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5
5
Driving your vehicleTrailer towing
up the brake system. This is not a
task for amateurs. Use an experi
-
enced, competent trailer shop for
this work.
Driving with a trailer
Towing a trailer requires a certain
amount of experience. Before set
-
ting out for the open road, you must
get to know your trailer. Acquaint
yourself with the feel of handling
and braking with the added weight
of the trailer. And always keep in
mind that the vehicle you are driving
is now a good deal longer and not
nearly so responsive as your vehicle
is by itself.
Before you start, check the trailer
hitch and platform, safety chains,
electrical connector(s), lights, tires
and mirror adjustment. If the trailer
has electric brakes, start your vehi
-
cle and trailer moving and then
apply the trailer brake controller by
hand to be sure the brakes are
working. This lets you check your
electrical connection at the same
time.
During your trip, check occasionally
to be sure that the load is secure,
and that the lights and any trailer
brakes are still working.
Following distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the
vehicle ahead as you would when
driving your vehicle without a trailer.
This can help you avoid situations
that require heavy braking and sud
-
den turns.
Passing
You'll need more passing distance up
ahead when you're towing a trailer.
And, because of the increased vehi
-
cle length, you'll need to go much
farther beyond the passed vehicle
before you can return to your lane.
Due to the added load to the engine
when going uphill the vehicle may
also take longer to pass than it
would on flat ground.
Backing up
Hold the bottom of the steering
wheel with one hand. Then, to move
the trailer to the left, just move
your hand to the left. To move the
trailer to the right, move your hand
to the right. Always back up slowly
and, if possible, have someone guide
you.
Making turns
When you're turning with a trailer,
make wider turns than normal. Do
this so your trailer won't strike soft
shoulders, curbs, road signs, trees,
or other objects near the edge of
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