7 Essential tips for first-time towing

Just like when you start learning to drive a car, the first time that you tow a trailer can be nerve-wracking and can take a while to adjust to. Fortunately, there are a number of ways that you can make that maiden journey a bit easier and you will soon get used to towing your trailer.

 Here are some tips from experienced trailer towers to help you confidently get started with towing: 

1. Practice in advance

Before you go on your first real drive with a trailer, get in some practice first. Drive around your local area to get used to the size of the trailer and practice reversing on empty car parks. The more you practice, the more confident you should feel when you set off on your trip.

2. Fit extension mirrors

Fitting extension mirrors onto your mirrors will give you some extra assistance to help you to manoeuvre the trailer and judge the distances better. You will need to fit the mirrors to ensure that you can see past the trailer sides. You will also need to display number plates on your trailer.

3. Practice hitching up

Hitching up, i.e., attaching the trailer to the towbar can take you a while at first and it is important to make sure that you do this part correctly. It might help to watch a video tutorial so you can see the different actions involved and steps to take. When the tow hitch drops down onto the tow ball it should make a loud ‘click’ noise to show that it has securely locked. It is a legal requirement to connect the breakaway cable from a caravan to the towbar before you start driving.

4. Use brakes to correct snaking

It is quite common for snaking to happen and most drivers try to correct it by using the steering wheel. The best way to gain back control is to keep the steering wheel held straight and brake slowly until it comes back under control.

5. Be prepared for a breakdown

Even though the chances are fairly low of breaking down, make sure that you have everything you need just in case. Having the right kind of breakdown cover for your trailer is important and you should make sure that you have the breakdown company’s contact details when you set off. You should also make sure you have accessories such as a warning triangle, hi-vis jacket and a torch.

6. Plan your route

Before you set off on your journey, make sure you plan your route and check for any parts of the journey that could cause you an issue, such as narrow country roads, tight turns etc. You might be able to find an alternative route that is more suitable for towing a trailer. If you are staying at a caravan park, the owners might be able to give you advice on the best way to arrive at their site.

7. Get your towbar professionally fitted

When you are buying your towbar, make sure that you go to an expert towbar fitter, so that they can provide you with the right towbar for your vehicle and towing load.

As the UK’s largest towbar stockist, we will provide a free online quote for your specific vehicle through our instant quote builder. The online tool will select the right towbar for your specific details and then our expert fitters at PF Jones will fit it for you, answering any questions that you might have about coupling your caravan, or any other queries you might have.

Get your free online towbar fitting quote.