Towing a trailer can be a worrisome experience, but there’s no need to stress over it. If it’s your first time, you should know that with the right preparation and enough practice, you will get better and more confident at it. Even the best drivers had to start somewhere. Here at Trailer Source, we’ve provided some of the basics for keeping you safe and confident when you’re towing your trailer.
Following these suggestions will definitely help you, but the first step in trailer safety is making sure your RV is in good working condition. For regular maintenance and checkups, stop by one of our locations in Wheat Ridge, Littleton, Erie, and Colorado Springs, Colorado. We also welcome RV owners from Denver.
Follow Government Weight Restrictions
Before you take off, you’ll want to make sure you’re abiding by all government rules and regulations. Specifically, there are weight restrictions for all vehicles that will be easier to accidentally violate when you have the added weight of a trailer. In fact, you should check regulated restrictions before buying your RV so you don’t buy something too big.
You’ll also need to know your gross combined weight ratio (GCWR) which determines the total weight you’ll be packing, including the tow vehicle, the trailer, and all the passengers and cargo you’ll be bringing along. Vehicle manufacturers put a limit on how much weight your vehicle can tow and part of it has to do with the GCWR. After you’ve loaded up and hit the road, stop by the first weigh station you run into to make sure your GCWR is under the limit. Not only will this help you avoid fines, but it will come in handy if you hit roads or bridges with weight restrictions.
Preparation
You should have a standard preparation checklist before every towing trip. This will include basic maintenance and RV checks to ensure that your tow vehicle and RV will safely make the trip. These checks should also happen regularly throughout the year, even during months when your trailer is in storage. After you’ve hitched the trailer, check safety features like mirrors, lights, and tire pressure. It’s good to keep a tire pressure gauge on your RV at all times so you can check tire pressure no matter where you are. Keep in mind, you’ll want to make sure your RV is regularly serviced by professionals like the repair workers at Trailer Source.
You’ll also want to distribute your trailer weight evenly from left to right and appropriately tapered from front to back. Use the 60/40 weight rule: 60% of your trailer weight should be up front near the tongue and 40% should be at the rear. The reverse causes dangerous sway and may cause you to lose control. If there’s any cargo outside the vehicles, make sure it’s tightly secured with straps and marked when necessary. Any object extending more than four feet beyond the trailer needs to be marked with a brightly colored flag.
Relearning the Basics
Driving while towing a vehicle is very different from driving unhitched. Some driving practices you may have learned as a younger driver won’t work for towing. Because of this, you’ll have to relearn certain habits or adjust your driving. Skills like parking, reversing, turning, and braking are all affected by the added weight. The only way to get better at this is to practice.
We recommend you start in an empty parking lot for the least amount of stress when you’re first learning. You can also test out your highway skills on a day or time that has lower traffic levels. Whatever your strategy is, you don’t want your first time towing a trailer to be the day of your big trip. Don’t expect to figure things out along the way. Not only is this unsafe for you, but it puts other drivers at risk, so practice, practice, practice.
Cut Distractions
Distractions are just as dangerous when you’re towing an RV as they are when you’re not. In fact, they might be more so as there’s more bulk and weight to spill into traffic in the event of an accident. Keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road, looking away only to check your surrounding mirrors and dashboard gauges. If you’re traveling with passengers, let them worry about navigation and music. If you’re traveling alone, set this up ahead of time. If you need to adjust something on your controls, pull off safely at the next exit and make all the necessary changes. If you need to eat or rest, pull over. Whatever it is that could pull your attention away from the road, you should pull over to take care of it.
Hopefully, these suggestions give you the means to take that first step to becoming a more confident RV owner. It may seem like a lot at first, but if you take your time preparing and practicing, you’ll be a pro in no time. If you have more questions or need your RV serviced, stop by Trailer Source in Wheat Ridge, Littleton, Erie, and Colorado Springs, Colorado. We also welcome RV owners from Denver.
