Safe Trailer Towing Guidelines - Integrity Enclosed Trailer Owner's Manual

the hazards and risks of injury are also much greater
than when driving without a trailer.
You are responsible for keeping your vehicle and
trailer in control, and for all the damage that is caused
if you lose control of your vehicle and trailer.
Find an open area with little or no traffi c for your fi rst
practice. Before you start towing the trailer, you must
follow all of the instructions for inspection, testing,
loading and coupling. Also, before you start towing,
adjust the mirrors so you can see the trailer as well as
the area to the rear of it.
Drive slowly at fi rst, 5 mph or so, and turn the wheel
to get the feel of how the tow vehicle and trailer
combination responds. Next, make some right and left
hand turns. Watch in your side mirrors to see how the
trailer follows the tow vehicle. Turning with a trailer
attached requires more room.
Stop the rig a few times from speeds no greater than
10 mph. If your trailer is equipped with brakes, try
using different combinations of trailer/electric brake
and tow vehicle brake. Note the effect that the trailer
brakes have when they are the only brakes used.
When properly adjusted, the trailer brakes will come
on just before the tow vehicle brakes.
It will take practice to learn how to back up a tow
vehicle with a trailer attached. Take it slow. Before
backing up, get out of the tow vehicle and look behind
the trailer to make sure that there are no obstacles.
Some drivers place their hands at the bottom of
the steering wheel, and while the tow vehicle is in
reverse, "think" of the hands as being on the top
of the wheel. When the hands move to the right
(counter-clockwise, as you would do to turn the tow
vehicle to the left when moving forward), the rear of
the trailer moves to the right.
Conversely, rotating the steering wheel clockwise
with your hands at the bottom of the wheel will move
the rear of the trailer to the left, while backing up.
Be careful not to allow the trailer to turn too much,
because it will hit the rear of the tow vehicle. To
straighten the rig, either pull forward, or turn the
steering wheel in the opposite direction.

2.2.16 Safe Trailer Towing Guidelines

Before towing, check coupling, safety chain, brakes,
tires, wheels and lights.
Check the lug nuts or bolts for tightness.
Safety
Recheck the load tie downs to make sure the load will
not shift during towing.
Check coupler tightness after towing 50 miles.
Adjust the brake controller to engage the trailer
brakes before the tow vehicle brakes. Follow the
brake controller manufacturer's literature.
Use your mirrors to verify that you have room to
change lanes or pull into traffi c.
Use your turn signals well in advance.
Allow plenty of stopping space for your trailer and tow
vehicle.
Use lower gears for climbing and descending grades.
Do not ride the brakes while descending grades; they
may get so hot that they stop working. Then you will
potentially have a runaway tow vehicle and trailer.
Do not apply the tow vehicle brakes to correct
extreme trailer swaying. Instead, lightly apply the
trailer brakes with the hand controller.
Make regular stops, about once each hour. Confi rm
that:
The coupler is secure to the hitch and is locked.
•
Electrical connectors are made.
•
There is appropriate slack in safety chains.
•
There is appropriate slack in breakaway lanyard.
•
The tires are not visibly low on pressure.
•
The cargo is secure and in good condition.
•
Slow down for bumps in the road.
Do not brake while in a curve unless absolutely
necessary. Instead, slow down before you enter the
curve.
Do not drive so fast that the trailer begins to sway due
to speed. Generally never drive faster than 55 m.p.h.
Allow plenty of room for passing. A rule of thumb is
that the passing distance with a trailer is 4 times the
passing distance without a trailer.
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