Towing Safety 101

Trailers are valuable tools. Whether they’re RV trailers for traveling, livestock trailers for carrying horses or cattle, or simple utility trailers for hauling your stuff around, trailers open up a world of possibilities for transportation.  

However, it is also incredibly important to tow your trailer safely. If you don’t hitch up properly or drive carefully enough, towing can risk your safety, along with your possessions and fellow drivers. Thankfully, there are some simple steps you can take to keep your towing journey smooth and safe!

This post will walk you through the basics of safely towing your trailer, including getting the right equipment, loading your trailer properly, and changing your driving style appropriately. 

1. Essential towing equipment
2. Tips for loading a trailer
3. Trailer loading & weight distribution
4. Safe towing practices

Proper towing equipment is vital for a smooth journey, no matter what you are hauling behind you. Let’s start by looking at trailer hitches. In the simplest terms, a trailer hitch is the mechanism that connects your trailer to your tow vehicle. Selecting the right hitch for your trailer is crucial; in some cases, you wouldn’t be able to tow your trailer at all if you got the wrong hitch.  

To give you an idea of where to start looking, let’s examine some common trailer hitch types and how they are used. 

Receiver hitches are one of the most common types of trailer hitches. Receiver hitches are rectangular tubes attached to the bottom of a tow vehicle, allowing drivers to insert whatever towing accessories they need into them. Receiver hitches come in five different hitch classes (Class 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5) and feature either a 1-1/4” or 2” rectangular opening. 

Perhaps the most common receiver hitch accessory is the ball mount. A ball mount is easily recognizable by its trailer ball — a metal sphere which the trailer couples onto. Receiver hitches can be used for many types of trailers, such as travel trailers, utility trailers, boat trailers, and so on.  

A 5th wheel hitch is a type of hitch used primarily for towing heavy trailers, such as RVs (recreational vehicles), campers, and large cargo trailers. It is mounted in the bed of a pickup truck, providing a strong and stable connection between the truck and the trailer. 

Gooseneck hitches are similar to 5th wheel hitches in that they are used for heavier loads and installed in pick-up truck beds. However, rather than a bulky mechanism that locks around a kingpin, a gooseneck hitch uses a trailer ball to couple with the trailer. They are usually used for towing livestock and equipment trailers. 

Weight Distribution Hitch: 

Weight distribution hitches, such as trunnion bar hitches, are another type of receiver hitch accessory. They attach using the receiver tube and are designed to help evenly distribute the trailer’s tongue weight across the tow vehicle. We will talk more about how they work and why you should consider using one later on. 

Pintle hitches consist of two key parts — the pintle hook, a heavy-duty hook attached to the back of the tow vehicle, and the lunette eye, a large ring on the trailer’s tongue. These parts come together to form a durable and extremely flexible hitching system. They are usually only used in industrial, agricultural, and military settings. 

No matter what trailer hitch you use, remember to check that your chosen tow vehicle is up to the task! Some trailers can only by towed by certain vehicles due to their weight or design. Your little hatchback may be able to tow a canoe trailer without any problems but hauling a travel trailer would likely prove too much for it.  

Lastly, when hitching up your trailer, do not forget the importance of safety chains and the trailer wiring systems! Attached to both the trailer hitch and trailer tongue, safety chains can keep your trailer from getting away from you in the event of the hitch breaking down mid-drive.

The trailer wiring system allows you to connect your trailer’s electrical systems to your vehicle’s — more specifically, it lets you control your trailer’s lights and brakes while you drive. Two very simple but important systems to keep you and your family safe!

Towing equipment is only as valuable as one’s ability to hitch up properly! To ensure a safe voyage, you will need to carefully hitch your trailer to your vehicle. The hitching process will be different for every type of trailer hitch, so it’s important to research exactly how to do it. Let’s look at the basic hitching processes for the more common type of hitches.

