Buying Your First RV? Safe Towing Tips For Your RV Trailer

If you're new to traveling with an RV, you may not be familiar with many of the potential safety hazards that you might face along the way. Luckily, you can avoid many safety concerns simply by being prepared before you hit the road. Here are some tips to help you hitch up your RV safely and ensure that you arrive at your destination without incident.

Hitch Safety

The RV trailer hitch is a vital part of towing an RV, because that hitch serves as the single contact point between the truck and the RV. Here are a few things you need to know to ensure that your hitch is safely secured.

• Check the Hitch Ball – The hitch ball must be secure in the mount before you tow. Use a torque wrench to make sure that the lock nut and washer are torqued to the manufacturer's recommendation. If you don't have a torque wrench, you can take it to a trailer hitch supplier to ensure that it is secure. At the same time, you should inspect the pin and clip on the mount. They should be secure and in good shape. If they're damaged or worn, you may need to replace them.

• Secure the Safety Chains – Although they may not seem like a major concern, the safety chains are vital to your hitching structure. Don't hit the road without making sure the chains are secure. Connect one end of the chains to the trailer, then cross them over the tongue and secure them to the truck. Tug the chain gently to make sure they are secure. There should be a little bit of resistance in the chain if they're locked in place.

Driving Considerations

Safe braking is one of the most serious concerns on the road when you're towing an RV. The more weight you have in tow, the harder it will be for you to stop when you're on the road. You can simplify the process by investing in an RV that has an integrated braking system so that you can connect the RV to your truck's brakes. Then, take some time to familiarize yourself with how your brakes respond before you hit the road.

Consistent, even pressure on the brake pedal is the key to a smooth, even stop with an RV trailer. Make sure you're driving safely and maintaining a safe speed on the road. By being attentive to your driving and leaving plenty of space between you and the car in front of you, it will help you to be safer on the road.

When you understand how to tow your RV safely, you can set out on that trip with the confidence that you can handle the towing and setup. If you have any questions about how the trailer handles, talk with a local dealer, such as Crowder RV Center, Inc., for guidance and support.