Borrowing your friend's boat for a weekend at the lake sounds like a great idea until you realize you have to drive it there.Learning the specifications and the techniques for hooking up a camper, vehicle, or other type of trailer to your car will make your job a lot easier.Hitch your trailer, drive it correctly, and back it up.For more information, see Step 1.
Step 1: Make sure your vehicle is rated for towing.
It's not possible to tow an 8,000-pound camper trailer with a Honda Civic.If you want to haul a particular trailer, you need to check the weight limits in the owner's manual and install the right hitch.The weight should be listed in the owner's manual.If you can't find the manual, check at an auto shop.The gross trailer weight is the combined weight of the trailer and gear on it, and the maximum tongue weight for your vehicle to determine the class of hitch you'll need to tow the load.
Step 2: Get the right hitch for your load.
You'll get a hitch receiver that you can use for different size trailer hitches, for class 3 and up.You can use theremovable draw-bar to install different sized hitches for different loads.If you get the largest receiver installed on your vehicle, you'll be ready for any sized load you can handle, according to the following specifications.
Step 3: The ball should be the right size for the trailer.
The bigger the ball, the heavier it can carry.The ball of the hitch comes in three different sizes: 1 8 inch, 2 inch and 16 inch.
Step 4: Attach the trailer to the vehicle.
The tongue jack can be used to raise the trailer.Before lowering the trailer onto the ball and securing the tongue, make sure the hitch lock is unlocked.To make sure the safety chains don't drag on the ground, cross them to the hooks near the vehicle hitch or vehicle frame.The tongue jack can be used to raise the tongue off the ball.The ball and tongue sizes do not match if you are able to do this.Try again if you replace the ball with the correct size.The tongue of the trailer can be locked in place with a bolt or padlock through the ball lock mechanism.
Step 5: Attach the lights to the harness.
A simple color-coded connection that makes it easy to hook up the lights to the harness is what these use.After you've connected the lights, do a quick brake check to make sure everything is working.It's important to make sure that your turn signals and brakes work on the back of the trailer to ensure a safe trip.To keep the connection from corroding, you might consider spraying the contacts with a small amount of grease.
Step 6: The tongue weight should be checked.
The amount of weight resting on the hitch should be between 10 and 12 percent of the trailer's weight.You can place a bathroom scale under the beam to check.The scale is likely for 4,000 lbs. if the weight out-weighs it.To get a smaller measurement, place the scale farther up the trailer.You should triple the weight on the scale if you go a third of the way up.An equalizing bar can be used to even out the pressure on the hitch.These metal brackets transfer a bit of the weight to the front of your vehicle.If you're hauling at the upper end of the specs, use an equalizer.
Step 7: Take care of your load.
Since you're responsible for anything that flies out and causes damage, you might need to use a tarp to secure loose objects in boats or refuse trailers.You can take this opportunity to make sure the hitch height is set correctly, your trailer's tires are inflated to the appropriate specifications, and that you haven't overloading the trailer in such a way as to undermine the careful checks you've already performed.
Step 8: The clearance of your new rig is something you need to know.
Before you hit the road, make sure to remove your tape measure.Does the trailer make your rig taller?By how much?How much is added to the back of your vehicle?Any time you're trying to park somewhere you normally wouldn't give a second thought to squeezing into, these will be important considerations.If you're towing a trailer for the first time, it's best to practice in an empty parking lot.You want to be aware of the vehicle's response time and turn radius.
Step 9: You should accelerate and brake at the same time.
When driving on inclines, you must always compensate for the extra weight.Be cautious and play it safe.Changing lanes, parking on the side of the road, and pulling over are all things you need to pay attention to.
Step 10: Prepare for the difference in fuel economy.
Keep an eye on the gauge to see if towing a significant amount of weight will affect your fuel economy.Making frequent pull-offs in crowded gas stations can be difficult for first-time towers, so try to anticipate your fuel needs ahead of time.
Step 11: Don't stop until you check the connection.
Even if you double checked your connections and everything is up to code, there's a chance that something in the road will cause the trailer to lose some weight.It's best to stop on long trips to make sure everything is still connected.It's not a good idea to double-check your trailer after seeing it careen off the road.
Step 12: If you take a turn too close, stay calm.
It will most likely happen when you don't have enough space to clear a turn.Don't panic.If there is traffic behind you, back up slowly and as straight as possible to give yourself the clearance you need.You can get a passenger to hop out and watch the trailer from a different angle to give you steering tips.
Step 13: Get prepared.
One of the most difficult driving maneuvers there is backing up a trailer, but it's easy to master with the right technique and a bit of smarts.To act as a spotter, roll down your windows and kick the passenger out.It might take a few runs before you get it perfect, so it's important to have another set of eyes.
Step 14: Setting yourself up for success is the best way to do it.
Keeping the truck and the trailer straight will help you get yourself oriented properly.To give yourself enough room to back up, pull past the spot by 8–10 feet.Turn your wheel when you get it lined up.If you pulled up to a spot on your passenger side, enough ahead of the spot to back up, stop the car and jack the wheel to the left or the driver's side.
Step 15: The "S" turn can be learned.
To get the back end of the trailer to go right, you need to make your car go left and then straight out to avoid a jackknife.Start backing up slowly and turn the wheel to the right.If your angle gets too sharp, watch your back end closely.This will take some practice.Go very slowly.The idling speed should be fast if you're in an automatic transmission.Don't make unnecessary or fast changes and use gas only sparingly.It's a good idea to avoid jackknifing.If the angle of the truck to the trailer becomes smaller than the right angle, straight it back out and give it another go.Don't try to force it.
Step 16: Don't let your front end get neglected.
Make friends with your side mirrors so you can keep an eye on where your front end is at all times, taking special caution to watch out for parking obstacles and bumps that might mess up your approach and be a problem when you're trying to get back out.Use your side mirrors and drive like a pro.The rear-view will be useless in the task.To back up correctly, use the help of a spotter and your side-mirrors.