To hitch up with a receiver hitch and ball mount, start by positioning your trailer on a sturdy, level surface. Line up your vehicle so you can back straight towards the trailer. Back up your tow vehicle until your trailer ball is directly beneath the trailer’s coupler. Lower the coupler onto the ball. Engage the latch and secure with the coupler’s safety pin. Secure the trailer safety chains by crisscrossing them under the coupler. Plug the trailer’s wiring system into the vehicle.

To couple a 5th wheel hitch, position your trailer on a sturdy, level surface. Open the 5th wheel hitch’s jaws. Back your tow vehicle until your hitch is a few inches away from the kingpin. Adjust the trailer jacks so the trailer’s king pin box will be able to slide up onto the hitch plate. Back your tow vehicle until the king pin enters the hitch and jaws lock around the pin. Insert the safety pin and plug the trailer’s wiring system into the vehicle. 

To hitch up a gooseneck connection, position your trailer on a sturdy, level surface. Raise your trailer above your vehicle’s bed so there will be enough clearance to safely back under it. Back your vehicle up until the trailer ball is directly beneath the trailer’s coupler. Lower the trailer onto the ball. Attach the breakaway cable and safety chains, then close the trailer’s coupler and secure it with the safety pin. Plug the trailer’s wiring system into the vehicle. 

Remember to carefully follow your trailer’s hitching instructions and to double-check everything — couplers, safety chains, trailer wiring connections, everything! Making sure that you’ve hitched up properly is key to a safe and stress-free journey. 

If you’re planning to just throw all of your things into your trailer all willy-nilly and be on your way, you may want to think again. Loading up your trailer properly is important; overloading the trailer, or putting too much weight in the wrong part of the trailer, can place unwanted pressure on the trailer’s wheels, axles, and hitch connection. This can lead to the trailer swaying or its wheels blowing out — not what you want to happen on your trip!

Thankfully, we have a load of tips on how to load your trailer!

First, park your trailer on a level surface and use chocks to hold the wheels in place. You don’t want your trailer trying to run away while you’re packing it!

Next, check that your cargo is not going to exceed the recommended weight limit. All tow vehicles have a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR), the maximum amount of weight a vehicle can safely carry, including the weight of the trailer itself. You can usually find the GVWR either in the owner’s manual or printed in the trailer itself. Make sure that the weight of your intended cargo added with the trailer weight isn’t above this number!

Now that you’re ready to actually begin loading, remember to follow the 60/40 rule. 60% of the cargo weight should be in front of the trailer’s axle and 40% should be behind it. This ensures that the tow vehicle receives enough tongue weight to avoid trailer sway and maintain proper steering control. 

Other general rules for trailer loading are to load the heaviest items first, placing them towards the center of the trailer, just in front of the axle. Tie down these objects with ratchet straps or chains, using tie-down anchors to keep them from rolling around the trailer while moving. Lighter objects can then be placed around or, if safe, on top of the heavy items.

Too much weight in one place and too little in another can make towing a lot more difficult than it needs to be. Distributing weight properly is an important step in ensuring both your trailer and your tow vehicle stay in good shape for the miles to come. Packing your cargo safely is a good way to do this, but if you want to feel a little more balanced, then you may want to consider a weight distribution hitch! 

As we said when discussing trailer hitches, a weight distribution hitch evenly disperses the trailer’s tongue weight — the weight normally pushing down solely on the tow vehicle’s hitch — across the axles of both trailer and vehicle.

The result is the vehicle and trailer forming a straight horizontal line as they roll down the road, rather than dipping in the middle. 

There are several good reasons for getting a weight distribution hitch. More evenly spread weight means less wear-and-tear on both the trailer and the tow vehicle. Reduced weight on the vehicle’s rear end keeps all the vehicle’s tires on the ground, increasing your driving control and braking ability, along with keeping your headlights pointed in the right direction! 

Let’s do a quick walkthrough of how to set up your weight distribution hitch. It’s similar to a typical receiver hitch-trailer ball system, but with springs bars to distribute the weight and a special shank to adjust the hitch’s height. 

Position your trailer on a sturdy, level surface. Measure the distance between the front and back bumper and the ground. 

