If your vehicle can pull a trailer, doing so can significantly increase the usefulness of your car – no matter what type of trailer you plan to pull. It’s important to understand, however, that pulling a trailer does come with some inherent risks that must be addressed before heading out on your next adventure. We at car dealers in Lafayette, IN, want you to stay safe on the road, so we offer these simple trailer safety tips.
Load it Properly
When you load a trailer, you must ensure that you distribute the load properly to avoid any balance issues while you’re driving. This proper distribution includes achieving the proper tongue weight, which typically should not exceed more than 15 percent of the total weight of the trailer. Also, make sure any especially heavy items are completely secure so that they don’t fall during your journey and cause a major weight shift, resulting in a potential accident.
Fortify Your Following Distance
Anytime you drive a car, it’s important to maintain a safe following distance to prevent a rear-end collision with the car in front of you. With a trailer, this distance is even more crucial, as is the act of increasing the following distance to account for the extra weight that is pushing you down the road. The more weight that is moving, the more force and distance it takes to bring that weight to a stop. To prepare for a potential sudden stop, keep a comfortable following distance between you and any other vehicles.
Don’t Stop On a Dime
If you always wait until the last second to bring your vehicle to a stop, it’s important to change this habit prior to pulling a trailer. At car dealers in Lafayette, IN, we want you to understand that stopping gradually when pulling a trailer is extremely important. A gradual stop puts less stress and strain on your brakes, leading to less wear and tear. Plus, a gradual stop minimizes the risk of a shifting load, which could damage the load or your trailer.
