14
•
Increased turning radius; you must make much wider corners when turning with a trailer,
so as to not hit anything on the inside radius of the turn.
•
Increased passing distance (due to longer length); if you are not sure if you can safely
pass a vehicle, do not pass the vehicle
Other things to be aware of when towing a trailer include:
•
Slippery conditions. Slippery conditions will affect you more if you’re towing a trailer.
These can include rain, sleet, snow, etc. Drive below the recommended speed when
facing this conditions to make sure you can properly handle your vehicle and trailer
•
Swaying of the trailer. The trailer swaying is caused by passing trucks and other large
vehicles. In order to correct swaying, DO NOT BRAKE. Instead, continue driving and
pulling the vehicle
—
this will stabilize the trailer.
•
Check your mirrors. Make sure to frequently check your mirrors to check traffic and also
check your distance to other vehicles
•
On steep roads, use a low gear. Do not ride the brakes when driving down a steep grade.
If you do so, you may over-heat your brakes, making them ineffective
O
VERLOADING AND
I
MPROPER
L
OADING OF THE
T
RAILER
Please refer to the
Loading the Trailer
section of this manual for more details
Overloading is when the weight of the trailer plus the weight of your load exceed the GVWR.
Overloading can cause you to lose control of your towing vehicle and cause serious injury or
death. Never overload your trailer when towing. Improperly loading the trailer can cause failure
in tires, wheels, axle or structure of the trailer. Always ensure your trailer is properly loaded. If
you are not sure how to do this, refer to the
Loading the Trailer
section of this manual.
Make sure your cargo is always fastened and tied down sufficiently; if it is not, your cargo may
shift and cause loss of control which can lead to serious injury or death. Even if you initially
loaded your trailer properly, shifting cargo can cause you to lose control of your trailer. Do not
load improper cargo on your trailer; only load what the trailer was designed for. Also, ensure
your trailer is loaded in such a way as to not exceed the GAWR.
I
MPROPERLY
C
OUPLED TO THE
H
ITCH
Please refer to the
Coupling to the Tow Vehicle
section of this manual for more details. For the
coupler and hitch to be correctly fastened:
•
Ensure that the hitch load rating is sufficient for your coupler; it must be greater or equal
to your coupler.
•
Ensure the hitch and coupler sizes match.
