Towing Guide: 4 Crucial Tips for Inspecting Your Trailer

25 February 2019
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Towing a trailer can be a daunting process. Therefore, if you are planning on hauling a load, you should consider choosing a specialist towing company for the work. However, if you own a trailer or are intending to build one, it is more feasible to learn how to tow a rig. In general, towing a trailer is not complicated if you are cautious and conscientious. Most problems arise because of inadequate preparation before a towing trip. If you do not check your trailer and ensure that it is safe for use, you will experience handling problems and other road hazards. Here are tips to help you check up on your trailer rig and avoid unfortunate incidents.

1. Check the Tyre Pressure 

You should always check on the trailer's tyre pressure before taking a trip. Often, people focus on the pressure of the vehicle tyres and neglect to confirm that the trailer is also at optimal levels. You must remember that the trailer tyres will be supporting considerable weight. If the tyres are over or underinflated, the risk of an accident will be higher. In addition, poor pressure will decrease fuel efficiency and increase vehicle strain.

2. Test the Trailer Brakes

Trailer brakes are indispensable for a safe towing trip. Therefore, when setting up your rig, it is important to install separate brakes for your trailer. The auxiliary brakes will help in stopping the rig more efficiently. In simple terms, the total weight of the vehicle and trailer will not be forced on the primary brakes. When preparing for your trip, you should take time to test your trailer brakes and controllers to avoid unexpected situations on the road.

3. Confirm Load Weight

Overloading is not an uncommon practice. In most cases, this problem occurs due to carelessness and ignorance. For instance, most people will assume that the trailer can handle the weight of loads as long as they can fit into the structure well. When towing, you cannot afford to be careless. Small oversights can cause you legal complications, and you might even compromise your personal safety. Therefore, take a moment to calculate the approximate weight of your load and compare with the vehicle and trailer ratings.

4. Inspect the Hitch

Finally, you should inspect the hitch before setting off. A close inspection should help you confirm that your trailer and the vehicle are joined together correctly. If there is any looseness in the connection, you should resolve the issue before setting off. Also, consider using resilient safety chains around the hitch for additional security.