This tow guide is good for any very first time trailer owner, along with seasoned veterans looking for a refresher. It offers some of the very helpful details about trailering because it is published by industry professionals -- your very own CURT team!
1. Choose the best equipment
Having the best tool for the work is paramount in towing. The weight capacity of your vehicle and equipment should be enough to take care of your trailer and cargo load.
The size of your hitch and other components is also key to ensuring a safe fit.
Learn more about selecting the most appropriate towing equipment or research your vehicle to discover a receiver hitch.
2. Hitch up your trailer correctly
Before towing, make sure you have followed the proper procedures for hooking up your trailer. Check all connections, such as the coupler and wiring, and make sure your safety chains are crossed underneath the trailer tongue and securely connected.
3. Allow a lot of stopping distance
You'll need to increase your following distance when towing a trailer. This means increasing the total amount of space between you and the car facing you. It will take longer to prevent with a trailer than it will with your vehicle alone.
Also, it can help prolong the life of your car or truck if you're able to avoid sudden acceleration, braking and maneuvering.
4. Anticipate problems ahead
The leading reason for accidents both in towing and in normal driving situations is driver error. Some of the significant reasons people enter accidents is since they're not paying attention, they're driving too fast, they're tailgating the individual facing them and so on.
Since it will take longer to accelerate, stop, change lanes and turn with a trailer, scan the street ahead farther than you normally would. You can see many problems developing quite a distance off.
Observe traffic flow and prepare yourself to react if needed.