Six (6) worst towing mistakes.
 

Some very basic stuff, but critical knowledge. I went to esurance 6 trailer mistakes, pulled up the article, and cut and pasted it below. I apologize to those that went to the original link and got a sales pitch for insurance.

Labor Day weekend is coming up and that means roads full of vacationers towing their homes-away-from-home behind them. If you plan to be one of them, make sure to avoid these common towing mistakes — you’ll enjoy your holiday much more and so will the people driving behind you.

1. Not knowing your ratings
Your tow vehicle (the vehicle doing the towing) can only carry and haul so much weight. Overloading your tow vehicle, trailer, or both can cause a whole host of problems like failing brakes, broken suspensions, overheated transmissions, or blown-out tires. None of these things make for happy campers, and some can be very dangerous.

Remember to look up your vehicle’s tow ratings before you attempt to tow anything and make sure your hitch system matches your vehicle’s towing specs. All of the following numbers need to be checked and complied with. Your tow vehicle’s specs are generally listed in your owner’s manual and on the sill of your driver’s-side door. Your trailer’s unloaded weight (along with its weight ratings) can be found on its Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) plate.

Gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR): the weight limit for your vehicle (including the vehicle itself plus passengers, cargo, and accessories).

Gross combination weight rating (GCWR): the maximum weight of the tow vehicle plus the loaded trailer, equipment, passengers, fuel, and anything else you plan to haul or carry.

Gross axle weight rating (GAWR): the amount of weight a single axle can safely bear. It’s important to know this value for both your tow vehicle and your trailer.

Towing capacity: the amount of weight your vehicle can pull.

Tongue weight: the amount of the trailer’s weight that is borne by the trailer hitch. Ideally, this should be about 10 percent of the total trailer weight. Too much tongue weight will make your vehicle’s steering less responsive. Too little and the trailer might sway. Tongue weight can be measured using a specialized scale (available at trailer supply shops).

If you’re having trouble estimating the combined weight of your trailer plus cargo, take the loaded trailer to a vehicle scale at a nearby weigh station or truck stop.

2. Not checking the local regulations
A ticket is nobody’s idea of a great vacation souvenir, so remember that towing laws and restrictions vary from state to state. While most states require taillights on your trailer and safety chains that connect the trailer to the tow vehicle, some states also require special braking equipment or additional side and rearview mirrors.

States also differ on their maximum towing speeds, the maximum trailer width, and the number of vehicles you’re allowed to tow. So be sure to know the laws, not just for your home state, but for any state you might pass through.

3. Forgetting to put on the brakes (and the wires)
The added weight of the trailer gives your vehicle extra momentum, which means it takes longer to reduce your speed. For this reason, many states require trailers over a certain weight (usually 1,500 lb.) to be equipped with a separate braking system. Trailer brakes not only improve control, but also will stop the trailer if it gets separated from the tow vehicle. The 2 types of trailer brakes are electronic (which are attached to a controller in the tow vehicle) and surge (independent hydraulic brakes that are activated by momentum). Not all jurisdictions allow surge brakes, so check your local laws.

Because cars behind you can’t see the lights on your tow vehicle, federal law requires trailers to be equipped with brake lights, taillights, turn signals, and reflectors. These are powered by a connector that hooks up to your vehicle’s electrical system. Make sure your wires are taut enough not to drag on the road, but loose enough not to disconnect during turns.

4. Loading your cargo improperly
If your trailer is off-balance, it will be difficult to control. Make sure cargo is distributed evenly, with about 60 percent of the total weight in front of the axle (but not too far forward). Secure cargo items to prevent them from shifting and keep the overall center of gravity low.

RELATED: Towing and Labor Coverage Defined

5. Forgetting you’re towing a trailer
No matter how strong or nimble your tow vehicle is, it’ll be less responsive once it has a trailer behind it. Since you won’t be able to accelerate, turn, or brake as fast, you’ll want to look further up the road and give yourself extra time and space to change lanes or slow down. It’s also a good idea to do some short practice drives before heading out on your big trip.

6. Not checking tire pressure
If you haven’t taken your trailer out for a while, there’s a good chance the tires need inflating. Driving a fully loaded trailer with underinflated tires is very dangerous — underinflated tires produce more friction, which can lead to blow-outs and possible rollovers. Be sure to check the tire pressure on both your tow vehicle and your trailer before you go (and while you’re at it, check the tires themselves for signs of wear).

