Safely Towing Your Travel Trailer

Owning a travel trailer means you have instant easy access to campgrounds in and out of your state. Travel trailers are designed to be reasonably simple to tow, but there’s still a learning curve, particularly for anyone who’s never towed anything before. It’s important to keep a few things in mind when you’re towing your travel trailer so that you don’t endanger yourself or other motorists on the highway.

1. Check Your Hitch

Always make sure that your travel trailer’s hitch is adequately secured to your towing vehicle whenever departing home or a campground. Use towing chains crossed in an X underneath the hitch to further anchor the vehicle and travel trailer together as a stopgap measure in case the hitch fails.

2. Slow Down

Now is not the time to be Speed Racer. Slow down to five or ten miles below the posted speed limit when towing your travel trailer so that you have more opportunity to bring the full towing setup to a complete stop. Going too fast can also increase the risk of trailer sway and your trailer turning over. You’ll also want to increase your following distance between yourself and the vehicles ahead of you for extra stopping time.

3. Avoid High Winds

It’s a good idea to check the weather before you head out to make sure there aren’t really high winds or major storms on your route. A little rain or a light breeze shouldn’t be a problem, but high winds and a lot of rain can make towing really dangerous. If you get caught in bad weather, pull over to a safe area to wait out the storm.

Visit our dealership in Vernal, Utah, to take a look at our inventory of new and used RVs for sale. Talk to our staff about our financing options as well. As a third-generation family-owned RV dealer, B&D RV Center proudly serves the cities of Salt Lake City, Utah; Grand Junction, Colorado; and Rock Springs, Wyoming.