Whether you’re hauling a caravan to your favourite camping spot or a boat to the lake, there are many important things to consider when towing a vehicle. Small overlooked details can shift or damage the load you’re pulling, while bigger issues can lead to jackknifing and flipping incidents that put both you and other drivers at risk of injury and property loss.
- Check your tyres
Ensure that the tyres on both your towing vehicle and trailer are properly inflated. Underinflated tyres create more rolling resistance, which forces your engine to work harder and consume more fuel. They also increase tyre temperatures and may contribute to a blowout. Refer to the pressure label located in the driver’s door of your tow vehicle for proper inflation pressures and consult the speed rating on the tyres of your trailer to make sure they are rated for the maximum speed you will be towing at. For advice about Trailer Parts, go to Auto and Trailer
- Check the brakes of your towing vehicle and trailer
When towing a car, both the towing vehicle and the trailer being towed must have functional brakes that can handle the additional weight of the cargo. In addition, regulations require that the lights on a tow vehicle and trailer are functioning and synched up so that when either set of brakes is applied, both sets illuminate at the same time.
If you’re using a tow dolly, be sure to attach the coupler securely to the hitch ball. Then, connect the safety chains to recovery points identified through your owner’s manual on the towing vehicle or dolly frame. Once the chains are secured, check that the tow dolly is seated over the car and not hanging over the lip of the trailer.