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Best Preparation Practices for Travel Trailer Towing
Your step-by-step guide to towing safely and confidently — from RV Value Mart in Manheim, PA.
Learning to tow a new travel trailer can be a stressful experience. You know that you need to tow and prepare it properly, and then there comes the seemingly difficult task of safely hauling it down the road. Thankfully, you can make your job much easier just by implementing a few simple strategies. At RV Value Mart, we compiled a few of the best travel trailer towing tips into this brief guide to help you out with all your adventures in the future. Also, remember that we're your one-stop shop for all your RV needs — if you want more information, need service, or just want to take a look at our selection of travel trailers and other recreational vehicles, come visit us at one of our locations.
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Key Preparation Steps
10–20%
Front Weight Distribution
2x
Vehicle Length When Towing
5+
Locations to Serve You
Your Towing Preparation Checklist
Follow these essential steps every time you hitch up your travel trailer for a safe, worry-free journey.
Making a Checklist
The very first time you get ready for an RV vacation, you can make every subsequent journey easier and safer by creating a checklist or spreadsheet to be used each time. This list will include everything you need to do during your pre-drive process. That way, after you've done all of your preparation, you can walk from the front of your tow vehicle to the back of your travel trailer, checking everything along the way to make sure you didn't miss any important step.
Extended Mirrors
When towing an RV, it's important that you can see the back of your travel trailer. Since the trailer more than doubles the length of your tow vehicle, you need to be able to keep an eye on the rear to make sure it doesn't stray out of your lane during a corner. Install extended mirrors on your tow vehicle and be sure to adjust them before every trip so that you have full visibility as soon as you hit the road.
Loading the Appropriate Weight
Probably the most important aspect of travel trailer towing preparation is loading your RV appropriately. You need to distribute the weight carefully — too much in the front can lift the rear tires of your tow vehicle, making it nearly impossible to drive. Too much on the tail will reduce control and cause the trailer to sway. Put 10–20% of total weight in the front of the trailer, distribute it evenly to the back, and keep it balanced from side to side to avoid tipping on steep corners.
Check Your Tires
Take a look at your tires before and throughout your drive. A travel trailer carries a lot of weight, and you don't want to lose control due to something as preventable as a blowout. We recommend getting a tire pressure gauge so you can quickly check the pressure in each tire individually. That way, you'll know whether or not you need to stop at a service station long before you run into a problem.
Ready for Your Next Adventure?
Hopefully you'll now be better prepared for your next travel trailer towing experience. If you have any more questions, don't hesitate to come visit us at RV Value Mart. We sell a great selection of RVs at our dealerships, proudly serving the areas of Reading, Allentown, Harrisburg, York, Lancaster, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as well as the states of New York and New Jersey.
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