10 Beginner Tips For Driving With A Trailer

Trailer towing can be slightly daunting if you're not used to it as the added weight and length may seem like it will have a massive effect on the way that you drive.

Although towing a trailer will alter your driving it shouldn't be too stressful as long as you have all of the relevant information you need before you start.

In this guide, we take a close look at how to safely prepare for a journey with a trailer and also provide some helpful tips on how to adjust your driving so that you know how to tow a trailer in the safest and least stressful way possible.

Things To Consider Before You Start Trailer Towing

Before you learn how to drive with a trailer, there are a few things to check first.

Check your towing capacity

• One of the most important things to check before you start trailer towing is that your vehicle's towing capacity can handle the trailer weight that you intend to tow.
• If the trailer weight exceeds the maximum towing capacity of your vehicle you could be placing yourself in danger by reducing its braking performance and negatively affecting the handling.
• The towing capacity of a specific vehicle can vary depending on drivelines, body styles and bed lengths so make sure that you read the owner's manual so you know exactly what capacity your tow vehicle can handle.
• You should also make sure that you check the gross vehicle weight rating for your tow vehicle and the gross trailer weight rating for your loaded trailer.

Check your trailer's tires

• Before you set off, you need to check that the tires on both your trailer and your tow vehicle are properly inflated to avoid the handling being negatively affected and to reduce the chances of blowouts.
• Trailer towing places more strain on the tires than normal driving and underinflated tires can lead to increased rolling resistance which leads to greater fuel consumption.
• If you're planning a long journey, you should always inspect your spare tires too and make sure that they're inflated to the right level.
• Make sure that your trailer's hub bearings are greased properly and in good working order before you set off as well.

Distribute your load properly

• Keeping your loaded trailer within the maximum weight capacity is vital, but you also need to position your cargo in the correct way. For a conventional hitch trailer, you should position your load so that the tongue weight is between 10% and 15% of the loaded trailer's total weight.
• 60% of the cargo's weight should be in the front half of the trailer, and the weight should be distributed evenly over the right and left sides of the trailer. When you've achieved the right trailer tongue weight and proper load distribution you need to fully secure the load.

Check the trailer brakes

• Just because you're towing a trailer it doesn't necessarily mean you'll have trailer brakes as light trailers may not require them. However, if you're towing a heavy trailer such as a boat trailer you'll need to check your trailer brakes before you set off.
• Whichever type of brakes you have, the most important thing to check is that the breakaway cable is attached to the tow vehicle in case of an emergency.

Check all of your brake lights

• Large trailers will most likely block the tail lights on tow vehicles, so you need to make sure that the tail lights on your trailer are working properly. This ensures you're visible to other vehicles on the road.

Check your trailer hitch

• You also need to check that your trailer hitch can handle the gross trailer weight of your trailer.
• Read the label on your trailer hitch to find out its maximum tongue weight capacity and its maximum trailer weight capacity.

Check your mirrors

• Finally, adjust your side view mirrors so that you have a clear view all the way down to the rear of the trailer.

Driving With A Trailer

Now that you're prepared to start trailer towing and are ready to hit the open road there are several things you'll need to bear in mind when driving with a trailer. Let's take a look at some helpful towing tips that will help you when towing a trailer behind a vehicle.

1. Anticipate

When towing a trailer most aspects of driving take longer to perform and the time it takes for you to brake, turn, change lanes and accelerate will all be affected.

For this reason, one of the best ways to ensure that you tow safely is to pay attention to what is going on on the road even further ahead than you usually would when driving without a trailer.

This will allow you to anticipate actions that you have to take far in advance and will give you more time to react to any hazards.

2. Increase your following distance

How much weight you're towing will affect the amount of time it takes you to brake when towing a trailer; heavier loads will lead to longer braking times. However, even small trailers will significantly increase your braking time when compared to normal driving.

This means that you'll need to increase the following distance that you leave behind other vehicles to give you enough time to brake and avoid collisions. Tailgating when towing a trailer is very dangerous and should always be avoided.

Giving yourself plenty of time to brake and reducing the amount of sudden braking and acceleration will also help to prolong the life of your vehicle.

3. Take your time with turns

Turning while towing a trailer can be tricky even for drivers who are experienced in trailer towing so you'll need to take extra care to make sure that you're turning your trailer correctly.

