Tow Dolly vs Car Trailer: Which Should You Use?
Short answer: a tow dolly lifts only the front wheels of the car you’re towing, while a car trailer (car hauler) carries the whole car off the ground. A tow dolly is lighter, cheaper and easier to store, and it usually works well for front-wheel-drive cars. A car trailer is heavier and costs more, but […]
4-Pin vs 7-Pin Trailer Plug: What’s the Difference?
Short answer: a 4-pin plug runs only the trailer’s lights (running lights, left turn/brake, right turn/brake and ground). A 7-pin plug adds electric brakes, a 12-volt power line and usually reverse lights. If your trailer has electric brakes, you need a 7-pin connection and a brake controller in the tow vehicle. If it only has […]
How to Turn With a Trailer: Right Turns, Left Turns and Tight Corners
Turning is one of the first things that surprises new towers. You make a right turn the way you always have, and suddenly the trailer tire is up on the curb, or worse, clipping a sign post. That happens because a trailer doesn’t follow your truck’s path. It cuts the corner. Once you understand why, […]
Towing a Trailer on the Highway: Merging, Lane Changes and Passing
Highway driving is where a lot of new towers feel the most nervous. Around town you’re going slow and have room to think. On the freeway, everything happens faster, and your truck and trailer are longer, heavier and slower to stop than the traffic around you. The good news is that safe highway towing comes […]
Do You Need a Special License to Tow a Trailer?
Most people towing a camper, boat or utility trailer for personal use do not need a commercial driver’s license (CDL). But “no CDL” doesn’t always mean “no special license.” Once a trailer gets heavy enough, some states require a higher class of regular (noncommercial) license or an endorsement. Here’s how to figure out where you […]
Trailer Lights Not Working? How to Find and Fix the Problem
Few things are more frustrating than hooking up, doing your walk-around, and finding the trailer lights dead, flickering, or doing something strange like blinking on both sides. The good news is that most trailer light problems come down to a short list of causes, and you can usually track them down with a test light […]
Towing a Trailer in Snow, Ice and Rain: Winter Towing Tips
Short answer: if you can avoid towing on snow and ice, do. If you can’t, slow way down, triple your following distance, make every input smooth, and set up your rig before you leave. A trailer adds weight that wants to keep going when you want to stop or turn, and slick roads take away […]
Towing a Trailer in High Winds: How to Stay Safe
Short answer: slow down, give yourself more room, and be ready to park. Wind pushes on the big flat side of a trailer, especially a tall travel trailer or empty enclosed cargo trailer, and that push can start sway. There’s no single wind speed that’s safe for every rig. A heavy, well-loaded trailer with a […]
Maximum Towing Speed by State: Where Trailer Speed Limits Are Lower
Short answer: in most states you may tow a trailer at the posted speed limit, but a few states set a lower maximum for vehicles towing. California caps every vehicle towing a trailer at 55 mph, and Washington caps “vehicles in combination” (which includes any vehicle towing a trailer) at 60 mph. Posted limits and […]
Trailer Breakaway Switch: How It Works and How to Test It
Short answer: a trailer breakaway switch is a small switch with a pull pin on a cable. The cable clips to your tow vehicle, and if the trailer ever separates from the hitch, the cable yanks the pin out and the switch sends power from a battery on the trailer straight to the trailer’s electric […]