Maintenance

• Trailer maintenance is critical for safety. Towing a trailer puts added stress on a vehicle, so it is important to do required maintenance on the car as well as the trailer. Checking the inflation of the tires prevents a driver from having overinflated or underinflated tires. Improperly inflated tires can lead to a blow out, overheating or affect the handling of the vehicle. Maintenance on the brakes involves checking and replacing worn out parts. Check the wiring and clean the prongs with sandpaper to keep the trailer lights working. Inspect the hitch receiver, ball mount, coupler and safety chains too.
  
  

Safety Checks

• The condition and inflation of the trailer tires should be checked, along with the lug nuts and bolts on the rims. Inspect the hitch, coupler, drawbar and all equipment that connects the trailer and vehicle. The brake lights, turn signals and hazards should be working properly, and appropriate mirrors should be used on the vehicle. The load in the travel trailer should be balanced left to right and front to back.
  
  

Braking

• Always allow enough space between you and the cars in front of you. The stopping distance is greater when towing a travel trailer. If the trailer starts to sway and the vehicle has electric brakes, do not apply the tow vehicle brakes, as this could make the sway worse. It is appropriate to shift down to a lower gear to prevent the brakes from overheating.
  
  

Handling

• Towing a travel trailer causes a vehicle to handle differently. Driving should be done at moderate speeds to prevent trailer sway. Avoid sudden stops that can cause the trailer to jackknife, skid or slide. It is important to slow down on bumpy roads and when going over ditches or railroad tracks. A driver must turn wide to avoid hitting a curb or crossing into another lane.
  
  

Backing Up and Parking

• Have a person stand at the rear of the trailer to guide you when backing up. Back up slowly and avoid extreme movements which lead to greater movement of the travel trailer. Park on flat ground; place blocks on the downhill side of the trailer tires when it is necessary to park on a hill. Place blocks in front and behind each trailer upon unhooking the travel trailer to keep it from rolling away.