RoadSmart Report | July, 2002

Towing and trailer safety

Summer is the season for travellers to be towing everything from small fishing boats to large fifth-wheel trailers. The last thing these travellers want is to be involved in an accident because they had the wrong tow vehicle or trailer hitch. If you do have the right equipment, practise safety guidelines and use common sense, towing a properly loaded trailer is a breeze.

“One of the first things you should do is check your vehicle’s towing capacity,” says Brian Kline, SGI’s Manager of Vehicle Standards and Inspection, “and determine if you need any extra equipment, like heavy duty shocks and springs, or a transmission cooler.”

Kline points out that it is also very important to load your trailer properly. Weight imbalances can cause problems such as instability, handling and braking difficulties.

“If insufficient weight is placed on the trailer hitch, the trailer may sway from side to side and tip over,” Kline adds. “But never overload a trailer. Overloading a trailer can cause the tires to rub against the body of the vehicle and a blowout could occur.”

One of the most dangerous things that can happen when a trailer is being towed is accidental disconnection or break-away. To prevent break-aways Kline says that every trailer must have another means of attachment in addition to the main hitch. Safety chains are one of the best forms of back-up protection. Make sure the chains criss-cross and cannot disconnect.

To tow safely, here are a few key tips to remember:

• Ask a qualified hitch installer which type of hitch is best for your trailer and have it installed by an expert.

• The hitch should be attached to the vehicle’s frame, not the bumper.

• Trailer brakes are required if your trailer is rated over 1,360 kg (3,000 lbs.).

• Trailers must have rear-facing brake, tail and signal lights.

• If towing two trailers, such as a camper and a boat, the lead trailer must have at least two axles or be a fifth-wheel or gooseneck trailer.

• The total length of the towing vehicle and trailer(s) cannot exceed 23 m.

For more information on towing trailers ask for a copy of SGI’s Towing and Trailer Safety brochure available at any motor licence issuer throughout Saskatchewan.

Contact:
Reg Common, Supervisor
Vehicle Standards and Inspection
SGI
Regina
(306) 775-6189