Don’t Follow Your Instincts.

Towing a trailer for long distances presents a lot of potential hazards. As a driver of the tow vehicle, you have to be extremely attentive with your surroundings and diligent about the maintenance of the rig. Everything from the trailer hitch to the running lights have to work flawlessly for the rig and the occupants to be safe while traveling.

After putting a few thousand miles on our trailer, I have developed a bit of a pre-travel checklist to make sure I am not forgetting anything.

Pre-flight checklist:

  1. Check hitch bolts on tow vehicle
  2. Check weight distribution system for proper balance
  3. Check all cotter pins for security
  4. Lubricate all moving joints
  5. Check running lights and electrical connection
  6. Check brake controller for proper functioning
  7. Check wear and air pressure on all tires

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