VEHICLE AND TRAILER BRAKES
When you attach a trailer to your tow vehicle, you are adding anywhere from a few hundred pounds to several thousands of pounds to the weight your vehicle's brakes must stop. Here are some tips about braking:
- Beginners should take their vehicle and trailer out to a quiet stretch of road or a deserted parking lot and practice braking. You'll need more room to stop safely because of the additional weight of the trailer and its load.
- If the trailer is equipped with electronically controlled brakes, you can apply them automatically or manually. These brakes usually have a control mechanism near the driver's seat.
- If you have a manual brake controller, activate the trailer brakes first, when possible.
- When going down hills, try to use the engine and the gears to slow the vehicle. This will reduce the wear and tear on the tow vehicle's brakes.
- To correct trailer side sway, momentarily touch the trailer brakes, without using the tow vehicle's brakes.
Many states require separate braking systems on trailers with a loaded weight of more than 1,500 pounds. Some experts suggest every trailer should have a functional, separate braking system.
Remember, safely towing a trailer requires that you master a whole new set of driving skills.