Link doesn't work, takes me to a generic 'buy insurance' page...

I went ahead and signed up for insurance and it still didn't take me to the promised link.

This link seems to work:

6 top trailering mistakes

Nope. :icon107:

This is what came up when searching "6 top trailering mistakes esurance"

1. Not knowing your ratings
Your tow vehicle (the vehicle doing the towing) can only carry and haul so much weight. Overloading your tow vehicle, trailer, or both can cause a whole host of problems like failing brakes, broken suspensions, overheated transmissions, or blown-out tires. None of these things make for happy campers, and some can be very dangerous.

Remember to look up your vehicle’s tow ratings before you attempt to tow anything and make sure your hitch system matches your vehicle’s towing specs. All of the following numbers need to be checked and complied with. Your tow vehicle’s specs are generally listed in your owner’s manual and on the sill of your driver’s-side door. Your trailer’s unloaded weight (along with its weight ratings) can be found on its Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) plate.

Gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR): the weight limit for your vehicle (including the vehicle itself plus passengers, cargo, and accessories).

Gross combination weight rating (GCWR): the maximum weight of the tow vehicle plus the loaded trailer, equipment, passengers, fuel, and anything else you plan to haul or carry.

Gross axle weight rating (GAWR): the amount of weight a single axle can safely bear. It’s important to know this value for both your tow vehicle and your trailer.

Towing capacity: the amount of weight your vehicle can pull.

Tongue weight: the amount of the trailer’s weight that is borne by the trailer hitch. Ideally, this should be about 10 percent of the total trailer weight. Too much tongue weight will make your vehicle’s steering less responsive. Too little and the trailer might sway. Tongue weight can be measured using a specialized scale (available at trailer supply shops).

If you’re having trouble estimating the combined weight of your trailer plus cargo, take the loaded trailer to a vehicle scale at a nearby weigh station or truck stop.

2. Not checking the local regulations
A ticket is nobody’s idea of a great vacation souvenir, so remember that towing laws and restrictions vary from state to state. While most states require taillights on your trailer and safety chains that connect the trailer to the tow vehicle, some states also require special braking equipment or additional side and rearview mirrors.

States also differ on their maximum towing speeds, the maximum trailer width, and the number of vehicles you’re allowed to tow. So be sure to know the laws, not just for your home state, but for any state you might pass through.

3. Forgetting to put on the brakes (and the wires)
The added weight of the trailer gives your vehicle extra momentum, which means it takes longer to reduce your speed. For this reason, many states require trailers over a certain weight (usually 1,500 lb.) to be equipped with a separate braking system. Trailer brakes not only improve control, but also will stop the trailer if it gets separated from the tow vehicle. The 2 types of trailer brakes are electronic (which are attached to a controller in the tow vehicle) and surge (independent hydraulic brakes that are activated by momentum). Not all jurisdictions allow surge brakes, so check your local laws.

Because cars behind you can’t see the lights on your tow vehicle, federal law requires trailers to be equipped with brake lights, taillights, turn signals, and reflectors. These are powered by a connector that hooks up to your vehicle’s electrical system. Make sure your wires are taut enough not to drag on the road, but loose enough not to disconnect during turns.

4. Loading your cargo improperly
If your trailer is off-balance, it will be difficult to control. Make sure cargo is distributed evenly, with about 60 percent of the total weight in front of the axle (but not too far forward). Secure cargo items to prevent them from shifting and keep the overall center of gravity low.

RELATED: Towing and Labor Coverage Defined

5. Forgetting you’re towing a trailer
No matter how strong or nimble your tow vehicle is, it’ll be less responsive once it has a trailer behind it. Since you won’t be able to accelerate, turn, or brake as fast, you’ll want to look further up the road and give yourself extra time and space to change lanes or slow down. It’s also a good idea to do some short practice drives before heading out on your big trip.

6. Not checking tire pressure
If you haven’t taken your trailer out for a while, there’s a good chance the tires need inflating. Driving a fully loaded trailer with underinflated tires is very dangerous — underinflated tires produce more friction, which can lead to blow-outs and possible rollovers. Be sure to check the tire pressure on both your tow vehicle and your trailer before you go (and while you’re at it, check the tires themselves for signs of wear).

