Whether it’s a trailer, a boat or a caravan, towing should be done correctly to avoid damage to your vehicle and accidents on our roads.
According to Dewald Ranft, chairperson of the Motor Industry Workshop Association, a proud association of the Retail Motor Industry Organisation, the first thing to do is to ensure the trailer or caravan has been properly serviced by a competent person.
“These have probably been standing idle since last December,” said Ranft.
“During the service, the following areas should receive special attention: brakes, electrical connections and components, such as lights, cables, wheel bearings and tyres, with emphasis on the tyre age.”
He added that it is important to ensure you have the correct licence and what you are towing falls within the legal requirements in terms of weight in relation to your vehicle.
“Many motorists don’t realise that their drivers licence regulates what vehicle they may drive and what type of trailer they may pull. The AA provides a break-down of licence codes and the corresponding trailer weight. “It also explains how to calculate the trailer to car weight ratio. It is important that motorists don’t attempt to tow an item that is too heavy for their vehicle,” said Ranft.
Budget and safety
The cost of fuel and fuel consumption is also a factor to consider before heading off on holiday with a trailer, boat or caravan in tow.
“Towing roughly halves your normal distance so be careful to plan your stops beforehand. It’s also important to budget for the additional fuel you’ll use when towing. You’ll need to double your usual fuel expenditure,” he advised.
Ranft said speeding is the number one cause of accidents when towing.
“Drivers need to be aware that the stopping distance is far longer when towing and allow for this.”
He added that passing heavy vehicles and vice versa creates a vortex which can affect the towing combination stability.
“Ensure you are not caught unaware. Do not use excessive braking when descending a steep descent as this may overheat the brakes on the units and lead to premature brake failure.
“Rather select a lower gear to assist with the braking force and keep to the recommended speed limit.”
Weight is also a key consideration when towing. Towing a trailer can be dangerous with the wrong weight distribution. If more than 40 per cent of the load is on the back it becomes unstable.
At least 60 per cent should be in the front.A tail-heavy trailer could whip you off the road and cause an accident.
Equipment
He also encourages drivers who stop to assist a broken-down vehicle to ensure they use the correct equipment before attempting to tow the vehicle.
“Use only approved towing equipment, such as towing bars and ropes,” said Ranft.
“Be aware when using a rope that it will slacken on deceleration. By using the correct rope you avoid the risk of the rope snapping on acceleration. A tow bar should be used if the towed vehicle’s brakes are not working.
“Be aware that the steering on the towed vehicle may be extremely heavy when the engine is not running so too are the brakes without vacuum assistance,” he added.
“Every December and January we have many fatalities on our roads. Let’s make sure we tow responsibly and take it easy on our roads this festive season,” concluded Ranft.
