Re: [a/s] My First Tow: A Lesson in Fear

[Jim Dunmyer <jdunmyer@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Warren,
 You need to do a couple of things before towing that trailer again:

First, check the weight distribution. Weigh the trailer on a local truck
scale, then weigh the tounge. You must have at least 10% of the
trailer's weight on the tounge, and 12-15% is better. More tounge weight
= more stability. If that makes the tounge 'too heavy' for the truck,
then you must get an equalizing hitch. Anything above about 400# is 'too
much'. Plain ol' equalizing hitches aren't expensive and should be
available used for even less. An equalizing hitch can be moved from one
vehicle to another, and 2 years is a long time to go with the dangerous
situation that you've described.

Second, you must make sure that your brakes are working. The light
circuit is totally seperate from the brakes and is unrelated to their
function. The best way to check the brakes is to drive slowly on gravel
and operate the manual control knob on your controller. That will put
maximum current to the brake magnets, and all trailer wheels should lock
up and slide. Have someone stand alongside the trailer while you're
doing this to be sure that ALL brakes lock up. Fix them if they don't.

I hate to be preachy, but please remember that you share the road with
others, you owe it to them to have your rig as safe as possible.

                                 <<Jim>>