Check your coverage capacity
One safety precaution you should always take is having adequate insurance. If your tow vehicle is insured, you can get basic liability coverage for your trailer under your auto policy. But travel trailer insurance offers much broader coverage, including total loss recovery, personal effects replacement, funds for lodging if your trailer is damaged, and even a full-timers package (if you live in your trailer year-round).

When I had an open trailer #5 used to get me. I would leave early in the morning and when the sun would come up I would look in the rear view mirror and freak out! - "why the F is this guy tail-gating me!"

Then I would realize it was the car I was towing. Every time.

I do this every time. Hey a$$hole!! Oh, that's me.

This may sound silly, but I feel that long towing trips have made me a better driver ON TRACK. I'm much better at scanning in the distance and anticipating traffic. I'm very aware of highway strategy, speed maintenance, braking input, fuel conservation, steady hands, watching my mirrors. In city traffic, towing a rig is an extreme exercise in momentum driving.

On track, in an underpowered Spec Boxster, I often double-check my rear mirror to make sure I don't have a trailer hooked up.

Towing does make one really focus and anticipate situations. All that mentioned above are Best Practices.....I also:
1. Make certain my Tundra brakes are tip top,
2. Have my trailer bearings repacked 1X per year and repack the bearings,
3. Check all air pressures before leaving home and before leaving the track.

Great information for anyone towing. I have seen some really bad stuff over the years.

They should put a #7:

Get rid of the cheap China-bomb tires that come on most trailers. Especially with the heavier enclosed trailers running 6K or higher axles.

This is a must....see if your fender wells will take oversize tires...and note the angle of the loading ramp will be more severe. You may experience a rub. I went from 15" to 16", taller, wider, on my Becker trailer to come: TIRE/WHEEL - ST235/80R16/LRE - RADIAL ON ALUMINUM - W/STAINLESS STEEL LUGNUTS

It's pretty difficult not to run Chinese made tires, because just about every trailer tire offered is made in China or thereabouts.

2 other important items not mentioned above, that we do for all our customers are:

- metal valve stems in all trailer wheels
- balance every tire we mount on a trailer wheel

Two (2) more musts:
- metal valve stems in all trailer wheels,
- balance every tire we mount on a trailer wheel.

Not having a lug wrench.

Not having AAA for those in the US

Bottle jack that can lift a loaded trailer

Spare tire....with air in it

Check to see if your brake lights work

And my new one......get a dashcamera
I got brake checked by a moron on his phone trying to exit from the left lane who then freaked out and came to a stop after cutting me off.....luckily I was only going about 10-15 at impact with a loaded trailer
Even more lucky he admitted fault to his insurance

From then in I drive with a dash cam when towing...if he hadn't been a good guy...I woulda been paying for a bumper...or if he had been a good driver it woulda never happened

Finish the process of tightening the lug nuts after getting interrupted by the kids.
Having a wheel come off can really hurt your day.
Luckily it didn't hurt anyone else.

Never done this but I keep a spare just in case: forget your car keys!

Also... forgetting to unstrap your tie-downs at the wheels before backing it off the trailer. Potentially had this happen :(

This string is getting ...
 

Hilarious....quick anecdote..had a flat on the trailer coming back from a distant track...but no worries, I had an inflated spare, a lug wrench, a jack...everything....but, the lug nut holding the spare to the trailer spun when I went to take it off. So now I had a spare, but couldn't use it, and I was in the middle of nowhere. My buddy was with me...we unloaded the car***...he drove it home, and I towed a trailer with three (3) wheels.

Towing isn't for the faint of heart :)

***Sort of street legal with current plates.

This beats a bottle jack and you can make your own with 2x6 cut and stacked three high.

+1

no tandem axle trailer should be without one, has made my life easier many times

+ 993 on ^^^. It was said above, but needs to be said again. SPARE LUG NUTS. Having a spare is no good if you can't put it on. Don't ask!!!

Don't put the keys to the trailer on the bumper of your truck. Ever.

shooting the breeze?
 

How about when….hypothetically speaking, of course……….you get so excited to be at track with your friends and everyone starts chatting while you go about unloading/loading the trailer?

