Tips to Haul a Trailer Safely and Efficiently

No matter your level of driving experience, you will want to be extra cautious when hauling a trailer. The extra weight of your trailer and the payload inside it can make it more challenging to manage your towing set up on the road. That’s why you will want to be extra vigilant and careful when hauling your trailer from one location to the next.

As your local trailer dealer, we at Double B Trailer Sales understand how important it is for you to keep your cargo or livestock safe on the road. Our experts have created this guide to discuss a few strategies to follow when towing your trailer. Read on to learn more, and for more information, swing by our dealership for a friendly chat with our team.

Know Your Weight Limits and Towing Capacity

Before you start loading your trailer, you will want to spend some time familiarizing yourself with the amount of weight it can handle safely.

Ideally, you will want to consider your trailer’s

• Gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR)
• Gross axle weight rating (GAWR)
• Tongue weight (amount of the trailer’s weight on the hitch)

In addition, you will also need to keep the weight handling capacity of your towing vehicle in mind.

Overloading a trailer can cause it to break down on the road and put your safety at risk. At the same time, underloading your trailer can lead to swaying during high wind conditions and need you to make extra trips to deliver your goods, which you can tackle in a go.

A good rule of thumb is distributing the weight evenly from side to side and securing each item inside the trailer to prevent them from shifting during transit.

Maintain Proper Distance

You should maintain an appropriate following distance when driving a vehicle—more so when hauling a trailer. As a towing set-up needs extra time to come to a complete stop, you will want to keep a sufficient distance between your vehicle and the one in front of you. This will help you avoid colliding with the car or truck in front of you if the driver applies the brakes suddenly. However, be observant of motorists trying to take advantage of this gap.

Remember to use the rightmost traffic lane and signal in advance to alert motorists behind you. More importantly, you will want to refrain from making too many maneuvers when hauling a trailer.

Be Mindful of the Traffic Ahead

Plan your trip and be aware of the traffic conditions before departure. This will allow you to skip congestion on your route, which are massive fuel-guzzlers. It helps to know about any bottlenecks, as you can then plan an alternative course in advance.

Maintain Your Trailer Regularly

One of the most critical aspects of trailer ownership is maintenance. Well-maintained trailers are safer and more efficient, and you will want to work hard to keep your towing vehicle and trailer in tip-top shape. Before hitting the road, adjust your tire pressure to the recommended psi levels, test the braking system, examine the oil in your towing vehicle, and fill up the gas tank for a smoother hauling experience.

We hope you find these tips handy when hauling your trailer from one location to another. If you need more advice or are still in the market for a durable and reliable trailer, visit Double B Trailer Sales. We are in Centerville & Hurricane, UT, and proud to serve those from Salt Lake City and St. George.