Towing a trailer safely means you’ll have to make small adjustments to your usual driving habits to protect both your car and your load.
Pack Your Trailer Carefully
Proper packing is the first thing you should do. Make sure to distribute the weight evenly, keeping heavier items over the axle to keep stability. Overloading one side or placing too much weight at the back can cause swaying or make your steering difficult. Always check the weight limit of your trailer and your tow vehicle first.
Pack Your Trailer Securely
Making items secure inside your trailer is just as important as packing them correctly. Use strong straps to tie down equipment so it cannot shift while you’re driving. Regularly inspect trailer parts such as tie-down points, hinges, and locks to make sure that they are in good condition, as damaged trailer parts can compromise the safety of your load. Make sure to replace any worn parts from a specialist such as autoandtrailer.com/shop/trailer-parts, before setting off.
Don’t Carry Spare Fuel
Carrying extra fuel inside the trailer might seem a good idea, but it creates a serious fire hazard. In the event of an accident or sudden braking, loose fuel could ignite or spill, putting both you and your cargo at risk!
Change Your Driving Style
Towing changes how your vehicle drives and you’ll need to accelerate, brake, and steer more gently than usual. Be especially mindful of corners, roundabouts, and narrow lanes, giving wider turns to account for the trailer swinging. Drive slower than you would with just your car.
