Tips for Towing a Travel Trailer

Towing your Travel Trailer can be a bit tricky to learn right away. Making sure you are comfortable and ready for the unexpected will keep you and your family safe on any adventure you may go on. We’ve put together a list of important things to familiarize yourself with that should help you safely tow any size Travel Trailer. Visit our dealership today in Virden, Manitoba. We’re just a short drive from Winnipeg and Brandon. We proudly serve our nearby neighbors in Regina, SK!

Stopping

Drivers who are just getting used to towing a vehicle often find that learning to stop is one of the biggest challenges to adjusting to your RV. Because a travel trailer basically acts like it’s a part of your tow vehicle (ideally) the center of gravity on your truck is now much farther back than you’re accustomed to. Not only that, but you’re controlling your truck’s brakes, as well as the brakes of the trailer, which can feel really strange for the uninitiated. The brakes on your truck respond immediately to the amount of pressure you apply, however the brakes on a trailer have a slight delay, and ramp up the pressure over time (this process starts over if you release the truck brake). This means that when towing a trailer you should always give yourself plenty of stopping room, and brake confidently so you don’t release the brake and reset the trailer brake controller.

Highway Speed

At highway speed, your trailer has more power to influence the way you drive. The longer your trailer, the more you’ll feel the effects of high winds, and passing traffic. Even in a properly loaded trailer, this can lead to sway on the road. Be aware of the road conditions in the areas you’ll be driving in, and pay attention for road signs that you may otherwise ignore like ‘High Winds’.

Weight Distribution

It’s important to your safety to make sure that at least 10% of your trailer’s weight is supported on the hitch of your tow vehicle. This helps to ensure more stability and reduce sway on the road. If you load the back end of your trailer too heavy (this is really easy on a toy hauler) your trailer may attempt to drift across lanes and take your tow vehicle along with it. Visit an RV weigh station to gauge the balance of your RV, and practice proper loading techniques to ensure a safer, smoother drive.

Driving Habits

If you want to really improve your RV towing experience, you’re going to have to build habits around the way you drive. Towing a 30’ travel trailer is a much different driving experience compared to hitting the freeway in a sedan. Cultivate a mindset of caution and defensive driving to make sure you never get into an unmanageable position on the road, leave extra room between yourself and vehicles ahead of you, practice your turns and maneuvering, and start with some short easy trips to build your towing skills and you’ll be crisscrossing the country with ease in no time!

Call Us Today at 888-934-4444!

Visit RV Four Seasons today and browse through our selection of Travel Trailers, our friendly and professional team is ready to help you find the perfect trailer for your next adventure! Our dealership is located in Virden, Manitoba. We’re just a short drive from Winnipeg and Brandon. We proudly serve our nearby neighbors in Regina, SK!