Mastering the Art of Trailer Towing

A travel trailer can make your trips more fun by letting you visit new places and make lasting memories. It's normal to feel nervous about towing at first, even with a small trailer. Most new owners quickly gain confidence and find towing easier than they thought. For example, our neighbor Jim is a first-time trailer owner, and his first towing experience is what inspired us to write this blog. He was initially anxious about towing his new travel trailer, worried about turns and backing up. However, after seeking our advice and that of experienced friends and practicing in an empty parking lot, he gained the confidence he needed. Now, Jim enjoys road trips without worry, enjoying his newfound freedom.

With a bit of research, practice, and advice from others, you’ll soon be mastering the art of trailer towing.

This blog covers the basics, from getting your trailer ready to staying safe while driving.

Get Ready to Roll: Towing Prep

Getting ready the right way is important for safe towing. Always follow some basic steps before each trip. Skipping them can put you and others at risk. Take your time and be patient with each step. "Slow is Pro!"

Towing Setup Basics

Hitching your trailer means connecting it to your tow vehicle. A secure hitch is essential for safe towing, and these steps will help ensure you do it correctly:

1. Position your vehicle: Chock the trailer wheels to prevent rolling or shifting. Line up your vehicle with the raised trailer hitch receiver, about 2 inches higher than the tow ball, and ensure they are aligned.

2. Lower the hitch: Use a spotter if you do not have a backup camera. Engage the emergency brake on your tow vehicle. Gently lower the hitch onto the ball mount, ensuring the tongue lock is open.

3. Secure the hitch: Ensure the hitch is secure by firmly locking it with the latch and safety pin.

4. Connect the cables: Attach the safety chains, sway control if needed, e-brake, and seven-pin wiring harness to the tow vehicle. Make sure all connections are secure and functional, such as brake lights, before removing the chocks, raising the stabilizing jacks, or releasing the emergency brake.

If you’re unsure at any step, consult knowledgeable people like experienced friends, neighbors (especially camping neighbors), staff at trailer/RV dealerships, or look up video tutorials on YouTube, as they offer practical guidance, visual demonstrations, and immediate assistance to ensure safety and proper connection.

Mastering Trailer Loading and Weight Distribution

Once your trailer is hitched, check the weight distribution. Your vehicle and trailer should be level. If either one tilts toward or away from the hitch, adjust the load, or it is more likely to sway or behave unsafely. The best way to check your weight distribution is at a truck scale, which you can find at most travel plazas, truck stops, and some large rest areas. To use one, follow these simple steps:

• First, position your vehicle and trailer so that each axle is on a separate part of the scale. This allows you to see the weight under each tire and make any necessary adjustments to your load.

  
  

• Upon arriving at a truck stop or rest area, look for clearly marked signs directing you to the scale. Follow the instructions displayed on the screen to guide you through the positioning and weighing process.

  
  

• Payment is typically required through a credit card machine at the scale.

  
  

By familiarizing yourself with this process, you can efficiently manage your trailer's weight distribution. With experience, you’ll be able to estimate the weight just by looking at your setup in a flat parking lot.

All-Around Trailer Visibility Check

Most trailers, especially older ones, don’t let you see much behind them. Before you drive, adjust your side mirrors so you can see behind the trailer. If that’s not enough, consider adding mirror extensions or a rearview camera.

Safety Check: Trailer Brake System

Always check your brakes and brake controller before leaving. The brake controller links your trailer’s brakes to your vehicle’s brakes. It needs to work properly to keep everyone safe.

To test your brakes, hook up your trailer and take a short drive. Go up to about 10 mph, then brake as you normally would. If the brake controller is set right, you’ll feel the trailer pull back on your vehicle, especially when you stop completely.

If you don’t feel the trailer pulling back, or if it feels like it’s pushing you forward, increase the brake controller setting. The trailer should brake a bit harder than your vehicle. This helps prevent jackknifing and rough stops.

Mastering the Road: Vehicle and Route Prep for Towing 

Once your trailer is hitched and the brakes work, you might feel ready to go.

Preventing Low-Clearance Collisions While Towing

Before you leave, make sure you know your trailer’s details, especially its height, and plan your route. Not knowing the height can cause damage if you try to drive under a low bridge. Measure your trailer’s height, add a foot for safety, and never go under a bridge if you’re not sure it’s high enough.

