While it can be extremely handy to have a trailer that helps you get things from one place to another, it is extremely important that you know what you are doing when you are towing anything behind your vehicle. If you don’t follow a certain number of safety rules, you could find yourself in a world of hurt. The rules for towing a trailer behind your vehicle are much different than the rules that you would normally follow while driving. Longhorn Motors & Trailer Sales, Inc. is here to share our best trailer towing safety tips with you.
How Do You Safely Tow a Trailer?
Following is a list of things that you need to think about to ensure you and all those driving around you, are safe while you are towing a trailer.
– Stop Slowly: You will need to account for the added weight that you have on your brakes when you are towing. This will require you to stop slower than you are probably used to. You need to give yourself plenty of space between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you so that you have the time you need to stop safely.
– Check Mirrors Often: You need to make sure you have a clear visual on the trailer and any vehicles behind you with your mirrors. You should be checking your mirrors often when towing to make sure there is nothing going wrong with the trailer.
– Turning when Pulling a Trailer: Turning will be much different when you are towing as well. You won’t be able to cut around corners that you normally would. Give yourself plenty of space when you are making any turns. Drive slightly past the place that you are planning to turn so that you have a wide girth as you make the turn safely.
– Downshift on Hills: If you are driving through mountains or an area where there are a lot of hills, you need to take care when towing. You will have added weight which means that you need to downshift when going down hills to make sure you don’t lose control of the trailer and your vehicle. If you notice that your engine starts to stutter, you will know it is time to downshift so that your vehicle can handle the load and the hill at the same time.
– Watch Your Engine Temperature: When you’re towing a large load, there is a greater chance that your vehicle’s engine can overheat. Pay more attention to the temperature gauge than you normally would so you don’t end up with an overheated engine on the side of the road.
New Trailer & Used Car Sales in Temple, Troy, Cameron, Salado, Nolanville, Harker Heights, Killeen, Fort Hood, Copperas Cove, Gatesville & Greater Belton, Texas
If you are looking for the right trailer to suit your towing needs, you can turn to Longhorn Motors & Trailer Sales, Inc. to find you exactly what you’re looking for. We have a large fleet of trailers for sale and can help you find the perfect fit for your towing needs. Call us today!
