Do you have to move a few items across town? Are these items too big for your car boot? Are you looking for a more cost-effective solution than the usual truck rental?
Many Australians are using the trailer hire Bendigo locals make use of to get anything from furniture to bicycles across town. While hooking a trailer up to your vehicle seems easy enough, it’s essential to point out that there are a few common mistakes to avoid if you’re opting for this process for the first time.
Avoid Basic Towing Mistakes
If you’ve watched someone hook a trailer onto a car and tow items from point A to point B, then you might think the process looks simple enough. While this is true to a certain degree, there are a few important mistakes that you should avoid making to ensure a safe and secure journey. Our experts have listed the most common mistakes rookie towers are still making.
1. Mistake #1: Using the Wrong Size Trailer
The number one mistake first-time towers make is to think they can tow anything with any trailer. Rule number one when you’re towing is to ensure that you check the capacity of the trailer versus the weight of the items you want to tow.
When you’re renting your first trailer, be sure to adhere to the following guidelines:
- Tell the consultant at the rental company exactly what you want to tow so that they can make an accurate recommendation
- Check the maximum towing ability of the vehicle you’re going to use. Always remember that larger vehicles should tow bigger and heavier trailers.
- Be sure to check that the towing capacity of the trailer is adequate to safely carry the items you want to tow.
- Remember that the vehicle must be able to tow the weight of the trailer plus the weight of the things you’re loading.
2. Mistake #2: Not Checking Visibility
Anyone who has ever towed anything will be able to tell you that some situations can leave you with very little visibility. This usually happens when you’re towing items such as furniture, cars, boats or caravans.
To avoid struggling with visibility when you’re hooking up or driving with your trailer, use these guidelines:
- Buy a few towing mirrors to enhance your rear view.
- Don’t reverse the trailer if you don’t have 100% per cent visibility. Ask someone to be your spotter to guide you as you reverse.
- Plan your pick-up or turn your trailer so that you don’t have to reverse into heavy traffic.
- Consider asking a friend with more experience to reverse while you serve as the spotter and look out for obstacles.
- Check the weather before your trip and if possible, refrain from driving in the rain or strong winds as this will not only impair visibility but will also put other vehicles at risk.
3. Mistake #3: Not Checking for Unbalanced Loads
When you’re loading your trailer, the goal shouldn’t be to get as many items to fit as possible. This approach may create an unbalanced load which in turn makes the tailer difficult to operate.
Avoiding an unbalanced load is as simple as following these next few tips:
- Always load bigger and heavier items at the front and then add the lighter ones toward the back.
- Divide the items so that both sides of the trailer are loaded as equally as possible. This will ensure that the load moves equally when the trailer turns without making it overly heavy on one side.
- Pack your items so that the trailer is balanced while it’s stationary as well. It may take some practice but creating a safe load will be worth the effort.
- Consider making an additional trip or adding smaller items on a smaller trailer with another vehicle rather than overloading.
- Always unhitch the trailer carefully and slowly as this will prevent the trailer from lifting too quickly. A sudden movement can injure someone or damage the trailer.
4. Mistake #4: Not Understanding the Accelerating and Braking Ratio
You may think that getting the trailer loaded means you’ve won the battle. However, driving presents its own set of challenges. You will need to keep in mind that there’s an increased toll on the vehicle towing the trailer whenever you brake or accelerate.
Since there’s an increase in the overall mass of your vehicle, it will automatically work harder to accelerate. This can be challenging when you need to overtake other vehicles. Our experts recommend planning an additional 10 to 15 meters of braking time because of the extra mass behind your vehicle. To help you counter any unexpected sudden brakes, make sure that your load is securely loaded.
Final Thoughts
A trailer is a super cost-effective way to move just about anything. Since you can hire trailers in all shapes and sizes, you’ll easily be able to find the best trailer for your load. Rather be over cautious and make extra effort to ensure that your trailer and towing vehicle are secure. You’ll be glad you did!