HOW TO TOW SAFELY
Towing has to be done with one main aim in mind, that is safety. Not only does the trailer and contents being carried have to be safe but also the connection to the vehicle. The regulations on towing trailers are not known by most people. So we shall cover them in this article.
To keep good control there has to be a difference in weight between the trailer and car. The National Caravan Council state that the trailer should not exceed 85% of the kerb weight of the towing vehicle. With this arrangement the outfit should be safe. If this percentage is exceeded there is a strong possibility of 'snaking'. When the outfit starts to snake the trailer causes the vehicle to lose control of its direction. In severe cases this snaking can cause the vehicle to roll over or jack knife. This is a terrifying experience and has to be avoided by being careful and sensible when towing. Snaking can be caused by other factors as well as incorrect weight of trailer. Excessive speed; the trailer nose weight being too heavy; and the trailer not being horizontal when hitched to the vehicle. If snaking does occur then slow down gradually, without using the brakes too much. Slow down until the outfit stabilises without sudden movements of the steering wheel - keep these to slight adjustments. Many people use a piece of gear called a stabiliser to prevent snaking taking place. These are easily attached to your vehicle and trailer. New and second hand stabilisers are for sale here, on this website.
Maximum speed for towing applies, for example on single carriageways where the maximum for vehicles is 60 mph, your maximum when towing will be 50 mph. On dual carriageways and motorways where 70 mph is the maximum, you are restricted to towing at 60 mph and are not allowed into the outside lane unless directed by the police.
The trailer nose weight is important for safety reasons. The nose weight can be determined by placing the trailer coupling, held horizontal by a chock of wood, onto a scale (bathroom scales are usually OK). Spring balances are sometimes used. Most weights are between 50 k.g. and 100 k.g. as a maximum. Too much nose weight will have an adverse effect on the handling of the outfit. The stability of the trailer depends on the weight at the coupling. If it is too much the steering of the car will be affected. Balancing the nose weight is easier on single axle trailers, because the weight inside the trailer can be moved around to suit. However, this is not so easy in a twin axle trailer. These twin axle trailers often have 4 x 4 pulling them. The 4 x 4 should have an adjustable height tow hitch. This will allow the outfit to be towed level. If the vehicle does not have an adjustable tow hitch then be aware that the big twin axle trailer may lift the rear of the vehicle - again leading to stability problems.
Some trailers are loaded up with so much gear that it overhangs the rear and sides. There is a legal limit imposed on these overhangs. At the side of the trailer the maximum distance is 305 mm. (approx. 1 foot) provided to total width is no more than 2.9 metres (9 feet 6 ins.). At the rear of the trailer the overhang should not exceed 3.05 metres (10 feet). These overhanging loads at the rear should have a brightly coloured cloth tied to them for other motorists to notice during the day. At night a marker board with a light is required.
The maximum size of trailer a vehicle under 3,500 k.g. (which is most vehicles) can tow is 7 metres long by 2.3 metres wide (23 feet x 7 feet 6 ins.). The load on the trailer can overhang this limit by the amount mentioned above. If you have a wide load remember to use extention mirrors on your vehicle to view behind.
Many trailers are unbraked. These weigh less than 750 k.g. and must have a secondary coupling between car and trailer. This can be a wire strop or short length of chain. If the trailer becomes disconnected from the tow hitch this secondary coupling should hold the trailer above the ground to prevent the connection scraping along the ground and becoming loose from the vehicle, completely. An unbraked trailer should weigh half the overall weight of the towing car, for safety reasons.
Braked trailers also have to be fitted with a secondary coupling. This coupling acts on the brakes to stop the trailer if disconnection occurs. It becomes an emergency fail safe method of applying the brakes on the heavy trailer.
This leads us onto some checks you should complete before using your trailer. Firstly when storing the trailer do not leave the handbrake on. This will cause the brake pads or drums to stick to the wheel discs. Instead use wood or plastic chocks to wedge the wheels and prevent the unit from moving. Check that the brakes will actually work with a load on your trailer. Obviously replace the brake pads if they are inefficient.
Wheel bearings need to be greased at least once a year for occasion use, if it is an older trailer. Boat trailers often get their wheels wet when launching and the wheels should be washed down as well as the whole trailer, with fresh water soon after immersion. Sealed wheel bearing on modern trailers are not so affected but washing down would still be a good preventative method of maintaining our trailer. Also if you have been driving from some distance do not launch your unit into the water straight away. The wheel bearing will still be very hot from the long journey and sudden immersion in cold water will cause problems. Better to relax and have a coffee or a walk while your bearing cool down!
All trailers require lighting boards with brake lights, indictator lights etc. easily seen at the rear of your outfit. Check that these are working before moving off. If buying a lighting board for the first time be sure to order one with sufficient length of cable to go from the vehicle to the rear of your load. New and second hand lighting boards are advertised here on this website.
Finally, tyres that seem to have a good tread on them are not necessarily roadworthy. Many trailers sit about for long periods and the side walls are exposed to sunlight and severe frost damage. The walls deteriorate and are often overlooked as being safe. It is better to replace your tyres every 5 years no matter how much use you have made of your trailer. Remember trailer tyre pressures are higher than car tyres because of the load they need to carry. So be safe and replace.
Hopefully, this has given you some indications on what to look for when using your trailer.
Many parts needed for your trailer are advertised on this website. Simply type in to the search box at the top of the page and click search. This will show you all the items advertised for that description. Or just click on the highlighted links through out this page.
So browse and find what you need at a bargain price!