Towing a caravan or trailer requires planning, preparation and even more awareness out on the road.
Getting a quality tow bar and wiring harness expertly fitted is a good start but here are some other handy guidelines too:
Tyres: Old tyres are brittle, have less grip and may fail suddenly. Keep a spare and all the tools needed to change it.
Shock absorbers: Your trailer’s shock absorbers work harder the more it’s loaded but a lightly-laden trailer is jumpy. This is worse with worn shocks.
Brakes: Check that your vehicle and the trailer’s brakes are working. Use quality brake pads and top up the brake fluid.
Gross mass: The maximum gross mass allowable for a braking trailer is 3 500kg – this includes the trailer and whatever it has been loaded with. An non-braking trailer may not exceed 750kg gross mass.
Lights: Test your lights as wiring deteriorates over time. Use anti-oxidant spray. Adjust your headlights lower so they don’t blind oncoming traffic when towing.