What's the Best Way to Safely Tow a Trailer? Simple Answer
To be honest, I'm somewhat new to trailer hitch and towing safety. However, I do own a truck and have been towing boats, trailers, and various types of water sports vehicles as a consumer for quite sometime. And considering the amount of money I'm about to spend on a new boat, it's worth it to protect my investment. So, I've been researching the best way to safely tow a trailer. Well... what is the best way to safely tow a trailer?
Start with a good trailer hitch safety system. Then, learn to drive while towing a trailer. Practice is important. Always allow extra stopping distance and exercise patience when driving. And remember, never pull in somewhere that you will potentially get stuck. You aren't in a small maneuverable care anymore.
1. Start with a Hitch Safety System that Prevents Both Accidents and Theft
If you look at the statistics, you will see that it's much more likely that whatever you're towing will get stolen than come of the hitch on the highway. However, there's an awesome towing device that will prevent both.
The Safety Tow anti-theft and towing safety device is absolutely worth the money and is easy to install. Once you see how it works, it's obviously the best option out there to completely protect your investment. It closes underneath your hitch and you can lock it in place.
2. Learn to Drive While Towing
There's a reason that they have school for truck drivers now. Driving while towing a vessel is much different than just driving a car. You have more axles, carry more weight, and are much longer.
One of the best ways to learn is to practice. I would recommend that you hitch up your trailer (or whatever you are towing), and practice in a parking lot to start with. Try driving both forward and backward. Practice using your mirrors. And definitely practice parking. One of the hardest things to learn when you first start towing is "backing in." Definitely practice backing your trailer into a spot until you get good at it.
3. Allow Extra Stopping Distance When Towing
You would think that this would be an obvious point. However, there's enough accidents on the road from this that it is definitely worth mentioning. Always allow extra stopping space in front of you when you are towing something. Much more than you normally would without.
With the extra weight, it takes much longer to stop. Also, you never know when someone is going to speed around you and cut you off. Be patient and drive defensively.
4. Don't Drive Anywhere You Might Get Stuck
When you are towing something, you can't just park in a regular parking space... ever. So you are always having to be creative in how you park when you stop. Never drive into a place that you can't easily back out of. When you park, try to park somewhere that you can just pull forward to get out.
This goes for backroads and bridges as well. Never take a route that you are too wide for and avoid dead ends. If you ever need to pull off on the side of the road, be sure to avoid ditches and low, uneven areas.