Camper trailers have become on the better investments one can make when considering how you’d like to spend your holidays. Once you factor in the cost of hotel rooms, travel expenses, and food, there’s no doubt that one can save quite a bit of money by making the initial investment. From the towing vehicle to the equipment that you use to tote your trailer around, everything must be in place to ensure travel safety. These tips are designed to help you prepare for any contingency in the towing process, and greatly reduce the risk that any tow-related accidents occur.
How you handle your towing will depend on the type of camper trailer you have. Does it have one axle or two? If you’ve made the investment and have a two axle camper trailer, you’ll have better weight distribution while in transit. If you can splurge, it’s usually better to make the extra investment, get one of the larger camper trailers. Not only will you have a safer traveling set-up, but you’ll enjoy more space and can stay on holiday for longer periods of time.
Before you leave to hit the road, it’s always good practice to perform a complete safety inspection. Pay close attention to the trailer hitch. Are all of the bolts securely fastened? Be sure that you take note of all the holding pins to be sure that wear and tear hasn’t taken its toll. Also, it’s a great habit to check the tire pressure on both the tow vehicle and the camper trailer. The tires found on most campers will require at least a bit of air before each trip.
In addition to the tow hitch and the tire pressure, it’s important that safety chains are in place. They should be crossed into an X to ensure that they are in place if necessary. What would happen if your trailer suddenly detached from the tow vehicle while traveling? If you don’t have safety chains, the camper trailer’s tongue will hit the pavement and cause more than a few problems.
Finish off your safety check by checking all of the braking mechanisms, the electrical systems (including lights, and give the hitch one more pass. We always advocate giving the trailer hitch two separate inspections, as it’s the most important part of the towing process. If all of your lights are operational and the braking system is fully functional, then you’re ready to pack up the camper trailer and hit the open road.
Safety should always be a top priority when considering the towing of camper trailers. The popularity of road trips continues to rise as many of us continue to recover from the economic downturn. Vacations spent with the family on the open road are a great way to enjoy quality time without breaking bank accounts wide open.
If this is your first time travelling with a towed trailer, we recommend taking the entire rig out to an open area, generally an empty parking lot, and practicing the maneuvering of both the vehicle and the trailer. Backing up or parking can be quite difficult if you’ve never attempted either before. Remember, the trailer will turn in the opposite direction of the towing vehicle when being reversed, and this takes some getting used to. Take care of your campers, practice maneuvering, and always conduct thorough safety checks, and your investment will be well protected. Nothing can ruin a vacation quite like an accident, so take all of the necessary steps to ensure that it doesn’t happen to you! Enjoy the road and the freedoms that come alone with owning your own camper trailer!
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