PRE DEPARTURE SAFETY CHECKLIST
Before
driving, make sure your vehicle maintenance and trailer maintenance are
current. This is very important because towing puts additional stress
on the tow vehicle. (review the next section of the information for an
overview of maintenance requirements.)
Check and correct tire pressure on the tow vehicle and trailer.
Make sure the wheel lug nuts/bolts on the tow vehicle and trailer are tightened to the correct torque.
Be sure the hitch, coupler, draw bar, and other equipment that connect
the trailer and the tow vehicle are properly secured and adjusted.
Check that wiring is properly connected-not touching the road, but
loose enough to make wide turns without disconnecting or damaging the
wires.
Make sure all running lights, brake lights, turn signals, and hazard lights are working.
Verify that the brakes on the tow vehicle and trailer are operating correctly.
Check that all items are securely fastened on and in the trailer.
Be sure the trailer jack, tongue support, and any attached stabilizers are raised and locked in place.
Check load distribution to make sure the tow vehicle and trailer are properly balanced front to back and side to side.
Check side and rear view mirrors to make sure you have good visibility.
Check routes and restrictions on bridges and tunnels.
Make sure you have wheel chocks and jack stands.
Backing Up:
Put
your hand at the bottom of the steering wheel. To left turn, move your
hand left. To turn right, move your hand right. Back up slowly. Because
mirrors cannot provide all visibility you may need when backing up,
have someone outside at the rear of the trailer to guide you whenever
possible.
Use slight movements of the steering wheel to
adjust direction. Exaggerated movements will cause greater movement of
the trailer. If you have difficulty, pull forward and realign the tow
vehicle and trailer and start again.
Parking:
Try
to avoid parking on grades. If possible, have someone outside to guide
you as you park. Once stopped, but before shifting into park, have
someone place blocks on the downhill side of the trailer wheels. Apply
the parking brake, shift into park and then remove foot from brake
pedal. Following this parking sequence is important to make sure your
vehicle does not become locked in park because of extra load on the
transmission. For manual transmissions, apply the parking brake and
then turn the vehicle off in either first or reverse gear.
When uncoupling a trailer, place blocks at the front and rear of the
trailer tires to ensure that the trailer does not roll away when the
coupling is released.
An unbalanced load may cause the
tongue to suddenly rotate upward; therefore, before uncoupling, place
jack stands under the rear of the trailer to prevent injury.