Trailer Towing Tips for Peace of Mind

Having an RV in tow is an awesome way to travel and see the country, but making sure you can tow your trailer or fifth wheel confidently and safely is critically important. Prosser’s Premium RV Outlet has put together a list of tips and considerations to keep in mind when you’re heading out on the road so you can have a safe and successful trip. If you have more questions, you can always come in and see us at our dealership near Racine, Kenosha, and Milwaukee, WI; serving the areas Waukegan and Chicago, and all of Northern Illinois.

MATCHING YOUR TOW VEHICLE AND RV
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While you may think that a Half Ton truck is the obvious investment for RVing thanks to better fuel milage, you may find that you’re limited in your choice of RVs. Make sure that when you’re choosing a trailer you factor in the capabilities of your truck.

Tongue Weight

With a traditional bumper pull trailer (like a travel trailer), you need to make sure that between 10 and 15% of the trailers load is supported by the hitch. An equalizing hitch can help to put some of the trailer weight on the front axle for a more balanced load.

>SAFETY CHAINS
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Criss cross your safety chains under the hitch to make an X. This way, a dropped hitch will be caught and carried on the chains instead of diving straight into the road, giving you precious seconds to get over to the side.

>TIRE PRESSURE
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Make sure your tires stay at the maximum recommended pressure. A tire pressure monitoring kit can help you keep an eye on all of your tires at once if you feel it’s worth the investment, otherwise be vigilant and check before each day of travel. Towing your trailer with properly inflated tires will save you headache, and improve fuel economy.

Tie Downs

Before you even take off you double check your tie downs, but put a few miles on the road and no matter how tight those straps were, they’ve loosened up and shifted position. Make sure that after a few miles you double check your tie downs to make sure they’re going to hold your gear for the length of the trip.

>HOLDING TANKS
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If you want to cut some serious weight off of your travel trailer, don’t hit the road with your holding tanks full. Wait to fill your freshwater until you’re close to your destination, and make sure grey and black tanks are empty before transit.

>BRAKES
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If your truck and trailer brakes aren’t working right, you’re in for a dangerous ride. First make sure that your brakes are in good shape with a service appointment. Before your trip you can check your brakes by sliding the brake controller lever over about an inch (you’ll feel your brakes actuate). Hold the brakes on for a few seconds, and make sure both are working equally by checking the heat with an IR thermometer.

>BEARINGS
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Get some synthetic wheel bearing grease and load it into your trailer bearings. This should be an annual maintenance ritual. Keep your bearings happy and you’ll have much smoother sailing down the road.

Hopefully this quick list of tips and tricks will help you have a safer more satisfying drive the next time you hitch up your trailer and head out. If you have questions, need some help with your RV maintenance, or are looking for RV parts to make towing easier, come in and see us at Prosser’s Premium RV Outlet near Racine, Kenosha and, Milwaukee, WI; serving Waukegan, Chicago, and all of Northern Illinois.

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