Towing a trailer is a serious task and should not be taken lightly. It involves all the major vehicle systems of your truck. Before you begin to tow anything, there are a few things you must know so as to have a safe and stress free experience. To ensure this, you must have a properly equipped vehicle, towing accessories and an appropriate trailer. There are some other important basic items you must make sure to have before you tow a trailer.

1.Secure safety chains
2.Properly load your trailer
3.Safety checklist

1.Secure safety chains "" these are fundamental when trailing so as to keep the trailer in place. They should be attached between your vehicle and trailer. You must cross them under the tongue of the trailer so as to ensure the tongue doesn"t drop if the trailer separates from the hitch. Make sure not to tighten the chains too much so as for you to turn corners without slowing down the movement of the trailer.

NB; Do not leave the safety chains to drag on the floor/road.

2.Properly load your trailer "" when loading your trailer, make sure to attain 10-15 percent of the tongue weight. An easy way to do this is by distributing about 60 percent of the load on the front half of the trailer and distribute the rest evenly on the sides. If you place the loads either too forward or too far back then it can create trailer sway which can cause you to lose control of the trailer and lead to serious accidents. Having loaded the goods and distributed the weight properly, make sure to secure it to prevent it from shifting.

3.Have a safety check list "" before embarking on the journey, double check on everything. From the hitch and platform, safety chains, mirror adjustments, the hitch nut and bolts and vehicle and trailer lights. Make sure they are all working correctly and all chains and hitches secured tightly. Check the tire pressure on both the tow vehicle and the trailer so as not to wear out your tires or vehicle shock absorbers. Test the brakes on the trailer. If they are electric brakes, test them manually by engaging the brake controller while the vehicle is moving slowly. If there is a break away switch, make sure it is connected and working properly. Lastly, make sure all the loads are secure.

Having triple checked on all these different aspect of your trailing, you will now be ready to tow your trailer. Always remember the safety chains which are very essential to you travelling safely. You will need to connect them to your trailer but not to tighten the chains too much. You must also load the trailer properly so as not to cause any trailer sway. Lastly, have a check list prepared beforehand so as to ensure you do not forget to double check anything. You can now get into your tow vehicle and begin the journey.