Renting a moving trailer is one of the easiest and most cost-efficient ways to move house.
If you don’t have a lot of stuff to relocate and your items fit in a trailer, you won’t need to hire movers or rent a moving truck – you will be able to transport your belongings in a moving trailer attached to your car. It’s very convenient and very economical.
There is just one problem – driving with a trailer is a big challenge. The moving trailer will add 8-12 feet to the length of your vehicle and hundreds of pounds of extra weight – and if it is enclosed (the preferable option for moving trailers), it will block your rearview vision as well. Your car will become more difficult to maneuver, braking will take more time, you will need more turning space and more parking space, and reversing will be extremely dangerous.
To avoid mishaps on the road, you need to drive very carefully and to be aware of all the safety tips for towing a trailer.
Find out how to tow a moving trailer with your car, so you arrive at your destination safely and without any problems on the way.
Before taking off
To avoid trouble down the road, you need to prepare well before you start driving:
1) Make sure your vehicle can safely handle your rented moving trailer and the cargo load
When renting a trailer for moving, you need to be careful not to exceed the towing capacity of your car (every vehicle has a towing weight limit specified in the owner’s manual – you can also check by make, model, and year of the car).
You also need to make sure that you have an appropriate hitch – different types of hitches can handle different weights and certain designs may be required for trailers over a certain weight. Every hitch should be labeled with the maximum trailer weight and maximum tongue weight it can safely support.
Last but not least, you have to ensure that your loaded car and loaded trailer do not exceed the gross combination weight rating (GCWR) of your vehicle.
2) Make sure the moving trailer is properly attached to your vehicle
Confirm that the moving trailer is securely connected to your vehicle – the trailer coupler should be locked onto the hitch ball; the safety chains should be in place, crossed under the trailer tongue and not touching the ground; and the trailer wiring should be properly connected.
3) Make sure all trailer components are working and in good condition
Check the condition of the tires and make sure they’re properly inflated (proper inflation means easier trailer handling, lower fuel consumption, and smaller risk of blow-outs).
Then, check if the signal lighting and the brakes (when available) are functioning properly:
- Large trailers may obscure the tail lights on your tow vehicle, so it’s crucial that the lights on your trailer are working;
- If your trailer has brakes, make sure the emergency breakaway cable is correctly attached to your car (if the trailer gets disconnected from the hitch, this cable will trigger the brakes on the trailer, so it comes to a halt quickly).
4) Make sure the trailer is loaded properly
It goes without saying that you need to stay within the trailer’s maximum load capacity. It is also extremely important to position the cargo correctly – in order to minimize trailer sway while driving:
- About 60% of the load should be placed in the front part of the trailer;
- The cargo weight should be evenly distributed on the left and right sides of the trailers;
- All items in the trailer should be well secured to prevent shifting during transit.
5) Practice driving with a trailer
Towing a trailer will affect your vehicle’s performance, so it’s a good idea to take a practice run before you set off on your journey (especially important if you’re driving with a trailer for the first time).
Find an empty parking lot (or any large empty space) and practice until you grasp the basics – familiarize yourself with the steering response between your car and the trailer, practice accelerating, decelerating, turning, and backing up, try the brakes, etc.
Bonus tip: If necessary, adjust your car’s side-view mirrors to ensure a clear view of the trailer and the traffic behind you.
6) Plan the trip to your new home
Keep in mind that towing a trailer will decrease the maneuverability of your car and will lower its gas mileage.
So, plan your route to avoid heavy traffic, narrow roads, steep grades, and roads with hairpin bends as much as possible – and plan for frequent refueling stops along the way.
Related: Tips for driving cross country when moving to a new home
While driving with a moving trailer
When the time comes to hit the road with your moving trailer in tow, be sure to drive carefully and responsibly:
1) Drive slowly
Stick to the slow lane and do not exceed 50-55 MPH (the recommended maximum speed limit when towing a trailer is 55 MPH).
Keep your speed steady and make any accelerations and slowdowns as gradual as possible.
Related: How to drive a moving truck
2) Allow plenty of space between you and the vehicle in front of you
You need to increase your following distance when towing a trailer as it takes longer to respond to anything ahead of you with a trailer attached to your car.
Bonus tip: Pay attention to the road ahead – since it takes longer to accelerate, stop, turn, and change lanes with a trailer, you need to scan the road ahead farther than you normally would, so you have enough time to react if needed.
3) Be extra careful when passing
When driving with a trailer, passing requires considerably more distance and time – as the length of the trailer must also pass the other vehicle before you can safely change lanes.
It’s best to avoid passing on a two-lane road.
Bonus tip: Make sure you have plenty of room when changing lanes – remember that the added length of the trailer means you need more space than usual.
4) Take turns wider than usual
Turning too tightly when you are towing a trailer behind your vehicle can cause the trailer tongue to come in contact with the rear bumper and damage it.
Besides, if you make a sharp turn, the trailer wheels may hit a curb – or the trailer may hit another car.
5) Avoid sudden braking
Slow down gradually when you need to stop. Keep in mind that your braking distance increases significantly with the added weight of the trailer, so you need to begin braking sooner than normal.
Bonus tip: When driving downhill, downshift the transmission to a lower gear- this will help slow the vehicle without applying the brakes.
6) Watch out for trailer sway
When two vehicles are connected, they pull on each other, so fishtailing is much more common when towing a trailer – sharp swerves, downhill grades, crosswinds, and many other circumstances can easily lead to trailer sway.
In such a case, your trailer will start to swing from side to side and careen uncontrollably, creating an extremely hazardous situation.
If that happens, you need to slow down (do not apply the brakes) and steer as straight ahead as possible – this will help stabilize the vehicle and the trailer. When the trailer sway stops, pull to the side of the road and make sure the trailer load is balanced.
To reduce the risk of trailer sway, you need to put most of the cargo weight in the front of the trailer, drive at a lower speed, and avoid sudden turns.
7) Avoid backing up as much as possible
Reversing with a trailer attached to your vehicle is very difficult and very dangerous – so, when parking, stopping at gas stations, etc., try to make sure there’s plenty of space to make a complete turnaround – or, even better, look for spots you can pull through.
If you need to back up, first make sure your path is clear. Then, hold the bottom of the steering wheel with one hand while looking back through the rear windshield of your car and turn the wheel in the direction in which you want the trailer to go. Do it very slowly and be sure not to turn too sharply. (If you do, jackknifing may occur – a situation where the trailer turns perpendicular to the towing vehicle. Do not continue backing up if you get in a jackknife position because you can damage your vehicle.)
If you get stuck, experience jackknifing, or begin to veer too far in one direction, pull your car forward to straighten out the trailer and try again.
8) Stop frequently to check on the trailer and the trailer load
Stop every 50 miles or so to check the hitch, the trailer wiring connections, and the trailer wheel lugs. Confirm the trailer is properly attached to your vehicle and your load is secure.
9) Take measures to prevent trailer theft
Unattended trailers can be easily stolen – a thief can hook up the trailer to their vehicle and drive away with it.
To protect your moving trailer – and your belongings – from theft, you’re advised to use a hitch pin lock (when the trailer is attached to your vehicle) or a hitch coupler lock (when the trailer is disconnected from your vehicle) and to lock the doors to the trailer. Wheel locks, car alarms, and other anti-theft devices are also quite efficient in preventing trailer theft.
See also: How to prevent moving truck theft
Knowing how to drive with a trailer in a safe and efficient way will help you make your small move safer and smoother. If you have a lot of things to relocate, though, a moving trailer won’t do – you will need to rent a moving truck or hire professional movers.