Hypothetically ….this might lead to something like unhitching the trailer from your rig BEFORE backing the car off?

I just know someday I will arrive at the track with an empty trailer.

Or no trailer! Actually saw that happen at the Glen a few years ago. A big RV (bus size) was apparently towing a two car stacker, it came off pulling the hill approaching the Glen. They got all the way into the paddock before noticing it. Miricle was it just rolled off to the side of the road, a welder fixed their hitch and all was well. Think it was the same year a transport hit a low bridge and peeled the top of his trailer back..

But your MPG getting there, through the roof!

Let's see, dumb things I have done:

- (attempted to) load the trailer without the hitch ball being secure, don't recommend

- somehow got just the front right wheel hanging out in space, with someone helping me load. That person has since been relieved of that duty

- unhooked trailer with car still loaded. At least that was an easy fix, just lowered the trailer back onto the ball.

- unhooked empty trailer from RV, fired up RV, RV inflated the air suspension which brought the hitch back up into the coupler, dragged the trailer around for about 30 feet before I figured out the problem/what that noise was

That's about it. I'm definitely green group trailer loading, but I'm about ready for my check out load.

LOL. We had a similar situation. My buddy helped me hook the trailer up and told me he had the ball lock on. Well, as I sloly pull in my 911 the trailer front end starts to rise..... I slowly stopped and let her roll back down the ramp and let it come donw on the ball again and then I made sure it was locked... He has been relieved of any trailer duties!

That is some very good advice, most of which I can relate to:

- Keep spare trailer keys in your tow vehicle - always! (because you WILL need them some day)
- Don't get distracted by anyone when loading or unloading the trailer - you WILL screw something up
- Always lock all doors of your trailer before you are underway - they WILL otherwise hit something when they open on the freeway
- Always check twice that you have unhooked your tow straps before unloading your car - there is nothing more embarrassing....
- Always check your trailer tire pressures before you set off - you WILL have a slow leak one day and it's better to change a tire in a parking lot than on a freeway
- Always check your tongue weight when you have loaded the trailer in a new configuration or your car at a different spot on the trailer - it is amazing how little movement of your car can change the tongue weight in a massive way
- Make sure you have a tire iron to change your trailer's tires when your electric impact wrench is fully discharged on the way home because it WILL be discharged when you need it to change your trailer tire in the middle of the night
- When backing up your enclosed trailer, don't be shy to get out of the car often to make sure you don't hit anything
- when you tow a trailer on the highway, expect for all drivers around you to start behaving like total idiots

I've seen guys show up w/ everything they need for a day at the track except their car keys

:roflmao:

I bought a 1961 MGA about ten years ago when I had an open trailer. I tied it down on the trailer just fine and when I went to finish putting the ramps back up the seller's brother said "I took care of it".

Going across the Throgs Neck Bridge one of the ramps shot out the back, in traffic. Very very lucky that it slid to the side out of traffic. The other ramp was hanging out about half way and was set to go as well.

Never ever trust someone to help you unless you have complete faith in them. The guy never put the pins in. That is a lesson I learned.

Lastly, as has been said many times, never let someone distract you when loading or unloading. Easy way to forget to do something important.

Regardless of how much you trust them, just don't accept help from anyone when loading up. They may be of great help with the things that they do, but that help ends up also being a distraction that may cause you to forget something or do something even more stupid than you usually do.

Habits are your friend when doing things like loading trailers. Anything that disrupts that routine is potentially a problem.

Help is fine. I don't mind help at the end of a long weekend. It is appreciated. You just either can't let them doing anything important or you have to double check everything they did.

I will let people help me get the car in the trailer (I can't drive it in) and help me get the truck/ball lined up with the trailer hitch. But I always do the tie downs and all the trailer to truck hookups and I close and lock all the trailer doors making sure the ramps and chocks get put away where they belong.

So yes, I do almost all the work even with some help. But the help I get is appreciated. My helper is usually my wife.

There was thread like this a year ago.

trailer-sense-tips-tricks-and-traps

Always fun to read.

Some of this stuff scares me almost to the point of never leaving my driveway. :icon501:

One more to add.

In case of a tilt trailer make sure the lock to prevent tilting took.

Ask me how I know. But thanx to fellow participants I escaped harm - its the people, not the cars.