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Trailer Safety Tips

Jul. 8 2021 Article By Tropic Trailer

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Before venturing into the open road and heading to your next adventure, it’s important to make sure that everything is “in check” beforehand. Owning a trailer may seem simple enough, but it does take some maintenance and care to ensure it’s up for the job. With the right preparation and tools, you can safely and confidently set out on the road. You want to ensure that your belongings stay safe, secure and there’s as little of a risk as possible for any accidents. Before deciding to hitch any trailer to your truck or SUV, you may want to consider these four tips to tow safely. 

Know Your Limits

While it may be tempting to load as much as you can into or onto your trailer, it’s essential to review the towing capacity of your vehicle and ensure it’s capable of handling the weight of your trailer and belongings. The risk of improper weight capacity could result in faulty braking, vehicle suspension damage, or engine damage. In addition to the vehicles’ capabilities, your trailer hitch should be up for the job as well. The hitch will have a label containing the weight limit to help you identify whether it’s fit for the job. Also, you should know the following terms and definitions when determining the weight:

  • Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR): This is the weight limit for your vehicle, including the vehicle itself, plus cargo and passengers.
  • Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR): This is the maximum weight of the tow vehicle plus the loaded trailer, passengers, fuel, etc.
  • Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR): The amount of weight a single axle can safely bear. 
  • Towing Capacity: The amount of weight your vehicle can pull
  • Tongue Weight: This is the amount of the trailer’s weight placed on the trailer hitch. 

Check Your Tires

While this may seem obvious, it’s one of the most overlooked steps. When your tires are not correctly inflated, it can result in various problems. One of the most common problems resulting from poorly inflated tires is rolling resistance — when the engine has to work harder to pull the vehicle’s weight, resulting in excess fuel consumption. An increase in tire temperatures can also result in blow-outs which is the worst-case scenario for your trailer and not something to take lightly. In addition, check the speed rating on both tow vehicle and trailer tires to keep you from exceeding this speed on the road and thus keeping your belongings (and passengers) safe. 

Brakes and Lights

When traveling long distances, ensure that your brakes are in good working order. For smaller, light trailers, there may not be a need for trailer brakes. However, heavier trailers should incorporate a trailer brake system. In addition, ensure that the emergency breakaway cable is correctly attached to your tow vehicle in case your trailer somehow disconnects from the hitch. The breakaway cable will bring the trailer to an immediate halt, an excellent feature when traveling on highways to protect nearby vehicles and their passengers from serious accidents.

Your taillights are your vehicle’s “voice” on the road. Large trailers may obscure the taillights on your tow vehicle, which could raise the risk of an accident. At night, with no taillights or hidden or malfunctioning taillights, the risk of accidents increases because those behind you don’t have the opportunity to anticipate your next move. It doesn’t hurt to be extra prepared by ensuring that your trailer has lights as well. Investing in trailer lights now could prevent thousands of dollars in damage repairs later on. 

Properly Distribute Weight

A good rule of thumb to keep in mind is to carry five to ten percent of the trailer load on the hitch, and roughly 60 percent of the trailer’s load should be placed on the front half of the trailer. If your trailer fishtails, stop the trailer and see how you can redistribute the weight on the trailer. Both left and right sides should carry the weight evenly. After ensuring that the weight is distributed correctly, you can secure the cargo to prevent shifting. 

You’ve invested time and money into your equipment, and you want to ensure that you take proper care of it. Not only for the value of your cargo and tools but also to protect your life and the lives of those around you. You’re sharing the road with hundreds of other drivers, and it is your responsibility to ensure that you’re taking the necessary precautions for your trailer. For any trailer equipment you may need, visit Tropic Trailer. We carry a large selection of trailers, parts, and equipment to get you equipped for your next adventure! Take the time to invest now, so you can relax and enjoy yourself later.