Know Your Route Before You Tow

Getting lost or missing a turn is stressful when you’re towing a trailer. It’s harder to change lanes or turn around, especially on narrow roads. Many GPS systems have an RV or trailer mode to help you plan a safe route and avoid tight roads, low bridges, and sharp turns. If you plan your own route, watch out for these same issues.

Safe Towing Practices on the Road

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VICCzFIgcic

A lot of people like the idea of traveling in a camper but feel nervous about towing. Once you get used to it, towing a trailer is usually straightforward. The trailer follows your vehicle as you drive. If your vehicle can handle the weight, you shouldn’t have trouble with hills, braking, or most driving situations. Still, always keep safety in mind, since some parts of towing can be more challenging.

Trailer Turns: Slow, Wide, & Smooth

Most turns are easy with a travel trailer. The trailer follows your vehicle as you turn. Just keep moving forward, and the trailer will stay with you.

Mastering Trailer Turning Radius

The length of your trailer affects how sharply you can turn. The length of your trailer affects how sharply you can turn. Longer trailers might hit a curb or cut a corner that your vehicle clears easily.

Make wide turns when you can. Roundabouts, curving roads, and turns up to 90 degrees are usually fine. If you must make a sharp turn, go slowly and make it as wide as possible. If you get stuck in a tight spot, it’s usually better to "pull straight and turn late" instead of backing up to reposition.

You can handle most turns, but always take them slowly.

Trailers have a high center of gravity, so they are more likely to tip. Your tow vehicle might be able to turn faster than your trailer can.

How to Back Up a Trailer Like a Pro

Backing up a trailer is one of the hardest parts of RVing, especially with bigger trailers. But don't worry, anyone can learn with practice and patience. It's easier to back up when you stay calm. Try to plan your trips so you don't have to back up on busy roads or in crowded places.

Practicing in empty parking lots or quiet streets is a good way to build your skills and confidence before real trips. To move the trailer to the right, turn the wheel to the right. To move it left, turn the wheel left.

Consider setting up simple practice exercises in an empty area. Start by backing into a designated parking space. Another exercise is setting up cones or markers in a straight line, and practicing maneuvering around them to simulate different backing scenarios. These exercises offer concrete ways to build confidence and control before your first trip.

Practice backing up as much as you can before your first trip.

Engine & Brake Management for Uphill Towing

Hills can be stressful, especially on steep or narrow roads. But if your vehicle is rated to tow your trailer, hills shouldn’t be a problem. The extra weight will slow you down going uphill.

Stay in the right lane when you can, and use your hazard lights if you can’t keep up with traffic.

Going downhill is a bit riskier, but you can handle it with the right approach. Check if your vehicle can use engine braking. This means shifting to a lower gear and taking your foot off the gas when going downhill. The engine will help slow you down, control your speed, and save your brakes.

On very steep hills, you may still need to use your brakes. Avoid braking too hard, since that can cause jackknifing. Keep your speed low and slow down gradually.

Trailer "Wagging"

Many things that seem scary about towing get easier with practice, but trailer sway is a real risk. Sway occurs when the trailer and tow vehicle move from side to side, often due to wind. If it gets bad, sway can cause serious accidents.

The best way to handle sway is to prevent it.

These simple tips will help you avoid most causes of sway:

• Maintain proper weight distribution. Load heavier items closer to the front of the trailer to help stabilize it.

• Ensure your tires are properly inflated. Under-inflated tires can increase the risk of sway.

• Don’t drive in high winds, especially when towing a large trailer.

• Avoid high speeds, as they can exacerbate sway.

• You can also buy devices that help reduce trailer sway, such as sway control bars or weight-distributing hitches.

When other vehicles pass you at high speed, it can cause hard-to-control sway. Large trucks create strong air currents as they go by. Stay alert in these situations so you can correct any sway quickly.

If your trailer starts to sway, don’t try to steer against it, as that can make the problem worse.

Instead, keep the steering wheel straight and use your manual brake controller. If your tow vehicle didn’t come with one, you’ll need to buy it separately. The manual brake controller is usually found on the electric brake controller inside your vehicle. It sends power to the trailer’s brakes, helping it slow down and line up behind your vehicle.

If you can’t use the manual brake, gently ease off the gas. Avoid using your main brakes, as that could cause the trailer to jackknife. Sometimes, a small increase in speed can help straighten the trailer, but don’t speed up too much. Take time to practice using your manual brake controller in a safe, open area so you feel confident with it.

Drive safe and Happy Glamping!

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