Towing a trailer without experience and knowledge is a daunting process. This is why you need to pay careful attention to the steps involved and make sure you are safe on the road.

If you are unsure or you don’t hold a license to tow a trailer, it’s advisable to get training and do your license before heading off on the road. If you are UK-based then the rules about towing has changed since January 2013 and there are many restrictions in place, which you must know. Failure to comply will result in a fine.

Before you hitch a trailer to your vehicle, you will want to read through your vehicles manual, determining the weight your vehicle can pull comfortably. You can’t pull a caravan with a small Ford Fiesta, such as. Ensure you are aware of the weight your vehicle can manage and that your load doesn’t exceed this.

Once you are ready and you have everything set to go, you need to hitch the two together. This is a pretty easy process if you are pulling a smaller load that is light, you can pull the load up to the back of the vehicle and start the hitching process.

If your load is heavy, you will need to reverse your vehicle up to the load through a hook to close together inline.

Once you have the two together, you want to life the ball on the hook, make sure it is in the released place. Once firmly in place and locked, make sure you place the chain over the vehicles tow hook. This is a precautionary measure should the two become unhitched while on the road and can cut the risk of an accident.

When everything is firmly in place, you want to attach your electrics and make sure they are all working. It is imperative your lights, breaks and indicators are working correctly, enabling other vehicles on the road to see what you are doing while you tow a trailer.

It’s imperative you make sure your load is even and secure before you drive off. An uneven or unsecured load is exceptionally dangerous on the road, causing severe damage to other vehicles if it gets loose. Ensure you use adequate ties to hold it firmly in place and that it is evenly loaded, not putting too much weight on one side and not the other.

Once you’ve completely happy, it’s time to head off. When you are towing a trailer, it’s imperative that you can see clearly out of your side mirrors. Your may lose your rear view because of the size of your load. If the load is too large, you will need side mirror extenders, enabling you to keep an eye on what is happening behind you and watching what your load is doing while you drive down the motorway.

Always accelerate and brake slowly, leave ample room between you and the vehicle in front, giving you adequate time to come to a stop when needed. Bear in mind the added weight behind you is going to push your vehicle forward when breaking, so don’t take any chances.

When you tow a trailer, it’s important you stop at regular intervals to make sure you load is still secure and even. Also check to make sure your hold is still in place. This way you can cut any problems from happening by catching them before they happen.