Tips For Towing A Work Trailer Behind Your Pickup Truck
If you have a pickup truck with a hitch, chances are good that you’ve got some towing experience as well. But when it comes to work trailers, you may be hauling something significantly heavier than a small boat or travel trailer…especially if you’re using your pickup truck on a farm or at a jobsite. This handy guide from Commercial Truck Trader is a great resource for all drivers, whether you’re an experienced hauler or heading to your first day on the job.
Know Your Limits
It’s imperative that you know both the loaded weight of the trailer you will be towing, as well as the towing capacity of your used pickup truck. Don’t just assume that all pickups can tow whatever they want. Also, if you’re carrying additional gear or people, be sure to factor that weight into the equation.
Know Your Load
If you’re hauling a single machine or piece of equipment, there’s not much you can do about evenly distributing the weight on your trailer. However, if you have multiple items that need to be loaded onto the trailer, try to keep around 60 percent of the total weight toward the front half of the trailer and make sure that the load is equally distributed on the left and right sides of the trailer. Too much weight on one side could make the load tip over.
The weight of your load will also determine what type of hitch you’ll need to use. Class 1 hitches can tow up to 2,000 pounds; Class 2— up to 3,500 pounds; Class 3— up to 8,000 pounds; Class 4—up to 10,000 pounds; and Class 5—up to 12,000 pounds. Make sure that the hitch ball on your truck matches the couple on the trailer. Using the wrong size hitch ball is the number one cause of trailer accidents.
Get Tied Down
Make sure that everything on your trailer is secured in place once you have it loaded up. Equipment shifting on the trailer while driving can make the experience both difficult and dangerous.
Safety Indicators
Before driving off with your load, make sure you check that the trailer lights are working properly when you press on the brake, click on your turn signals, and use your emergency flashers. If you’re alone when hooking the trailer up, set your smartphone behind the trailer and record a video. Head to your new pickup truck and work the brake, turn signals, and flashers, and then review the video on your phone.
A Clear View
Make sure your mirrors are adjusted properly. The view you normally want behind your pickup truck may be different from the view you need when towing a load, depending on the length of the trailer. Be sure you can see all the way to the end of the trailer.
Pressure Check
Check the tires. You may have tire pressure sensors on your truck that let you know when air pressure is good, but you also need to check the tire pressure on the trailer wheels. If the tires are overinflated or underinflated, it can affect the handling of the tire, force your truck to work harder than it needs to, and reduce fuel efficiency.
Also, make sure that your trailer tires are in good shape, have plenty of tread, and don’t show any signs of dry rot. Blowing a tire while towing heavy equipment can severely damage your truck and could potentially cause an accident that may include other drivers or pedestrians.
On The Road Again
Once you’re all hooked up and ready to roll, stay alert and cautious. Remember that the added weight you are towing will make it more difficult for you to stop the load quickly, so keep your speed low and watch for potential dangers on the road.
If you need to drive on a highway, try to keep to the right lane and only pass other vehicles when necessary. If you do need to change lanes, be sure to execute your move early and only speed up enough to make the pass.
On surface roads, when making turns or going around curves, be sure to go wide to give yourself plenty of room. Keep an eye out for people who might sneak into any blind spots you may have.
When you arrive at your destination, place chocks under the trailer wheels when disconnecting your truck so the trailer doesn’t roll away.
Let’s Get Trucking
In the market for a new truck or trailer of your own? CommercialTruckTrader.com has a wide variety of new and used commercial vehicles. We’ll be happy to ride shotgun with you when it comes to conducting your search.
Barrett Baker
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