Insert the adjustable shank, then attach the ball mount unit so the trailer ball is 1” to 3” taller than the trailer coupler’s height (since it will sag under the trailer’s weight). Attach the spring bars to the ball mount unit. 

Couple the trailer onto the trailer ball. 

Install the chains of the spring bars onto the trailer so the bars are parallel to the trailer’s frame (make sure there are at least five links between the bars and their brackets to avoid banging). 

Measure the distance between the vehicle’s bumpers and the ground again; if these are not within ½ an inch of the previous measurements, the hitch needs adjustment. You can perform adjustments by changing the tilt of the ball mount unit or reducing the number of chain links between the spring bars and their brackets.

Don’t forget to insert safety pins, connect you trailer wiring systems, and torque the parts of your weight distribution hitch once you’ve set it up! 

Now that you’ve got all your equipment and packed all your gear, it’s time to get on the road! However, it’s important to remember that driving with a trailer comes with unique challenges. Thankfully, we’ve got some tricks to avoid or counter them!

Since you have what’s essentially a giant wheeled box rolling behind you, coming to a stop with a trailer takes longer. The trailer’s momentum can push you along even as you’re trying to brake. Start slowing down sooner when coming to an intersection and keep a greater distance from vehicles in front of you in order to avoid accidentally colliding with anything. Try to avoid sudden braking too, as it can be pretty hard on your vehicle.  You should also consider adding a brake controller to your towing setup. 

As previously stated, you will need more space to bring you and your trailer to a stop. So don’t just focus on what’s directly in front of you — scan the road ahead for any possible hazards. Pay attention, don’t drive too fast, and be ready to react accordingly. 

Quickly slipping between cars in the next lane over is not a good idea when towing. Along with the increased length, trailers come with bigger blind spots and make it harder to accelerate. Always doublecheck that the way is clear — and will remain clear long enough for you to enter — before changing lanes. If you’re driving on a two-lane road, avoid passing as much as possible. It's okay to get to your destination a little late! Enjoy the journey, right? 

If there’s one thing you need to watch out for while towing, it’s trailer sway. When a trailer starts to move faster than the vehicle pulling it, the trailer will begin sweeping back and forth, trying to drag the vehicle along with it. 

Trailer sway can have many causes, some more avoidable than others. These include: 

• Crosswinds
• Large trucks driving by
• Driving downhill on steep roads
• Driving at high speeds
• Sudden driving movements
• Rough roads
• Poor weight distribution
• Insufficient tongue weight
• Underinflated trailer tires

Thankfully, there are things you can do to avoid trailer sway on your trip, such as:

• Avoid driving on windy days or in bad weather when possible
• Don’t get too close to semi-trucks or other large vehicles while passing
• Drive slowly and avoid quick movements when possible
• Check that you have a proper tongue weight, trailer weight distribution, and tire pressure before setting off
• Use devices such as a weight distribution hitch or anti-rattle (a clamp that holds the ball mount or other hitching accessory against one side of the receiver tube, reducing rattling)

However, even if you take every precaution, there’s a chance your trailer will start swaying. If that happens, remain calm. Take your foot off the accelerator and hold the wheel straight. Do NOT brake; instead, manually activate the trailer brakes. This can be done with a trailer brake controller, a small device you can install in the cab of your vehicle. 

Pro Tip: Remember to adjust the controller’s maximum output (the maximum power applied to the trailer’s brakes) and sensitivity level (the aggressiveness the controller will apply the brakes with) so the trailer will brake quickly, but not too violently. 

Towing can seem like a daunting task. Thankfully, there are steps you can take to ensure you and your trailer will get to where you’re going safely.

Pick out the correct hitch and tow vehicle for your trailer, doublecheck that you’re hitching everything up properly. Load your trailer so your cargo’s weight is distributed evenly, and consider using a weight distribution hitch. Drive slowly and carefully, staying alert for trailer sway and other potential problems. 

Towing can take some getting used to, but if you follow these suggestions, you can reap the benefits of a trailer for many miles, jobs, projects, and years to come!