People usually look at the size of a trailer, which is bigger than their vehicle itself and they can not realize how the car can possibly tow that trailer. However, even though this type of task seems overwhelming and very challenging, the reality is much different.
The crucial thing you need to think about when it comes to this is that as long as the trailer is within the manufacturer’s recommended towing capacity, you should not worry whether or not your vehicle can handle it. They will never give you wrong instructions and recommendations.
If you are not sure how to hook up a trailer, tow it and park it, you can ask towing experts for help and they are going to show you. This is generally not a complicated task, and once you try it, you will discover that towing is much easier than it seems.
Soon enough you will realize how confident you became to park it as well. In this article, we prepared some of the best towing tips that you should know about.
1. Ask a friend for a help
In general, the most difficult part according to everyone is parking, especially backing up. When it comes to pulling parallel parking, people somehow manage it because it is easy like parking an SUV. When it comes to backing up, a person needs to be completely patient, to look in the mirror and the vehicle placement.
However, it would be extra beneficial to have help from a friend that can guide you. For instance, you should turn left in order to go right when towing. Even though backing up a trailer seems like a challenging task, technology installed such as view cameras and digital monitors will provide a driver a complete view of all obstacles around him in order to make trailer towing as easier as possible.
2. You must know Your Vehicle’s Tow Rating
For those who do not know this information – one trailering acronym stands for UVW which is unloaded vehicle weight. It represents the maximum weight capacity that an axle can carry. For instance, if the vehicle has a UVW of just under 4,000 pounds, you should have in mind that it can tow up to 6,000 pounds plus the weight of its passengers.
Despite these important acronyms, people should also check the GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating), GVW (gross vehicle weight) as well as the GCWR (gross combination weight rating). This will ensure that your loaded vehicle does not carry extra weight that is not according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.
3. Make sure the Vehicle and Trailer Are a Good Match
When you overload the vehicle, you automatically overload the brakes and that is not a good idea since you can put yourself at high risk. You must know the maximum weight which is the weight of the vehicle’s trailer hitch. In the case your trailer tongue comes with a weight that is less than 10% of the fully loaded weight of the trailer, that trailer is going to sway.
Logically, all of this will affect vehicle control. This is very important to understand – if you put too much weight on the tongue, the tow vehicle’s rear tires can be overloaded. As the outcome, you can expect that stopping and handling the vehicle is going to be very difficult. Additionally, all of this comes with more potential damages.
4. Pay attention to the Sway
Keep in mind that you can not allow your trailer to sway, therefore do everything you can so you can effectively avoid trailer sway outcome. You can achieve this goal by placing heavier cargo forwards right in front of the trailer’s axle.
Additionally, we suggest you center the cargo and then tie it down. This is very important since shifting causes sway as well. Just pay attention to balancing the trailer’s weight with the right placement and you will ride peacefully.
5. You must Check the Tires
One more thing that you must do is ensure that tire pressure on both the tow vehicle and the trailer tires meets the required specifications that are set by the manufacturers. In case your tires are not inflated enough, you are risking a lot.
More precisely, this can easily affect handling your controls and cause your tire’s surface to touch the ground. As you can conclude on your own, the outcome that you can expect will refer to more frictions. Your tires can easily overheat and blow out.
However, if you are responsible and you ensure having properly inflated tires on your vehicle, you will be safe and protected. You should pay attention to the tire pressure label that is located on the frame of the driver’s side and find the right amount of inflation pressure for your tires.
After that, you should check the speed rating on the tires for the trailer and your vehicle. In case something still happens on the road, you have no reason to panic since you can contact the professional towing company AjsTowing that are providing 24/7 service.
6. Do not forget to control the Backup Systems
Another thing that you should do is ensure that your emergency breakaway cable is properly attached to the towing vehicle before you start driving. Logically, you do not want something bad to happen. In the case your trailer somehow manages to disconnect from the hitch, the cable will trigger the trailer brakes and make them stop quickly. These cables are designed in that way to alarm the driver.
7. You should always be Prepared
The last thing we want to tell you is to always be extra careful while driving which means that you should constantly watch the road and keep a safe distance between your vehicle and others ones. You should always keep in mind that every time you brake, your vehicle as well as the trailer are pushing forwards more than in the case you are driving just one vehicle. Therefore, keep your speed steady and gradually slow down or accelerate the speed when you need to.