Safety on the road is a constant topic in public media and government campaigns. As a relatively more hazardous use of the road, towing needs to be addressed with the requisite attitude of responsibility. It is an extremely useful technique of carrying more goods or, in the case of RVs (recreational vehicles), going on an enjoyable and very private holiday. But people who tow should observe some obvious standards, no less so in their use of pop up hitches.
The primary reason for possible danger in towing is that the amount of weight associated with it is so high, much higher than what people usually have to deal with in other activities. SUVs and small trucks comfortably weigh more than a ton. If a fully laden trailer is hitched to them, the entire mass of the combined vehicle is considerable. The hitch should therefore be tough enough to stand up to that mass, and not merely when the vehicle is parked. Normal driving, involving turns and stopping, should not present a problem either.
The hitch should be able to endure a gross trailer mass of 30 000lb. That might seem like an enormous weight, but it illustrates just how dangerous towing can be, especially if the trailer swerves independently or comes loose.
For this reason, people who tow trailers or RVs should take note of the following guidelines. These are all easy to implement and will ensure better safety in towing.
To begin with, and this may seem so mundane as to be irritating, the weight restrictions published by the manufacturer should always be adhered to. No matter how experienced or intelligent the driver may think he or she is, this is not negotiable. Trained engineers design the hitches, and they base their weight restrictions on issues such as metallurgical strength and load dynamics. It is not wise to try to argue with the estimate of a graduate engineer.
One more obvious consideration is how much space the trailer has to move in. This is known as the clearance between the towing vehicle and its towed companion. When checking the clearance, the driver should try to anticipate how the trailer will move through turns or other manoeuvres, since it is a member of an articulated unit and won't move simultaneously with the vehicle.
The use of safety chains is very important, even though some people are negligent and don't use them. The chains must be tightened to an appropriate tension: not too tight or too loose. Too much slack will render them ineffectual if the coupling comes undone, while too much tension will interfere with ordinary driving, such as when the vehicle takes a turn.
Distributing the load in the trailer is another important guideline. Some trailers come with instructions on how to do this. But even if they don't, never position the cargo more to one side than the other, or more to the front than the back. An unbalanced load will make steering unpredictable and can cause over-correction during driving.
The mirrors, indicators and other lights on the trailer might seem like a discretionary detail, but they are not. They are legislated features of the vehicle and making sure that they work properly is mandated by law. The law tries to protect other motorists through this stipulation, and so should the driver of the towed vehicle.
Towing has the potential to be used in both commercial and private circumstances, providing greater cargo capacity and also holiday accommodation. But it needs to be done sensibly, so as to guarantee the safety of both the tower and other motorists.
The primary reason for possible danger in towing is that the amount of weight associated with it is so high, much higher than what people usually have to deal with in other activities. SUVs and small trucks comfortably weigh more than a ton. If a fully laden trailer is hitched to them, the entire mass of the combined vehicle is considerable. The hitch should therefore be tough enough to stand up to that mass, and not merely when the vehicle is parked. Normal driving, involving turns and stopping, should not present a problem either.
The hitch should be able to endure a gross trailer mass of 30 000lb. That might seem like an enormous weight, but it illustrates just how dangerous towing can be, especially if the trailer swerves independently or comes loose.
For this reason, people who tow trailers or RVs should take note of the following guidelines. These are all easy to implement and will ensure better safety in towing.
To begin with, and this may seem so mundane as to be irritating, the weight restrictions published by the manufacturer should always be adhered to. No matter how experienced or intelligent the driver may think he or she is, this is not negotiable. Trained engineers design the hitches, and they base their weight restrictions on issues such as metallurgical strength and load dynamics. It is not wise to try to argue with the estimate of a graduate engineer.
One more obvious consideration is how much space the trailer has to move in. This is known as the clearance between the towing vehicle and its towed companion. When checking the clearance, the driver should try to anticipate how the trailer will move through turns or other manoeuvres, since it is a member of an articulated unit and won't move simultaneously with the vehicle.
The use of safety chains is very important, even though some people are negligent and don't use them. The chains must be tightened to an appropriate tension: not too tight or too loose. Too much slack will render them ineffectual if the coupling comes undone, while too much tension will interfere with ordinary driving, such as when the vehicle takes a turn.
Distributing the load in the trailer is another important guideline. Some trailers come with instructions on how to do this. But even if they don't, never position the cargo more to one side than the other, or more to the front than the back. An unbalanced load will make steering unpredictable and can cause over-correction during driving.
The mirrors, indicators and other lights on the trailer might seem like a discretionary detail, but they are not. They are legislated features of the vehicle and making sure that they work properly is mandated by law. The law tries to protect other motorists through this stipulation, and so should the driver of the towed vehicle.
Towing has the potential to be used in both commercial and private circumstances, providing greater cargo capacity and also holiday accommodation. But it needs to be done sensibly, so as to guarantee the safety of both the tower and other motorists.
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