Tow Far, Tow Good: Trailer Handling

In our first installment on towing tips, we covered five basic points on preparing for a trip, from maintenance to practicing various maneuvers. Now we'll go into a bit more detail on the actual handling of your tow vehicle and trailer while underway.


These tips don't cover everything there is to know about towing, but they cover some of the most important aspects. The most important thing is to be careful and use common sense. And remember, the more you practice, the better you'll become.

Parasitic Power Loss
Actually, your tow vehicle has the same power with a loaded trailer in tow. It's just that that power is being utilized differently. Much of your vehicle's zip is being zapped by the extra load you're pulling and you must allow for it.


Where you really feel the difference is in acceleration. Merging and passing need to be calculated differently than when you're not towing. Under normal non-towing driving conditions you may be accustomed to using your accelerator to "beat" merging traffic, or to pass another vehicle quickly to avoid oncoming traffic. It is imperative, though, that you understand hitting the gas pedal will not have the same affect when towing. Of course, the amount of acceleration deficit you will experience depends on the power of your tow vehicle and the amount of load you're pulling. Nonetheless, there will be a difference. Therefore, learning to be a patient driver is an attribute to successful towing.

Allow More Room
Never forget that your overall length has greatly increased. Even if you're towing a small boat or cargo trailer, your combined length is likely more than double what it is when not towing. You'll need to compensate for this in more than one way.