Tow Far - Preparation

Even if you've never been a big fan of Willie Nelson, the words of one of his songs probably ring in your ears every time you hitch up your trailer and hit the road: "On the road again. Ain't it great to be on the road again..." Those words may or may not hold true, though, depending on how well prepared you are for towing your favorite recreational toy, be it a boat, dirt bike, ATV, mobile home, or horse trailer.

No Tow Woe
The prospect of trailering can stir up a host of anxieties about potential problems. These can include everything from a trailer tire blowing to insufficient grease in the hubs to something flying out of the trailer. Or perhaps when you hit a bump in the road, will the coupler pop loose and cause the trailer to drop off the hitch ball?


The worries can be endless and will likely subside a bit only once you get near your destination without incident. The difference between angst and calm when trailering starts with being better educated about the various facets of towing and thorough preparation. To minimize worry, it's good to go over a checklist well before pulling out of the driveway. Some things require more advance preparation than others. For instance, some days or weeks prior to your departure date it would be wise to do a major inspection of your trailer.

Tire Check
Check the tires (including the spare) for web-like cracks that indicate rot, tread depth, uneven wear and slow leaks by checking their pressure over a period of days. Tire pressure should always be checked when the tires are cold. Driving them even a few miles will heat them up and increase the pressure, giving you a higher reading.


A short test drive is a good idea as well. Afterward, feel the tires. It is okay if they are warm, but if one or more is considerably hotter than the others, you likely have a problem. Either the hot tire is underinflated, or it is carrying more of a load than it is designed to and the load needs to be changed. Check the heat of the axle hubs too. If one feels hotter than the rest, or all of them seem abnormally hot, the bearings should be inspected before you continue the trip.