How to Avoid Common Causes of Trailer Accidents
There are many reasons one might need to tow a trailer behind their truck. You might have just bought a new camper and are excited to take it to your favorite camping spot. Maybe you need to carry some large equipment that doesn’t fit in your truck bed. Either way, trailers can cause major damage to your vehicle and others if driven improperly. This is why it’s important to be aware of any potential causes of accidents and how to avoid them.
If you do experience an accident and are in need of a towing service in Centre County, PA, contact S & R Repairs Towing & Recovery Inc. for assistance.
Not being properly prepared
Many trailer accidents are caused by people being ill prepared to handle the extra weight when driving. Hauling a trailer behind your truck requires certain considerations that are different from driving normally. For example, you’ll need to start braking much sooner when towing a trailer. Be sure of how much weight you’re carrying and when you should start braking to avoid accidents.
Another element of proper preparation is making sure you have all the necessary equipment installed to properly tow a trailer. While towing a trailer might seem pretty straightforward, it’s usually a good idea to have a professional help you with installation.
Bad brakes
It’s important to make sure your brakes are working efficiently before bringing a trailer on the road. Since you’ll be carrying extra weight, proper braking will be even more important than usual. Consider bringing your vehicle to a mechanic that works with trailers. They can usually give you the best advice on towing a trailer for the first time.
Carrying too much weight
Be aware of exactly how much weight your trailer can hold. Adding too much weight will not only cause damage to the trailer itself, but possibly to your vehicle as well. If you add too much weight, it could be much harder to brake, which might result in a bad accident. This added weight can also make it much harder to turn.
Before buying or renting a trailer, be sure to determine exactly how much weight you’re needing to carry. Let your trailer professional know how much weight you’ll be carrying and go with their recommendation.
Not being aware of blind spots
Towing a trailer means there could be blind spots you weren’t prepared for. This is especially true with larger trailers, like campers. Make sure you have proper mirrors and possibly even cameras installed before taking your trailer on the road.
Driving while tired
No matter what type of vehicle you have, it’s best to avoid driving while drowsy. This can be especially true when towing a trailer, since they add extra weight to your vehicle. You’ll need to be extra careful and concentrating on the road when towing a trailer, which is much harder if you are tired.
Other common trailer accident causes
There are plenty of things that can cause trailer accidents, including high winds, heavy traffic and more. Be aware of all these problems and they can usually be avoided with careful driving and proper trailer preparation.
If you are in need of towing service or other forms of vehicle repair in Centre County, PA, contact S & R Repairs Towing & Recovery Inc. today!
Categorised in: Trailer Repair