Why Proper Hitch Setup Is One of the Keys to Safe Towing

The average person thinks very little about towing. It’s not hard to see why, especially when you consider how most people’s cars are protected by comprehensive insurance plans and breakdown cover. The reason people tend not to think about towing is that they do not typically do it themselves. However, not knowing enough about towing can be problematic if you ever actually need to do it yourself. The intention of this post is to highlight the importance of proper hitch setup, so you can safely tow your vehicle or somebody else’s.

Weight Distribution

Weight distribution is something you need to pay special attention to if you plan on towing a vehicle or a trailer. This is because if your weight distribution is off, it could make it difficult to tow safely. High-quality towing hitches (which are properly attached) can make it much easier for you to ensure that your weight distribution is spot on. The good news is, you can buy towing hitches online. Just make sure you find a reliable provider, so you can trust that your hitch is going to work the way that it is supposed to.

Sway Reduction

Sway reduction is another benefit of properly and safely hitching the vehicle or trailer you plan on towing. If the vehicle or trailer being towed is not properly attached, it could sway too much on the road. The last thing you want is the thing you have being towed, which is likely very heavy and large, swaying around on the road. If you cause an accident because you failed to hitch your trailer or vehicle properly, you could get into a lot of trouble and end up in court.

Steering Stability

Steering stability is another consideration you need to make. If you don't hitch your vehicle or trailer properly, the uneven weight distribution and heavy swaying could actually make it difficult to control the vehicle you are driving. If you are unable to control it, an accident is likely. As stated above, you can get into a lot of trouble if your negligence causes an accident. You will also have to live with the fact that you harmed other people by rushing the towing process. Towing is something that should be done carefully and delicately, so take care.

Braking Efficiency

If your trailer or vehicle is not properly hitched, your vehicle’s stopping power won’t be as effective, and it might not brake as efficiently. You might think that slightly reduced braking efficiency is not much of a problem, but it is. If your vehicle does not brake properly, it could lead to you getting involved in fender benders. Remember that you do not necessarily have to attach your car or trailer to your vehicle yourself. You can pay a professional to hitch it for you. Alternatively, there are services you can hire that will do all of the work for you.

Vehicle Balance

Improperly hitching your vehicle could throw its balance off. When you are towing, you need to make sure that the item being towed is properly hitched; otherwise, accidents are likely. If your vehicle’s balance is off and you try to perform an evasive maneuver or even emergency brake, you are a lot more likely to end up involved in an accident. Tens of people die each day on American roads, so limit your exposure to accidents by properly hitching your vehicle or trailer and taking a course. A course in safe towing should help you to completely rule out accidents.

Using Headlights

When you have failed to effectively hitch a vehicle or trailer to your car, there is a chance your headlights might not work as effectively. This is because your vehicle will be swaying. When it is swaying, your headlights won’t point directly straight, which they should do. This could lead to you having an accident. Your headlights are there to fully illuminate the road and ensure you can see everything you are doing and that comes your way. If you are unable to see the road because of a mistake hitching your vehicle or trailer, you could get into a lot of trouble with the police.

Protecting Suspension

Your vehicle’s suspension is something you will want to protect. The cost of replacing vehicle parts can be excessive, especially when it comes to things like your car’s suspension. Protecting your suspension by learning to properly hitch a trailer or car to your vehicle can save it unnecessary pressure and preserve it. Again, if you are unsure how you are supposed to properly hitch a car or trailer to your vehicle, there are courses you can take. There are also courses you can take that will teach you how to properly drive a car when you are towing a heavy vehicle or trailer behind it.

Tire Health

The tire health of your vehicle is another thing you need to think about. However, it is worth noting that even if you properly hitch your trailer or vehicle, the more you tow, the quicker your tires will deteriorate. Make sure you take your vehicle to a proper mechanic once every few months to have your tires checked. This is only necessary if you regularly tow, however. If you do not and you do not use your car often, you can get it checked annually.

Fuel Efficiency

Fuel efficiency is another consideration you need to make, especially when you take into account how expensive fuel has become in the United States. If you do not properly hitch your trailer or car, the vehicle you are driving will run through fuel much more quickly. If fuel efficiency is something that interests you, in addition to learning how to properly use your vehicle, you may also want to invest in an electric or hybrid car. An electric or hybrid car will save you a fortune on fuel, and may even allow you to travel for free (provided you install a charging point at home).

Protecting Others

When you are towing a trailer or vehicle, you need to do everything you can to protect the lives and vehicles of other road users. If you do not, as stated above, you could end up in a lot of trouble. One of the worst things you can do as somebody towing a large vehicle or trailer behind your car is drive dangerously or not hitch it properly, because not only could this lead to your vehicle swaying and swerving between lanes, but it could also result in the trailer coming off and seriously injuring other road users.

Saving Money

When you properly hitch your trailer or vehicle, you can save yourself a lot of money. This is because you won’t have to worry about the trailer coming off, nor will damage or wear be of major concern to you. If you have to replace the trailer or vehicle you are towing, you will likely have to spend a small fortune. In addition to replacing anything that comes loose because it was not hitched properly, improperly hitching a trailer or vehicle can actually lead to the vehicle you are driving getting damaged.

Preventing Accidents

Accidents happen on the road all the time. If you are involved in an accident or a collision and fault is deemed to be yours, you can end up being summoned to court. If negligence was the reason you caused an accident, you could even end up getting arrested and charged by the police. The best way to prevent accidents is to drive very carefully when you are towing a trailer, and make sure that you always learn how to properly hitch a trailer or vehicle to the back of your car or truck. Online videos can be very informative if courses are not an option.

Avoiding Lawsuits

Remember that if you do end up getting involved in a collision or accident because you failed to hitch your vehicle or trailer properly, you could end up receiving a court summons and being sued. Being sued can be devastating for you and your loved ones, especially if you are the sole provider. Civil lawsuits are very hard to fight against if there is concrete evidence that you were in the wrong. You can avoid lawsuits by hitching your trailer properly, learning how to operate a vehicle that is being towed, and driving responsibly.

Legal Compliance

Finally, you are legally required (in most states) to ensure that your vehicle is properly attached to the trailer or car being towed. If it is not, even if an accident doesn’t happen, you can still get fined. Fines vary depending on the severity of the infraction. Because towing mistakes can lead to serious accidents and even fatalities, they are taken very seriously by law enforcement. You therefore need to make sure you maintain compliance at all times. If you take an online course, you can quickly educate yourself on the rules of towing.

It is fair to say that towing a trailer or vehicle is a big responsibility. You not only need to drive carefully, but you also need to learn to properly hitch your trailer. Hopefully, the guidance given here has given you some insight into why this is, so you can keep yourself and other road users safe.