Towing Safely 

Towing

Not a subject covered in depth by us, but due to the laws being changed on trailer licences we felt we should cover at least the basics.
In this subject we will cover,
Loading your towed vehicle correctly.
Checking the Nose weight.
How to hitch up properly.
Breakaway cable.
Tow Ball.
Stabilisers.
Electrics.
Tyres.
Brakes.
Snaking.



Loading the Caravan / Trailer correctly
Loading your towed vehicle correctly is one of the biggest factors to consider for safe towing. An incorrectly loaded towed vehicle is an accident waiting to happen.
Things that need to be considered before even loading the towed vehicle are.

What is the maximum combined loaded weight the tow vehicle can safely tow? This figure will be the weight of the car, the towed vehilce and the load within that towed vehicle. Referred to as the GTW (gross train weight)

Your vehicle manufacturer should have all these details in your owners handbook. If you cannot find it, speak to your local dealer to gain this information.

The fitted Tow bar should also have a rating which should also be checked.

Ensure that your towing vehicle and the towed vehicle is in a roadworthy condition, and that you carry the correct licence and insurance to be able to tow a vehicle.

In December 2021 the law changed. If you passed your driving test from January 1st 1997, you are now allowed to tow trailers up to 3,500KG

Once you have checked the above then consider how you are going to load your towed vehicle.

For safety, ensure the load is evenly distributed and secure, with the main weight distributed over the towed vehicles axles.

If you have water tanks you will need to include the weight of these within the overall weight of the vehicle. As a guide 1ltr of water weighs 1KG
If you are going to tow with water in the tanks it is advisable to fill them to avoid movement of the water which could unbalance the caravans weight whilst being towed. Alternatively, fill them when you get to site as this will reduce the towing weight and make for better fuel efficiency.
Checking the Nose Weight is correct
Once the Caravan or towed vehicle has been loaded you need to be sure that it's combined weight does not exceed the overall weight that your vehicle can safely tow.
The best way to ensue you do not exceed the maximum weight for your vehicle is to know the unladen weight of your towed vehicle and then individually weigh each item you load, before loading it.
This can be done easily with a set of bathroom scales.
Make a note of each individual items weight and add them all up at the end.
Ideally the laden weight of the caravan/trailer should not exceed 85% of your cars kerb weight.
If this is good, you'll then need to check the Hitches Nose weight.
To do this the caravan/ trailer should be on level ground.
Raise the stability legs to ensure that the caravan/trailer is only bearing on the road with the tyres and the jockey wheel.
Using a spirit level ensure the A frame of the caravan/trailer is level with the ground and the raise the caravan/trailer by lifting the Jockey wheel and place a piece of wood under the A frame as close to the hitch as possible, and onto a piece of wood large enough to spread the weight across a set of bathroom scales, then wind up the jockey wheel until it is free of the floor and the full weight of the caravan/trailer is taken up by the piece of wood from the A frame to the scales.
The nose weight should be approximately 75kg
(this might be greater if you are towing with a lager estate vehicle 90KG or greater still if you are towing with a 4x4 or SUV possibly up to a maximum of 100kg)
Best practices are to load your caravan/trailer as lightly as possible, this will make it easier for towing and manoeuvring and will reduce fuel consumption.
If your Caravan/trailer weight is exceeding the towing weight, you may consider putting some of the heavier items in the boot of your car but ensure you don't exceed the carrying weight for the car.
The correct nose weight for your caravan/trailer is the lowest of three nose weight figures. That of the Caravan Chassis manufacturer; the tow bar manufacturer; and that of the tow vehicle manufacturer.
If the Nose weight is good, you can continue to Hitch up the Caravan/trailer.
Connecting the Breakaway Cable
It is best practice to connect the breakaway cable first before the Hitch.

There are various different types of Breakaway cable but they serve the same purpose. Just ensure you purchase one that rates to the weight of the towed vehicle.
Some Caravans/trailers have connection points for the breakaway cable always ensure the correct position is located so that the brakes engage should the caravan/trailer become unhitched.
There are also various connection points at the tow bar end, also ensure that the cable is connected appropriately and that it wont interfere with any of the caravan/trailer electrics or become snagged elsewhere.

4 different ways of connecting the breakaway cable to a
Tow Ball.

