Practice Makes Perfect
Trailering
by Randy Scott
December 20, 2007
Towing a boat from one location to another opens up virtually unlimited boating
opportunities.
While doing so can be a little intimidating to the novice, it's not an overly difficult skill
to master. The following tips will help ensure your towing experience is a positive and safe one.
TIP 1:
HAVE A CHECKLIST.
Many towing problems can be avoided if you take a couple of minutes to inspect a few key
items before ever pulling out of your driveway. Compile a checklist of these items, and go through
it before you leave. Your checklist should include such things as making sure all lights work
properly, the hitchball is secure, all wheel nuts are tight, tire pressure is adequate (including the spare), the coupler is secure (running a bolt through the coupler hole will ensure it won't pop open), the trailer jack
is raised and locked in place, the trailer's emergency brake cable (or breakaway cable) is connected to the tow vehicle, the safety chains are hooked up in a
crisscross fashion, and the boat's drive is tilted up and locked in trailering position. Add to the
list as you see fit.
TIP 2:
WATCH YOUR WEIGHT.
You should be aware of four weight ratings when you tow: Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR),
Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR), Trailer Weight Allowance (TWA), or maximum tow rating, and Gross
Combined Weight Rating (GCWR).
Both your tow vehicle and trailer have a designated GVWR, which represents the total
allowable weight that it's designed to safely carry. GAWR, on the other hand, is the maximum
allowable weight on each axle (front and rear on a tow vehicle). In some cases, it's possible to be within the GVWR but
exceed the GAWR. An example of this is a small truck with a fully loaded camper and a boat in tow.
The TWA is the maximum weight the vehicle can safely tow. GCWR represents the combined weight
of a fully loaded tow vehicle (fuel,
occupants, cargo - everything) and the total weight of what's in tow (trailer, boat, fuel, gear, etc.). To determine the exact weight, take the tow vehicle and
trailer, fully loaded, to a public scale, and weigh each vehicle separately to get the needed
weights. This may sound like a lot of work, but it's the best way to know if you're within safety
tolerances.
TIP 3:
PRACTICE, PRACTICE,PRACTICE.
The first few times that you climbed behind the wheel of a car and took control of it, you
undoubtedly did so under an experienced driver's tutelage, and you likely did it on some
out-of-the-way road where there was no traffic around. That same principle should hold true when it
comes to towing for the first time, too.
Near-empty parking lots provide an ideal training ground. Bring some plastic gallon jugs, and
practice turning around them, maneuvering between them, and most importantly, backing up alongside
of them. Such practice sessions will be time well spent and will make the real thing significantly
less stress
TIP 4:
TURN WIDE.
Every time you hitch a trailer to a vehicle, the normal driving characteristics
of that vehicle change. Take turning, for instance. Trailers have a tighter turning radius
than the tow vehicle, so if your tow vehicle barely cleared the curb or another car's bumper when
turning, the trailer will hit it. Therefore, you'll need to develop the habit of making
widerthan-normal turns. This isn't difficult to learn, yet it's one of the most important keys to
successful towing.
TIP 5:
COMPENSATE FOR MORE SLUGGISH ACCELERATION.
Much of your vehicle's normal zip will likely be zapped by the extra load you're pulling, and
you must allow for it. This is most noticeable during acceleration.
Hitting the gas pedal won't have the same effect when towing. Therefore, merging and passing
need to be calculated differently. Learning to be a patient driver is the key to safe towing.
TIP 6:
LEAVE MORE ROOM.
Never forget that your overall length has greatly increased. Even if you're towing a small
boat, your combined length is likely to more than double what it is when not towing. You'll need to
compensate for this in two ways: Allow for more room and time. Even if your vehicle exhibits good
acceleration while towing, it's going to take longer to pass another vehicle simply due to the
added length. You must pull farther ahead of the vehicle you're passing before safely re-entering
your lane. This, in turn, requires more time.
Remaining aware of these factors cannot be overemphasized.
TIP 7:
ALLOW YOURSELF MORE STOPPING DISTANCE.
The added weight of thousands of pounds in motion can dramatically increase the distance it
takes for you to stop. Granted, most trailers are required by law to come equipped with their own
set of brakes.
Nonetheless, your tow vehicle's stopping ability still isn't as good as when you drive it
alone. If you're not careful, the
boat and trailer can push you too far into an intersection or into the back of another
automobile. You can prevent
this by driving slower and giving yourself greater distance to stop. It's recommended you
leave the equivalent of at least the length of your car/trailer combination for every 10 mph.
TIP 8:
MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ADEQUATE MIRRORS.
Many tow vehicles today come with side mirrors that provide meager rear visibility. If that's
the case with your tow vehicle, then buy aftermarket mirrors to remedy the problem. Small, circular
convex mirrors can be attached to your existing mirrors to eliminate blind spots. However, larger
mirrors that extend farther out from the vehicle provide a better view of what's behind your
trailer.
TIP 9:
DON'T BE SWAYED.
Trailer sway is one of the more serious and intimidating things you may experience while
towing your boat. If your trailer begins to sway from side to side, try not to panic. Slamming on
your brakes can cause jackknifing. Instead, gradually apply brake pressure to bring the vehicle
under control. Don't try to steer out of a trailer-sway situation.
Your reflexes aren't that quick, and you'll likely exasperate the situation. If you
experience a persistent sway, pull over and do some inspecting. Make sure the tire lug nuts are
tight, the tires have adequate air, and the hitch connections are securely fastened. See if the
boat has shifted on the trailer. Also, too much weight in the rear of the boat - whether it's gear,
fuel or water tanks - can result in a tongue weight that's too light, which contributes to sway.
TIP 10:
PLACE YOUR HANDS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN BACKING UP.
When backing up your trailer, put your hand at the bottom of the steering wheel, and face
forward using the side mirrors to direct you. If you want the trailer to go left, move your hand to
the left; if you want it to go right, move your hand to the right.
These tips don't cover everything there is to know about towing, but they do cover some of
the most crucial aspects. The most important thing is to be careful and use common sense,
since the more you do it, the better you'll perform.
