Once you’re done checking everything, you can now hit the road to your destination. Of course, you have to avoid distracted driving, don’t text and drive and don’t drive when tired or drunk. If you can, avoid driving at night.
Have you ever hauled a trailer? The chances are that you've probably done it at some point in your life. But, what if I told you that you might have been doing it all wrong? Hauling a trailer is a process that, if not done with utmost precision, might lead to severe injuries. Unfortunately, it is also a process that many people engage in daily when trying to move heavy things or moving from one apartment to another.
Some people just load their items on a trailer with no concern for the trailer weight, the capacity, and the type of tow vehicle to be used. This is very risky as improper loading on the trailer can cause you to lose other items or get into an accident.
Knowing how to haul your trailer safely does not just protect your cargo; it protects other road users and avoids unsafe situations for everyone. It is also a tremendous economic decision because once the trailer is hauled correctly, you will not lose any goods to mistakes and reach your destination without a hitch.
Hauling a trailer is not just for personal movements but also for businesses. So, properly training your staff to haul a trailer is always a good idea as it ensures that your goods will be safely delivered to their destination. This also minimizes the risk of employee injuries.
This guide will help you know everything you need to know to safely haul a trailer for your personal needs and your business.
Know the weight
Before you haul or even load your trailer, you need to understand some critical weight factors and terms to know how much weight your trailer can or cannot carry. You need to know the payload capacity, which is the total weight capacity of a trailer, the tongue weight, and the trailer weight. These values will help you know if you need any weight distribution hitches to safely load the trailer. You need to know the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR); this is the maximum weight allowed of both the trailer and the cargo to be carried. This value will most likely be posted on the VIN label of your trailer. You also need to know the Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR), the maximum weight your vehicle’s axle can support.
Load the trailer safely
Safety is of utmost priority when loading a trailer. When you know all the necessary weight values, you can now start loading your trailer. This should depend on the type of trailer you have and the kind of cargo you want to tow.
If you are using an enclosed cargo trailer, you want the heaviest items loaded in front with sixty percent of the total cargo weight in the front half of the trailer. Lighter goods should be placed in the rear and near the top, and the cargo should be closely packed and even tied down firmly to secure it. This is also similar to how open trailers should be loaded, but small items should not exceed the height of the sides of the trailer box, and tie-downs should be used to secure the cargo.
Before hitting the road
When you are done loading the trailer, you should read your owner’s manual. This will contain all the information and instructions you need specific to your trailer. You also need to ensure the tow vehicle tires are properly inflated and that all the lights are working.
Also, check if you have a fire extinguisher, reflectors, and flares in the case of an emergency on the way. All passengers should be properly buckled up, and nobody should ride in the trailer; this is a considerable risk, and they might get injured by moving cargo.
Photo by NeONBRAND on Unsplash
On the road
Once you’re done checking everything, you can now hit the road to your destination. Of course, you have to avoid distracted driving, don’t text and drive and don’t drive when tired or drunk. If you can, avoid driving at night.
Keep your speeds at or below 55 miles per hour and keep a safe distance from the car in front of you. Avoid sharp turns and slow down before you start driving downhill. You should also stop at intervals to inspect your trailer. For example, check the trailer connections, retighten the lug nuts, check the tire pressure and that your cargo is secured.
Safely hauling a trailer is not an easy feat and should not be carelessly done. If you are not careful and your body is not in top condition when you drive (e.g. intoxicated), you can cause massive accidents with irreversible consequences, which might lead you to contact DUI lawyers for help. Preventing injuries should be paramount to your moving and reaching your destination. Following these steps will make sure you arrive at your destination with your vehicle, the trailer and the cargo intact.
Main photo by Nick Deinum on Unsplash
