in front, brake a little earlier and more gently, slow down as far as you can before you turn, don’t turn too sharply, and monitor the weather. If clouds are getting black overhead, maybe pull over and park until the bad stuff goes away. Walk around your trailer and your towing vehicle before you hook up. Make sure the safety of the coupling device is fixed in the locked position, the device is locked to the road-vehicle drawbar, etc., the safety chains/cables are clipped to the towing vehicle, the jockey wheel (if applicable) is raised, the load is stable, and all lights and beacons are still working. You’ll prevent whatever catastrophe from befalling you later with a few minutes of forethought now.
Driving is different when you’re towing a trailer. Your acceleration and braking capabilities will be diminished, and you’ll feel crosswinds more than you usually do. Keep more distance between your car and the one ahead, brake and steer gently to avoid accidents, use signals for turns earlier than normal, and make the effort to check for traffic in mirrors and over your shoulder as you drive. Make sure your trailer’s lights and your warning equipment are still functional and check them as needed over time. By doing all this and a few other things as needed, you can make a big trip somewhere safe and smooth (and fun) with your trailer hitched.
