When towing a trailer, there are ample opportunities for problems to arise. It’s best to do your homework and know about the many problems that may pop-up before you head out, and how you can go about fixing them.
Trailer Sway
Trailer sway can be dangerous for many reasons, and it’s important to know how to deal with it if it happens to you. The most important thing to remember is to not brake, as this could make the swaying worse and harder to control. Instead, take your foot off the accelerator and let your vehicle slow down naturally. Try to steer your vehicle in a straight line, and if possible, pull off to the side of the road and see if you can figure out the source of the swaying.
Level Towing
Making sure you’re towing a level trailer to ensure both your towing vehicle and trailer are stable. If you happen to have a load that isn’t level, you could throw off the center of gravity of your load, and this can result in rollovers if you’re not careful. Make sure your trailer is level, including everything in it, before you start on your journey, and check on it every time you make a pit stop.
Balance Your Load
We can’t stress the importance of this enough. A balanced load can eliminate any stressful swaying or pitching during your trip while keeping others on the road safe as well. When packing your trailer, make sure you’re distributing the objects inside evenly throughout the trailer. It’s also important to not overload the trailer. Pack everything in tightly and make sure it can’t slide around as this can lead to pitching and uneven towing.
Troubleshoot
Before even starting your trip, double check that all lights on your trailer work. This includes brakes, blinkers, and hazards. Check the tire pressure in each tire to make sure they’re at the right pressure, and double check you have everything you need should you need to replace it along the way.
If you notice something wrong with your trailer before a trip and need some things repaired, contact Terry’s Auto Body & Trailer Sales at 641-985-2536 to set up an appointment today. We can help you with brakes, wiring and lighting, welding, hitch replacements and installations, and bearing and seal replacement. If you’re looking for a new trailer, visit our website to browse our selection.
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