Top 5 Trailer Towing Mistakes

For many trailer owners, towing is something they do every now and then – taking a load to the tip, picking up some firewood, or helping the kids to move out (again). For the most part, trailers sit in the shed or around the back of the house for months on end.

This means it can be tough to remember just what to do once you hitch up that trailer. In previous articles we’ve looked at how to tow a trailer; now let’s look at the mistakes to avoid.

1. Not securing your load

Regardless of whether you’re towing a fridge across town or grass clippings up the road, ‘loose loads make dangerous roads!’ It’s vital that your load is secured properly. Heavy items must be tied down, and particular attention paid to making sure the load is balanced. Light, particulate matter must be completely covered with a tarp.

If you think it’s a joke, consider some of the data for Victorian roads alone: 80 tonnes of debris is removed from Victorian roads each month and, according to VicRoads, “Many crashes resulting from a loose load occur at low speeds within a short distance of the trip commencing.”

2. Overloading your trailer

The weight ratings on your trailer and towing vehicle aren’t there as a suggestion – they’re there for your safety, the safety of those around you and to protect your property. Always observe the correct towing weights for your trailer and towing vehicle. If you’re only going up the road, do two trips. If you’re on the long haul, you need to up-spec your trailer.

3. Not balancing your load

Observing your weight rating isn’t enough, however. Just because your trailer is rated to 2,000kg, it doesn’t mean you should stack 500kg of tiles at the back because it’s easier to handle. Instead, the bulk of your load (60 per cent) should sit ahead of your trailer’s axle(s). An unbalanced load can place undue stress on the trailer and undermine the handling of the towing vehicle.

4. Not maintaining your brakes

To keep you, your passengers and any other drivers safe, all trailers with weight ratings over 750kg must be braked. However, brakes are generally one of the most neglected components on a trailer.

It’s particularly important to check drum brakes, as their components are completely hidden from view. Disc brakes require much less maintenance and, as the rotors are visible, it is much easier to diagnose problems.

5. Not maintaining your tyres

It’s very tempting to just hitch up, load up and drive off, but the reality is that those tyres have been stationary for months and probably need a check-up. The biggest issue is under-inflation, which leads to wear in the tyre walls, overheating and, ultimately, blowouts.

If you haven’t towed a trailer in a while, it can be tricky to remember what exactly you should (and shouldn’t) do. But if you observe the rules, maintain your trailer and use your common sense, you should be well on the way to a successful towing trip.

Here’s a bit more on what you need to check when pulling your trailer out of storage.