Almost anytime you drive down the road you’re bound to see someone towing a trailer or motorhome of some kind. Whether they’re going on vacation, taking a load to the dump, or moving, it looks so effortless. At least, until it’s your turn to do it and you don’t know how to tow a trailer.
If you’ve never towed a trailer before, you may find yourself nervous, wondering what to do. Don’t stress, almost every first-time tower experiences those feelings. Thankfully, towing is relatively easy, and if you prepare ahead of time, it can also be quite safe. There are a few simple steps you can follow that will have you towing like an expert in no time. If you’re wondering how to tow a trailer, here’s what you need to know!
Choose The Right Trailer
You shouldn’t just use any trailer or buy the cheapest one you find. When preparing to tow, it’s important to make sure you have all the right gear, and that includes a trailer that matches the weight requirements of your truck as well as a few other qualifications.
Factors to consider include things like the size and type of trailer you need, what hitch you should use, what your gross trailer weight capacity is, etc. While you could certainly attempt to research this information on your own, mistakes can be costly on the road. It’s better to reach out to a qualified towing expert like those at GEN Y Hitch to help you determine what trailer you need.
Buy The Right Hitch
Aside from the trailer you’re using, you also need to consider the hitch you’ll be using to tow it. Not all hitches are created equal, and a poorly constructed hitch or one that is simply the wrong size can easily result in a terrible accident.
GEN Y’s hitches are expertly made from high-quality materials and offer benefits not offered by other hitches on the market due to their use of GEN Y’s patented Torsion-Flex technology. Before towing, make sure you have a hitch that’s up for the job.
Create A Checklist
Once you’ve acquired the right trailer and hitch, go over a checklist to make sure that you’re ready to tow. Items to include on your checklist are:
- Tire pressure
- Weather forecast
- Map/directions
- Lights on your trailer such as turn signals, brake lights, etc
- Even weight distribution of your load
While you may feel at times that this checklist is unnecessary or a waste of time, anytime you notice an issue with one of these issues it will have been well worth your time. When towing a heavy load that is potentially thousands of pounds, you are responsible (and liable) for not only your safety but also the safety of the drivers around you. Don’t take chances. Complete the checklist.
Practice How To Tow A Trailer
If you’ve never towed a trailer before, one of the best things you can do is practice. Go back to when you were 16 and learning to drive in an empty parking lot. It’s time to do it all over again. While this may feel embarrassing, practice can go a long way in helping you feel comfortable and learning basic maneuvers such as backing up.
If you’re still uncertain about driving a trailer or have more questions about how to tow a trailer, reach out to a qualified towing expert today for advice.
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