The main thing to bear in mind is that you need to give yourself a lot more room when taking turns with a trailer and that you need to take turns a lot more widely than usual.

Remember that all curbside hazards like street signs and mailboxes will need to be cleared by the outside edge of your trailer as you turn.

The tires on your trailer will cut the corner more sharply than the tires on your tow vehicle which means they're at a greater risk of making contact with the curbside. This is why it's crucial that you take all turns much wider than you normally would.

4. Take care when changing lanes

When driving on a highway, changing lanes can be challenging even if you're driving without a trailer. If you're trailer towing, this becomes even more difficult as the trailer increases your blind spots making it harder to see traffic in each lane.

As with all maneuvers when towing a trailer, the key is to give yourself more time than you usually would and to perform the maneuver slowly.

Make sure you have plenty of room in the lane you intend to change to and keep your hands firmly on the steering wheel so that you can move back over if you see a vehicle approaching.

Tow mirrors are optional equipment that you should consider as they will increase your view of the road behind you and make it easier to change lanes.

5. Be aware of trailer sway

One of the main hazards of trailer towing is trailer sway. This is where the trailer starts to swing from side to side as you drive which can be very dangerous for you and other drivers. This is mainly caused by high speeds, downhill grades, and crosswinds.

Installing towing equipment such as a trailer hitch stabilization device can help prevent this. Having a separate brake controller for the brakes on your trailer will also give you more control of trailer sway when it happens.

6. Watch your speed

The added weight of a trailer means that your vehicle is going to be burning through more fuel and the best way to reduce this is to drive at moderate speeds.

If you drive too fast, it will increase the risk of trailer sway and will also reduce your gas mileage, increase the wind resistance on your vehicle and cause your vehicle and trailer to strain more.

If you're driving a stick, make sure you shift to low gear when driving on gravel roads or over steep hills. This will reduce the amount of stress that is placed on your engine and transmission. Doing this should also help to increase your gas mileage.

7. Allow more time when passing

As well as taking more time to brake, the extra weight of your trailer will also mean that it takes you a lot longer to accelerate and build up speed than it does when driving normally.

If you intend to pass another vehicle you need to be certain that you have enough room to build up the right amount of speed to complete the pass. You also need to make sure that the rear of your trailer has cleared the other vehicle before you complete the maneuver.

When another vehicle is passing you, you will also have to be patient and allow them enough time to get past the full length of your vehicle and trailer. You should try and avoid passing vehicles on a two-lane road unless it's absolutely necessary.

8. Avoid pulling into tight spaces

Backing up with a trailer is a complicated maneuver so you'll want to try and avoid having to do it any more than you need to. When pulling into a parking lot, you should try and make sure that there's enough room for you to perform a complete turnaround so that you don't have to perform a backup maneuver.

This is especially important if you're towing a large and long trailer as small parking lots may simply be inaccessible.

9. Brake early

The brakes on your trailer and your vehicle are going to be doing a lot of work to deal with the stress that all of the extra weight will be putting on them.

The best way of reducing this is to always give yourself plenty of time to brake so that you stop gradually and easily rather than suddenly. This should help to prolong the lifespan of your trailer and vehicle brakes as stopping gradually will reduce the impact on them.

This is also the safest way to brake when you're towing a trailer and will prevent you from having collisions with other vehicles or objects.

10. Watch out for potholes

Hazards such as large bumps in the road and potholes can be far more damaging when you're towing a trailer rather than driving without one. Hitting a pothole could cause damage to the trailer, the tow vehicle, and the trailer hitch, so you need to be extra careful to avoid them.

Towing Tips For Dealing With Trailer Sway

What to do:

• Keep the steering wheel steady and avoid turning suddenly
• Reduce your speed gradually
• Press the brakes for the trailer only as this should bring the trailer back into line
• If your trailer is consistently swaying then you will need to reload it or add sway control

What not to do:

• Never try to steer out of the trailer sway
• Do not brake suddenly as this could cause the trailer to jackknife
• Don't start driving at a higher speed as this will increase trailer swaying

Things To Check During Stops

• Make sure that the tires on both the tow vehicle and the trailer are still properly inflated
• Check that your load is still fully secured and hasn't moved out of place
• Check that the trailer hitch and coupling are still properly secured
• Make sure that any fastenings and tie-downs on the cargo are still locked and aren't coming loose
• Check that all trailer doors are still securely fastened and haven't started to come open

Equipment For Safe Trailer Towing

Safety chains

To safely attach safety chains you should always cross them underneath the coupler on the tow vehicle or trailer hitch and fasten them securely. Before driving, check that they can't bounce free or wiggle around and that they don't drag along the ground.

