How To Hook Up A Trailer

Sometimes, the carrying capacity of your car or truck just is not enough, so a trailer is called for. Hooking up a trailer to your vehicle using a hitch is a very simple, straightforward procedure, but it’s very important to do it properly and safely. An improperly installed trailer can cause severe damage to your vehicle, the trailer, other vehicles on the road, or even pedestrians. Follow our simple steps to insure you do it safely and correctly the first time and haul your cargo with peace of mind!

Match the Trailer to the Towing Vehicle’s Capability

The first step in using a trailer-vehicle combination is choosing the trailer you use with caution. Before you try to hook it up to the vehicle that will be towing it, you should check that the fully-loaded, unbraked trailer does not exceed the empty weight of the towing vehicle. That means that your car, when empty, should still be heavier than the trailer when filled entirely. This will ensure that the trailer’s weight does not overpower the capacity of the vehicle.