Seven Misconceptions About Towing a Trailer

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Towing a trailer seems like a daunting task. However, with experience, you can easily learn how to seamlessly handle the entire system. But when new to it, you may hear about specific unwritten rules that you must follow. These may be genuine advice that can help you make your journey smooth, but some can also be misconceptions resulting from wrong interpretations of people. To get the best out of your trailers, you must know these misconceptions and what the truth about them is.

Here are some misconceptions about towing a trailer you should know about-

Misconception #1- Doing a Walk-Around Once is Enough.

Truth: Doing a walk-around at every stop is recommended. You may have forgotten to shut a window or correctly hitch the trailer, which may not be apparent initially, but can cause problems later. Travelling can cause some damages to the trailer or the carrier, which are best caught early.

Misconception #2- You Don’t Have to Worry About the Tongue Weight!

Truth: Tongue weight is the weight of the trailer that rests on the carrier vehicle. Imbalance in this can make steering difficult, create balancing issues for you, or unhitching of the trailer from the carrier. Make sure the weight distribution is equal on every axle. If you do not know how to check it, professional help is best. 

Misconception #3- Any Vehicle Can Tow Any Trailer.

Truth: Your car and trailer sellers may approve of towing any weight just to make their sales. However, to be completely certain, it is best to match the vehicle tow rating with trailer weight yourself. If the weight is unmatched, you will cause significant wear and tear on your car and risk your life and that of others.

Misconception #4- You Need to Install Towing Side-View Mirrors.

Truth: You don’t need to install towing side-view mirrors in every case by law. It is only applicable if your trailer obstructs you from seeing other cars behind you or the tail of your convoy. You can get customized towing side-view mirrors in most auto shops.

Misconception #5- GCWR and GVWR are Interchangeable.

Truth: The two terms are pretty different. GCWR number needs to exceed the weight of-

  • Tow vehicle
  • Trailer
  • Passengers
  • Total cargo

GVWR should be more than-

  • Towing vehicle and its cargo
  • Tongue weight

Misconception #6- You Can’t Reverse When Towing.

Truth: While it is difficult for beginners, reversing when towing is not impossible. If you are not perfect at maneuvering your vehicle, it is best to avoid such situations. If it is not possible, you can-

  • Reverse slowly
  • Avoid sharp turns
  • Ask someone to help you on the outside

Misconception #7- The Hitch Ball and Trailer Tongue Can be of Different Sizes!

Truth: Hitch balls come in various diameters and are the most crucial part of your towing journey. Make sure you perfectly match the trailer tongue size to your hitch balls to be safe. 

About Silver Moon Trailer

At Silver Moon Trailer, we have an option suitable for every need, budget, and cargo requirement. And if you still can’t find the right trailer for yourself, we will build a custom trailer to match your requirements. If you want to purchase a trailer or know more about big tex enclosed trailers for sale, call us at 870.330.9133 or email us. 

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