Borrowing a boat from a friend for a weekend at the lake seems like a great idea, until you realize you need to tow it there. Whether you need to connect a caravan, vehicle or other type of trailer to your car, by learning some specific techniques and details of the procedure, you are able to get the job done much easier. Know how to properly couple the towing vehicle, drive correctly and reverse safely. Read on to learn more.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Connect the Trailer
Step 1. Make sure your vehicle is suitable for towing a load
You probably can't tow a large 35-quintal trailer with a utility car. You must consult the use and maintenance manual to check the weight limits and accordingly choose the correct towbar to install, based on the type of vehicle you need to transport.
- Weight categories are usually indicated by the car manufacturer and listed in the machine manual. If you don't have the manual, search online or ask a dealer for information.
- You have to find two values: the total weight of the trailer (the sum of the weight of the trolley and the transported load) and the towable mass shown in the vehicle registration document, which indicates the maximum weight that a particular vehicle can tow safely and legally. These two numbers allow you to identify the type of hook to be installed for transport.
Step 2. Purchase the suitable towbar model for the load you are towing
Typically, a universal bar or support is installed to which the different types of hooks can be attached. However, as the towable mass is determined by the vehicle type, dealers and installers usually provide a hitch capable of supporting just this maximum weight. Subsequently, you must request the updating of the registration certificate from the Motorization Civil and, in certain cases, the car must be subjected to testing. Here is a list of the various classes to which hooks belong based on the weight they can tow:
- First class: up to 9 quintals;
- Second class: up to 15 quintals;
- Third class: up to 22 quintals;
- Fourth class: up to 34 quintals;
- Fifth class: up to 45 quintals.
Step 3. Purchase the correct size ball hanger for the trolley
The larger the diameter, the more weight it can pull. The hook ball is usually available in three sizes:
- 4, 8 cm;
- From 5 cm;
- From 6 cm.
Step 4. Secure the trailer to the vehicle
Use the appropriate lever or jack to lift the carriage bar and align it with the ball of the hook. Before placing it and fixing it on the sphere, make sure that the safety of the hook is open. Cross the safety chains towards the clips located near the car frame or towbar, making sure they are loose enough, but not to the point where they touch the ground.
- Using the carriage bar lever or jack, try to lift the carriage bar off the ball. If you can do this, it means that the dimensions of the sphere and the bar do not coincide or that the sphere is not well closed. In this case, you need to replace it with one of the correct size or tighten it better before trying again.
- When the tow bar is on the ball, you can lock it in place by placing a bolt or padlock inside the mechanism; in this way, you prevent it from accidentally opening.
Step 5. Connect the lights through the wired connector
This is typically a simple color-coded device that allows you to easily connect the trailer's lighting system to that of the vehicle.
- After connecting the lights, do a quick check by pressing the brakes to make sure the brake lights are working properly. It is essential that the direction lights and brake lights located on the rear of the truck are fully functional to travel safely (as well as to avoid fines).
- To prevent the wiring from corroding, you should spray it with dielectric grease.
Step 6. Check the weight supported by the carriage bar
The tow hook must bear a weight equal to approximately 10-12% of the total towed weight. For this operation you can use a normal scale for people by placing it under the trolley bar.
- If the mass to be checked exceeds the full scale of the scale (which is quite probable for trailers heavier than 18 quintals), place the scale slightly higher to obtain a lower value. If you have moved about a third upwards, multiply the weight obtained by three to get an approximate value.
- Based on the mass of the trailer, you should consider using a stabilizer bar to distribute the pressure on the hook evenly. These are usually long metal brackets that transfer some weight to the front axle of the vehicle. If you are carrying a load very close to the maximum permitted weight, use one of these bars.
Step 7. Secure the load securely
Depending on what you transport, you may need to use a plastic tarp to block loose items on the boats or choose a closed cart, because you are responsible for anything that can come off and cause damage.
