If you are about to join the many other motorists who are taking to trailer towing, you will of course, require a suitable vehicle. The family 1.5 hatchback just won’t do it, although it could haul a luggage trailer, and for this type of driving, you really want something substantial like an SUV or perhaps a 5 series BMW, which could comfortably tow the average domestic trailer. If you are looking to go on extended holidays, for example, then the vehicle should offer space and ought to be designed specifically for camping, but if you have no plan to change, your car will handle an average trailer.

• The Principle of Towing – One must understand that our car is now having to both pull something, it also has to control the extended pressure when slowing down, and in wet conditions, this must always be remembered. Gradual braking is the order of the day, and with the right heavy duty towbar, you have the stability to manage the extra weight in any conditions. Wide turning is also something you have to master, as you turn, it is no longer the rear of your car that is your perimeter and the trailer will follow the turn, but is much further back.

• The Right Connections – Modern trailers are all connectable with electrics and brakes, and with decent suspension, the trailer is part of the vehicle and when driven properly, will perform in that way. The brakes are important and are activated automatically when the driver brakes, and with lights and indicators fitted, the vehicle and trailer are practically one. The trailer would have a parking brake, which would be accessed from the flywheel area at the front. It isn’t a good idea to leave trailer brakes on in the winter, for obvious reasons. Additionally, if your trailer is considerably large, consider getting a Power Landing Gear like what you can see in fleet trucks.

• Steady on the Gas – The extra weight will require more oomph to accelerate as you normally would, and if you want to do this, fine, but expect your fuel gauge to drop rapidly. The economical way to drive a trailer towing vehicle is to slowly accelerate and let the momentum of the moving unit to aid in the acceleration process, thus using much less fuel. As a driver, you should always be looking for possible scenarios ahead, behind and to the side, but with that extra weight, you will not stop in the same short distance, and one should always indicate an intention to lane change. While it is good to keep speeds down, if you are on an A Road and are holding up traffic, a little faster is a preferred option.

• Safety First – such are modern cars that it is easy to jump in, turn the key and go roaring off, but if you are pulling a trailer, it presents a different set of dynamics, as your car is now part of a greater equation, and has the trailer’s weight to control.

Towing is pretty straightforward, and providing you have the right tow bar and a good trailer, you will enjoy the many benefits it will bring you and your family.