First time pulling a small trailer questions?

[nao57]

So... I've never pulled a small trailer before. I don't mean RVs and big trailers. I mean light stuff like small utility trailers.

I want to go get one but to do so requires using the freeway (speeds above 65 mph.) How do you deal with this when you are new to it? And is it risky to take trailers on freeways? How do you stay safe? Or is it better to take the long way home using other roads off the freeway when you don't have a lot of experience with them? (But that actually means more turns and stops also. Not less.)

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

Are you buying a second-hand trailer or one from a dealer? Do you know if the lights all work and if your car is capable with it (light hook-ups, ball etc)? Are you hauling anything on it? Small trailers are fairly easy to haul, especially if your car is capable with it. The hardest thing about these small trailers is that they are hard to back than a larger, heavier trailer. As long as everything hooks up right and you're fully aware that your vehicle is much longer because of the trailer, then you're fine.

If this was a snowmobile trailer, then I'd be thinking a little differently. Snowmobile trailers are wider than utility trailers and are wider than your car. They require extra caution, especially when on thinner roads.

 

[nao57]

Are you buying a second-hand trailer or one from a dealer? Do you know if the lights all work and if your car is capable with it (light hook-ups, ball etc)? Are you hauling anything on it? Small trailers are fairly easy to haul, especially if your car is capable with it. The hardest thing about these small trailers is that they are hard to back than a larger, heavier trailer. As long as everything hooks up right and you're fully aware that your vehicle is much longer because of the trailer, then you're fine.

If this was a snowmobile trailer, then I'd be thinking a little differently. Snowmobile trailers are wider than utility trailers and are wider than your car. They require extra caution, especially when on thinner roads.

Thank you very much Lacy.

 

[saysfaa]

Put at least 60% of the weight of the load in the front half of the trailer. This is a short video showing why

The video shows the weight all the way to the back of the trailer.

If your load is just a little too far back it will weave a little rather than whip around. If it does, stop and shift your load. If it weaves at all, it could pull your vehicle out of control.

I'm not very good at estimating weight. If it isn't very, very obvious that most of the weight is in the front, I test it at low speeds. Very low, to start with, with very small, gentle jinks. When it is right, you can feel the trailer flow with the vehicle through the turns. When it is wrong, you can feel the trailer weaving or pulling away even easier than you can see it.


You might rent a uhaul trailer first. They tend to be well designed and well maintained which makes them easy to use. It could shorten the learning curve if the trailer you buy is any less easy to use.

I can see pros and cons to each way - highway vs back roads, assuming not much traffic.

 

[nao57]

Put at least 60% of the weight of the load in the front half of the trailer. This is a short video showing why

The video shows the weight all the way to the back of the trailer.

If your load is just a little too far back it will weave a little rather than whip around. If it does, stop and shift your load. If it weaves at all, it could pull your vehicle out of control.

I'm not very good at estimating weight. If it isn't very, very obvious that most of the weight is in the front, I test it at low speeds. Very low, to start with, with very small, gentle jinks. When it is right, you can feel the trailer flow with the vehicle through the turns. When it is wrong, you can feel the trailer weaving or pulling away even easier than you can see it.


You might rent a uhaul trailer first. They tend to be well designed and well maintained which makes them easy to use. It could shorten the learning curve if the trailer you buy is any less easy to use.

I can see pros and cons to each way - highway vs back roads, assuming not much traffic.

Thank you very much. I like your idea.