Connecting the Hitch to the Tow Ball

Typical Hitch

Ensure any wheel clamps, Hitchlock or axle locks have been removed.
If you are on level ground, reverse the car towards the Caravan/trailer.
If you are on a slope, ensure you chock the wheels first to avoid any roll and ensure the towed vehicle's handbrake is applied.
Raise all stability legs fully and then raise the Jockey wheel so that the hitch will be higher than the Tow ball.
Reverse the car towards the Caravan/trailer, ideally it is useful to have someone with you to guide you onto the Tow ball.
If you are using a motor mover, always ensure you remove it once the caravan/trailer has been hitched up.

Typical Tow Ball

With the Tow ball beneath the Hitch, open the Hitch handle and lower the nose of the Caravan/trailer onto the Tow Ball until you feel the Caravan/trailer connect. On some Hitches there is a green indicator that shows a proper connection has been made.

To ensure that a proper connection has been made, if you wind the jockey wheel down, the nose of the caravan will lift without becoming detached from the tow ball.

If a successful connection, raise and stow the Jockey wheel by winding it all the way up and lock it in place.

Ensure the Jocker wheel winder and clamp are tight.

Should the Jockey wheel release whilst on your journey, it is highly likely it will become damaged beyond repair and of no use to you once you complete your journey.

Connecting the Electrics.

Depending on the age of your vehicle you may have two plugs. And on newer vehicles you may have plugs that once inserted you have to twist them as well to make sure they are connected correctly.
Ensure no cable is loose and touching the floor as this will become damaged in a very short space of time if it touches the roads surface.

Stabiliser arms

Typical Caravan Stabilisers look similar to this.
A Stabiliser helps to increase stability and reduce any wobble from the caravan from general driving and uneven road surfaces.

There are various more advanced Stabilisers on the market, and some which will electronically apply braking to the caravans wheel automatically when the device detects loss of stability in the caravan being towed.

Check your electrics work.
You are nearly ready to get on with your journey, but before departing it is vital that you check that all your electrics are working outside of the caravan/trailer.
If you are turning or braking and following vehicles cannot see your towing vehicles lights then how do they know where you are going?

Check that the:
Side Lights : Brake Lights : Signal Indicators : Marker Lights : Number plate Lights. All Work

If you have reversing lights and fog lights these should also be checked and functioning.

Whether towing a Caravan or Trailer, either should have a number plate fitted to match that of the towing vehicle, and should comply to the DFT standards.
TYRES and BRAKES

It is vital that the tyres and brakes are in good condition and working.

The tyres of your towed vehicle are the only thing keeping that vehicle in contact with the road. You need to ensure they have adequate and legal tread depth, are inflated to the correct pressures and that the wheel nuts are fully tightened.

The brakes (if fitted) are the additional equipment that will help reduce your speed when required rather than the weight of your towed vehicle putting additional stress on the towing vehicle.

It is a legal requirement that if brakes are fitted to a towed vehicle that they are fully functioning and the tyres are of a road legal condition.

Snaking

Snaking of any towed vehicle can be extremely scary and dangerous.
Snaking is when the towed vehicle starts to oscillate and becomes out of alignment to the tow vehicle.
If this is left to become out of control it is highly likely and accident will occur with the possibility of a "jack-knife" happening.
A very common misconception of drivers who have not had formal trailer training is to put their foot down on the gas pedal and increase speed to power through the snake.
This is possibly the worst thing you can do.
To help bring a snake under control the advice is to loosen your grip on the steering wheel. Hold it firmly but relax so you're not trying to hold the steering wheel in a fixed position.
Reduce the speed of the vehicle by lifting your feet off the pedal and avoid braking. The tow vehicle will naturally begin to slow down.
Gradually lose road speed by working your way down through the gears.
Pull over somewhere safe, using your hazards lights to warn others so that you can check your load, as this may have caused the snaking to start in the first place if it has shifted.
Ensure your Stabiliser has not come detached.
If you keep having issues with snaking it is highly likely that either:
1. Your load is not evenly distributed.
2. Your nose weight is incorrect.
3. You may be driving too fast.

Hopefully, this has given you a little insight as to how to correctly prepare yourself for towing a vehicle.
We highly advise anyone who has not had professional trailer training, to take some prior to towing for the first time.
This will not only keep you safe, your vehicles safe, but everyone around you safe as well.