Ford 1996 Windstar Manual page 260

Trailer towing tips
Before starting on a trip, practice turning, stopping and backing
in an area away from heavy traffic. Get to know the "feel" of
the vehicle/trailer combination.
Practice backing up. Back up very slowly, with someone outside
at the rear of your trailer to guide you. Place your hand at the
bottom of the steering wheel and move it in the direction you
want the rear of the trailer to swing. Slight movement of the
steering wheel results in a much larger movement of the rear of
the trailer.
When turning, drive slightly beyond the normal turning point
so the trailer wheels will clear curbs or other obstructions.
Allow more room for stopping with a trailer attached. Trailer
brakes should be applied first, whether manually or
automatically controlled, when approaching a stop.
For an easy-to-operate vehicle/trailer combination, the trailer
tongue load should be approximately 10-15% of the loaded
trailer weight.
Make a thorough check of your equipment before starting out
on the road. After you have traveled about 50 miles (80 km),
stop in a protected area and double-check your hitch and
electrical connections. Also check trailer wheel lug nuts for
tightness.
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