You can take this opportunity to make sure that the height of the hook is correct, that the tires on the trailer have the right pressure and that you have not overloaded the truck in such a way as to cancel all the careful checks that you have already performed
Part 2 of 3: Drive
Step 1. Familiarize yourself with the new vehicle
Before you hit the road, "take measurements" of the vehicle you have to drive. Does the cart make it much taller? How much? How many extra meters do you have to take into account at the rear of the vehicle? These are important considerations that you need to keep in mind whenever you are trying to park in a place where you would not normally worry too much about the space available.
If this is your first time towing a trailer, you should practice in an empty parking lot before venturing into traffic. You need to get as comfortable as possible with the vehicle's reaction times and turning radius
Step 2. Accelerate and brake slowly
You always have to compensate for the extra weight you are carrying, especially when slowing down and driving on sloping roads; be cautious and take no chances. You must also pay particular attention to the length of the vehicle whenever:
- Lane changes;
- Merge into another road;
- Exit the highway;
- Parking lots;
- You stop to refuel with gasoline;
- Pull over.
Step 3. Be prepared for different fuel consumptions
Towing a large load has a negative effect on the amount of gas your car consumes, so pay attention to the gauge. Stopping frequently at crowded gas stations can be nerve-wracking for people towing a trailer for the first time, so try to refuel before you desperately need it to save yourself any difficult maneuvers.
Step 4. Stop often and inspect the connection
Even if you've checked and double-checked the connections and everything is in order, there's always a chance that something on the way bumped the cart lightly. It's best to stop from time to time, especially on long journeys or bumpy trails, to make sure everything is well hooked. The time for a check is not when you see the load skidding off the road.
Step 5. Stay calm if you turned too tight a radius
Chances are you may misjudge the turn time or that you don't have enough room to turn as you would like. Don't panic! Check that there are no other cars behind you and back off slowly, respecting a trajectory as straight as possible to gain the space you need. Ask the passenger to get off, monitor the trolley from different angles to give you maneuvering advice and use the mirrors judiciously.
Part 3 of 3: Reverse
Step 1. Get ready
There is no need to lie, backing away with a trailer is one of the most complicated maneuvers, but it is easy to master it with the right technique and a little forethought. To get ready, roll down the windows and ask the passenger to get out to check the movements and help you. It will take a few tries before you retreat perfectly; therefore, another pair of eyes is always useful.
Step 2. Increase your chances of success by placing the vehicle perpendicular to where you want to enter
To orient the vehicle correctly, you should make it more or less 90 ° to the area where you want to drive the rear of the trailer, keeping the vehicle and the truck aligned. Go beyond the parking zone by at least 2.5-3 meters to have enough room to maneuver.
When you are aligned, turn the steering wheel away from where the pitch is. In other words, if you pulled over a little further than a perpendicular parking lot on the passenger side, stop the car and turn the steering wheel to the left or to the driver's side
Step 3. Learn to park "S"
Basically, to bring the rear of the trailer to the right, you have to make the rear of the car go to the left and then straighten it, to avoid closing the corner too much and hitting the trailer with the car itself. Start by backing up slowly and quickly straighten the wheels back to the right. Look carefully at the back and straighten it when the angle gets too tight. This maneuver takes some practice.
- Go very slowly. If the car is equipped with an automatic transmission, the minimum speed is already too excessive and can make you nervous. Rarely use the throttle and don't make unnecessary or quick changes.
- Prevents the trailer and car from forming too tight an angle. If, at any time, the angle between the trolley and the car becomes less than 90 °, straighten the path of the car and make another attempt. Don't try to force the situation, because you won't get results.
Step 4. Don't overlook the front of the trailer
The side mirrors are your best friends to make you understand at all times where the front portion is; pay particular attention to obstacles while parking, to the irregularities of the asphalt that can modify the approach phases and become a problem when you want to straighten the vehicle. Drive like a pro and use the side mirrors.
Your rear view is practically useless at this stage. Get someone else to help you and make good use of the side mirrors
Advice
- Check that the trailer lighting system is wired correctly with the vehicle's.
- Check that the trailer has passed the inspection and that it is approved for use on the road.
