How to tow?

Answer 1

Well, here is a basic run down on towing (most of this is brought out in the OM) -

1.) Make sure your vehicle has at least 500 miles on it before towing (most manufacturers will say this in the owner's manual) This is so the parts can get properly run in.

2.) Make sure your vehicle is in good condition - tires properly inflated, no mechanical problems (electrical, engine, chassis, transmission, etc.), and stable.

3.) Make sure you know your vehicle's ratings and weight capacities. Exceeding your towing/payload capacity can be a safety issue to both you and others on the road. It will also cause premature wear on parts/components.

4.) Make sure you have the right hitch for the load that you are going to be pulling. In order to do this, make sure you know how much the load weighs in the first place.

5.) Always have at least 15% tongue weight. For example: let's say that your trailer weighed about 1500lbs. You would then need to make sure that 225lbs (which is 15 percent of 1500) was distributed on the hitch. If you do not do this, your trailer may sway uncontrollably and cause a catastrophe.

6.) Make sure your trailer is hooked up properly and your load is secured. For this, I would recommend asking somebody with a lot of towing experience to show you how to hook up a trailer. Simply telling you is not good enough.

7.) Make sure that your trailer brakes are in working order. This will ensure that your vehicles brakes won't wear prematurely. It will also provide a safer and faster stop.

8.) Make sure to wear your seatbelt (which is sound advice anytime) and make sure to drive slower than you would w/out a trailer. This does not mean that you have to drive ten miles per hour in a fifty miles per hour zone. It just means driver a little slower and be cautious.

9.) Make wide turns around corners and bends. When you are towing a trailer, your overall/combined length between the vehicle and trailer is a lot longer, so making short turns can cause you to run over a curb or hit someone/something in another lane/area.

10.) Do a little practice in an area where there is no cars (maybe a larger parking lot if you can find one). That way, you can get used to how your vehicle handles a load, and how a trailer handles turns and sudden stops. Also, practice backing up at different angles. Backing up a trailer can be difficult.

YOU HAVE THE BASICS, BUT NOW YOU NEED SOME EXPERIENCE - HAVE FUN!