Safe
Trailering
Bill
Fiorentino made an excellent presentation on trailering at the September
meeting. Below is a summary of the
salient points made in the presentation.
Match
the truck to the trailer. This is the single most important point when it comes to
safety. Don’t trust the truck
salesman on this. The towing
capacities are available from the vehicle manufacturer, with Ford providing the
most reliable specifications. You
should give yourself a margin of ten to fifteen percent above and beyond the
maximum anticipated trailer and horse weight.
You should seriously consider various towing packages including auxiliary
oil and transmission coolers and heavy-duty flashers.
Diesel engines are recommended over gasoline, as they have twice the
life, although diesel fuel availability can be an issue.
Manual transmissions are not necessarily better than automatics.
For example, the Ford truck manual transmission has a smaller clutch
plate than the automatic transmission model.
Before
towing, do a safety check. Check the tire pressure both before and after trailering.
Make sure that you use the maximum pressure for which the tires are
rated. Torsion axles provide a
smooth ride, so you should use the maximum air pressure, which is 50 PSI for
most tires. You can check this with
a tire pressure gauge but be sure that you use one, which is rated at over 50
PSI. Beware of over inflation.
Tire wear in the middle of the tread is a telltale sign of over
inflation. Tire inflation can be best accomplished using a portable air
compressor. Be sure to check the
lug nuts on the wheels. Don’t
assume that the lug wrench for the truck will fit the trailer. Make sure that you also have a jack available in the event of
a flat tire. Be sure to check the
lights: running lights, left and
right turn signals, and the brake lights.
Check
the trailer brakes. At a very slow speed (2mph), activate the lever or button on
the brake controller. If it stops
the truck, then the trailer brakes are not working. Adjust the wheel on the brake controller as necessary and
also check the connectors from the truck to the trailer.
Anticipate
emergencies and have an action plan. Using a diesel fueled truck presents problems because of the
relative unavailability of diesel fuel, so know where to purchase the fuel on
your trip. Three different kinds of
problems can occur on your trip: trailer
problems, horse problems, and driver problems.
Special
equipment
such as brake away batteries and equalizer bars can improve safety and
reliability. The tow vehicle should
charge the brake away battery. You
can test the battery by disconnecting it from the truck.
When it is disconnected, the trailer should not move.
Equalizer bars on trailers help to spread the load more evenly across the
trailer wheels, encouraging stability and allowing the wheels to more uniformly
make contact with the road.
Trailer hook up should be complete. The ball, safety chains, and brake controller should always be used for towing. Failure to utilize these features can lead to a lawsuit in the event of an accident.
Inspect
everything before trailering. Make sure that the trailer interior is free of wasp’s
nests! Look for obvious mechanical
problems with the trailer. In the
event of problems while on the road, make sure that a basic set of tools and
spare fuses are available. And most
importantly, do not rush your safety inspection.
Ensure
that the trailer hitch coupler is closed. Some
couplers use a bolt or a key to help keep them closed but the safety of such
devices is doubtful; they serve more as a reminder to verify that the coupler is
closed.
Safe
travel requires planning. Be sure that you carry a cell phone or at least a radio.
Be aware of potentially dangerous traffic conditions and play your route
accordingly. If your trailer breaks
down on the highway, AAA won’t service the trailer, although the road service
offered by US Rider will.
Fishtailing while hauling is a most dangerous situation. The oscillations, which occur while the trailer sways can quickly increase in magnitude unless corrective action is taken. Unequal tire load can be the cause of fishtailing, so equalizer bars in the trailer are recommended. Fishtailing can start by overcorrecting in the event of a minor sway, such as occurs when you hit a large bump or are passed by a tractor trailer rig. In the event that you start to fishtail do not hit the tow vehicle brakes as this can precipitate a jack knife situation. You will have a few seconds to think about your action. There are two options for pulling out of a fishtail: (1) Speeding up, which is not usually recommended; and (2) engaging the trailer brake. If you choose the second option, use the brake controller to engage the brake momentarily and then disengage. Repeat as necessary. Remember that excessive speed is the major cause of accidents. At high speeds, dangerous events occur much more quickly, giving you less time to react.
Maintaining
your trailer properly will help ensure safety.
Both cosmetic and mechanical maintenance are necessary.
Make sure that wooden and aluminum surfaces are cleaned.
You might wish to add a coating to the aluminum to facilitate cleaning.
Wash the outside of the trailer and promptly remove any black streaks.
A most critical area of trailer maintenance is the wheel bearings.
These should be lubricated once per year and every six months under heavy
usage. Hinges should also be
lubricated. It is normally not
necessary to rotate the tires but the air pressure should be properly
maintained. Aluminum trailers
present special problems due to oxidation.
Additionally, parking a trailer under trees can lead to mold deposits,
which must be cleaned.
Heat
can be problematic in trailers.
You should avoid aluminum trailers, which only have a mill finish for the
roof. A white painted roof is
dramatically cooler. You can also
use small fans in the trailer and even insulation in the roof.
Astrofoil makes a good interior lining and is better than spraying
polyurethane. RV Place has a white roof gel coating,
which is simple to apply, and effective against heat.
The
latest trends in trailer design are geared towards safety and comfort.
The quality of trailers is quickly improving and everything is getting
bigger. Taller trailers are now the norm, with 7’ 6” being the
industry standard. Stalls are also
getting larger. EZ Lube wheel hubs
are now employed, eliminating the need for jacking up the trailer for wheel
maintenance. Torsion axles are
common and tape, rather than screws, is being used to join sections of the body.
The tape is welded to the aluminum and provides a cleaner look.
The number one trend in trailer design is living quarter amenities. The living quarters are bigger and include slide outs, with generators used for power and gas for cooking and refrigeration. The Merhow model trailers use gas and feature carbon monoxide detectors for safety.
