First time towing

I'm getting ready to tow a small 5x8 uhaul trailer. This is my first time towing and I will be traveling 200 miles with it. Any first time towing pro tips I should know?

 

No. That trailer wont even bother the truck in the slightest.

 

Make sure trailer tire pressure is max. Read the side wall and set them to max psi period and hopefully the axles are in good shape and lubed.

Two most common issue these listed above.

 

Don't turn sharp. The trailer will cut corners, so pull straight out at intersections and make your turns 90º turns. Especially watch right turns.
If it's your first time towing a trailer, try to avoid backing if possible. Short trailers are extra squirrely so if you can avoid the hassle I would recommend it.

 

Think ahead, swing wide, remember it's there when making lane changes.

 

It’s a 4 wire flat. Know how to turn off the back up sensors. Lower left switch bank.

 

Just remember you are 10-11 feet longer than normal. Other than that just drive and it will follow you there. If you are putting some weight in it, check the tire pressures. In saying that I never touch any of my trailer or tow vehicle tires in 40 years of driving

 

Double check the trailer connections. Made the mistake of not checking the trailer tongue once....trailer came off the ball when I hit a dip, maybe 10 miles down the road from uhaul. Safety chains saved me but it was a scare. Truck wont have any issue towing it. Disregard the 55mph notice in your mirror

 

20”ish to the top of the ball.

 

The most helpful hint I received when first starting to tow was about backing up. Grab the bottom of the steering wheel. Move the bottom of the steering wheel in the direction that you want the rear of the trailer to go.

Going forward is easy, just leave yourself extra room.

 

Last thing from me on it. The UHaul's are sturdy and reliable but air ride suspension they are not. Stiff springs and heavy ply tires can turn your stuff into dust if you don't pack well. Take a lille extra time to be certain your stuff will not jiggle to pieces.

 

Even a small trailer like that can be a handful if improperly loaded! No tongue weight and hang on!

 

This is true.

@itundra22 be sure you keep plenty of tongue weight to keep the trailer stable.

 

Whew there's a lot, but...the advice I'll reiterate:

Avoid backing this first time. Park in a way that allows to you pull forward, rather than putting yourself in a position where you need to back up. Longer trailers are actually easier to back than shorter trailers. Every little twitch of the steering wheel will send a short trailer way left or right.

Turn wide. Exaggerate your turns. Pull several feet farther forward into the intersection then cut the wheel.

Don't turn the steering wheel full lock either way. You can jacknife and slightly damage the trailer, your bumper, the coupler.

Load the weight evenly, but if anything have slightly more weight forward. If the back is weighted too much there will be no weight on the tongue and trailer will be super squirrely, even possibly wobble out of control. Ideally you want the trailer tongue pointing just slightly downward, rather than completely level, and certainly not pointing at all up. That tells you the weight is forward, resting on the hitch, providing more stability. Maybe a 10% downward angle from completely flat.

Drive slow over bumps.

 

Thank you for all of the input on this fellas.

 

While the turbos are fun, U-Haul trailer tires are generally rated for 55mph. When you look in the rear view mirror, you’ll see the signage on the trailer fenders staring at you. Slow down and take it easy.

 

They placard it that way for liability reasons. The tires are actually pretty good on a uhaul, and they make money having trailers in service. It would make zero sense to run cheap low rating tires that put trailers out of commission or damaged them during high speed failures.

 

Last one I rented had Regan administration era tires on it.

 

Oof. Guess I was lucky, or you were unlucky?

I just ran one to CA and back to WY and the tires were in great shape.

 

That's exactly what my wife said the other day when I was workin' out some sweet new dance moves.

 

I've had pretty good luck too. I think they updated a lot of their fleet towards the end of the pandemic.

 

One that I don’t think has been mentioned. If your trailer does pop off the ball and the trailer is being pulled by the safety chains; don’t freak out and slam on the brakes. Just take your foot off the gas and slowly come to a stop (ie always keep tension on the chains). Happened to me the second time I was towing at like age 17. Left a solid mark in my parents bumper. Learned my lesson

 

Thanks for all input again fellas, I had a successful trip hauling the trailer no issues at!! Managed to get 14.2mpg also so I am satisfied with the performance.

 

Glad to hear the trip was a success.