You also need to check that they're not too long as this will reduce their safety if another connection fails. They just need to be long enough so that they allow enough give for tight turns.

Sway control

Installing sway controls is the best way to prevent trailer sway when driving as they help to minimize the effects of sudden maneuvers and wind.

Sway controls are particularly effective for trailers with larger surface areas, such as travel trailers, as they apply resistance to both the vehicle and the trailer to prevent swaying. They're also very effective for trailers that have a low tongue weight capacity.

Ball mounts

When you're deciding which type of ball mount you need for your trailer you need to consider the maximum tongue weight and gross trailer weight of your trailer. If you are using a class III ball mount, you'll also need to consider the height of your trailer to make sure that it is level when you're driving.

Weight distribution

If you're planning to tow a trailer that weighs 50% more than your vehicle, then it's recommended that you use a weight distribution system. You'll first need to check that your trailer hitch can support a weight distribution system by reading the label on the hitch.

Weight distribution systems are made with spring bars that are attached to the trailer which distribute the weight and increase the towing capacity of the trailer hitch.

Towing Laws

• It is only legal to tow one trailer at a time with a car
• It is illegal for any people to be inside a trailer whilst it is being towed by a car
• If you're a learner driver you are not legally allowed to tow a trailer

Additional Factors That Affect Trailer Towing

Uneven road surfaces

The suspension on most trailers is far less forgiving than on cars, and uneven surfaces or bumps in the road can quite easily affect the steering and cause your load to shift. If you hit a significantly bumpy section of the road you should pull over and check that your load is still secure.

Headwinds

Strong headwinds will have a greater effect on acceleration than usual when towing a trailer and can cause you to lose speed rapidly. This can be particularly tricky when attempting to pass other vehicles or when driving over hills.

Taller trailers, horse floats, and box trailers will be even more affected by headwinds and will require you to drive very carefully in windy conditions.

Crosswinds

Crosswinds have a significant effect on trailers with high sides and can cause the towing vehicle to move around significantly.

Crosswinds can be temporarily blocked by overtaking vehicles such as other trailers and trucks which can then result in a strong gust of wind once this vehicle has passed.

FAQs

What does GCWR mean when towing a trailer?

GCWR stands for gross combination weight rating which is the maximum combined weight rating of your loaded trailer and loaded vehicle. This is set by the manufacturer and should never be exceeded as this will be a safety risk to you and other drivers.

The GCWR can usually be found on your car's placard or it can be worked out by adding the gross trailer weight to the gross vehicle weight.

Are you allowed to pass other vehicles with a trailer?

You are allowed to pass other vehicles when driving with a trailer just as you would normally. However, you need to be extra careful when passing with a trailer and allow yourself plenty of room so that you can build up speed and complete the maneuver.

You should also remember that your blind spots will be increased by your trailer so you will need to make multiple side mirror checks as you pass.

What is a breakaway cable?

A breakaway cable is a crucial piece of safety equipment that must be applied to your trailer before any journey. If your trailer becomes unhitched whilst you're driving the breakaway will bring the trailer to a halt by applying the trailer brakes.

This should mean that the trailer is stationary by the time the cable disconnects, which will prevent it from drifting into traffic.

Does my trailer have to have lights?

Federal regulations state that all trailers must have turn signals, tail lights, brake lights, and reflectors on them to be legal on the road. Trailers are also required to have red side lights affixed to the back rear.

There are also several states that require you to have a light above the license plate on your trailer so it's important to check state laws before traveling with a trailer.

Final Thoughts

Driving with a trailer requires you to take more care and consideration in certain situations than you would when driving normally and it also means that you need to take more time preparing for your journeys.

However, trailer towing doesn't need to be a stressful experience, and now that you have all of the information and tips you need, you should be able to start towing your trailer with relative ease.

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