A trailer is a very reliable and helpful attachment to your vehicle for hauling types of equipment or other belongings from one point to another. It is pretty interesting when we look at an unpowered vehicle is towed by another has risen to be a leader in the field of transportation. Let us, therefore, explore things that you should know before embarking on purchasing your first custom trailer.
Table of Contents
Choosing the right trailer
Enclosed trailers and utility trailers are the two most popular types of trailers for consumer applications. Utility trailers are open and thus making it convenient for hauling farm equipment, the farm produces, scrap, fertilizer or nearly everything that can move around without the concern of weather. An enclosed trailer, on the other hand, is convenient for moving things that need to be covered while in motion. It can also double up as safe storage for your tow vehicle when you are away for several weeks.
Size
Size is another major consideration when you are purchasing a trailer. Sizes vary with closed trailers as well as the utility trailers and range between 4 feet and 20 feet. Your needs and the way you deploy the trailer will often determine the size. Consider the size as well as dimensions of equipment or other material that you would usually want to put on the trailer and arrive at an optimal size that can accommodate most of your needs. Most manufacturers offer a range of sizes as well as material of construction.
The tow vehicle
Your trailer always depends on the ability of a tow vehicle that is hauling it. It is not difficult to determine the towing capacity of your vehicle. Some owner’s manual can give you the required information and if that is not provided, you can always do a little bit of research. As a last measure, you can even call up the manufacturer of your SUV and collect the required information. It is also desirable that you get your SUV inspected by an authorized dealer to understand its towing ability and constraints if any present.
Trailer safety
Next, we come to the crucial aspect of your custom trailer safety which is crucial when you haul loads using public roads. You should be fully conversant with protecting yourself and other road users and therefore can go through a short learning curve when you are using a trailer for the first time.
Loading your trailer
All trailers have a GVWR or maximum weight which includes the weight of the empty trailer too. With this in mind when you load the trailer, you should ensure that a major part of the load is in front of the axle. This way your load gets dispersed between the tongue and the axle. You should also take care to ensure that the bulk of your load remains in the centre so that the trailer does not swing or whip out from behind your tow vehicle.
You should also take care to secure the load inside the trailer as well as avoid placing cargo which will hang on the back or side. This could be a hazard for other road users and even cause malfunctioning of the trailer due to an unbalanced weight. You can also use this simple calculation to understand the load that your trailer can safely carry. The GVWR of your trailer minus the empty weight of the trailer minus 20% will give the safe tow weight.
Driving safely
Driving with a trailer in tow is significantly different compared to driving your SUV. With a fully loaded trailer in tow, exceeding 55 mph on highways can be dangerous, particularly when you may need to apply the brakes suddenly. While passing other vehicles also you should be careful to account for the added length from the trailer. You should also reduce while moving downhill and shift gear while moving uphill so that the engine can haul the trailer with lesser difficulty.
Trailer maintenance and precautions before towing
Maintaining your trailer properly is as important as handling it safely. By sticking to a maintenance schedule, your trailer will stay fit for longer years. Similarly, before towing, you should check multiple aspects of the trailer including the following:-
- Inspect the hooks and safety chains for any sign of cracks, damage or wear
- Check the hitch ball and couple for flats, pits and cracks. Grease locking device and check it to see if a replacement is needed
- Pintle and Ring- Ensure that the pintle and ring lock securely
- Tyres – Check the tyre pressure in cold condition and inflate if Check for puncture/damages.
- Wheels – check the bolt, lug nuts or the hub to ensure that the wheel is tight
- Ensure that the load is secured properly on your trailer.
- Check at frequent intervals while you are on the road and ensure that everything is working properly. If you are driving a new trailer to carry out this check at intervals of 10,25, 50 miles.
Conclusion
Finally, you should also know that most states require the trailer to be registered similar to registration for other vehicles. The manufacturer/dealer will provide you with the title when you buy the trailer and you can then follow the stipulated procedure for registering the trailer in your jurisdiction.