Towing tips for non-towers

Are you planning on towing a boat, trailer, or even a caravan and don’t know where to begin?

Well, you’re in the right place.

We have put together this handy guide for novice haulers, full of excellent general advice.

And because towing is not necessarily a one-size-fits-all approach, they’ve also added a few tops tips specifically for towing a trailer, boat, and caravan.

It’s time to get hitched…

General towing advice

What are some handy on-road tips?

Towing a trailer, boat, or caravan can have adverse effects on a vehicle’s handling and stopping abilities. This means you will need to maintain a larger gap between your vehicle and any vehicle in front of you. Accordingly, you should approach corners at a more moderate speed.

What should I absolutely avoid doing when towing?

With the added weight of towing, your vehicle will become less agile on the road. Avoiding abrupt steering, acceleration, and braking will ensure your vehicle and whatever it is pulling will stay settled on the road, and you can stay in control.

What are some common towing mistakes?

Poor preparation for your towing trip is the most common and crucial mistake. We’ve all seen that trailer with faulty or completely inoperative lighting. Secondly, make sure your load is properly secured, whether it’s a caravan, boat, or trailer. Poorly secured loads are a common pitfall and can become dangerous to you and other road users.

If you are covering long distances, ensure you are taking breaks more often to prevent fatigue.

What is the number one safety tip?

Be aware! Towing should be met with a high degree of focus and awareness of your surroundings and other road users.

Fortunately, these days technology exists to make life easier. Reversing cameras, park assist, lane departure warnings and other features make driving safer than ever.

What are the legal requirements?

Firstly, you should be sure that the vehicle and associated towing equipment meets the ratings required. Most importantly, this includes ensuring your Gross Vehicle Mass, Gross Trailer Mass, and Gross Combination Mass ratings are not exceeded.

Top tips for towing a trailer

What must I know before I depart?

When towing a trailer, there are key checks that the driver should make prior to departure. Always ensure your hitch, safety chains, and trailer lighting plug are connected and secured properly. With the help of a friend or travelling partner, you should determine that all lights are operating correctly.

What are the best tips for parking a trailer?

Parking with a trailer can be intimidating if you aren’t confident with reversing. Finding a parking space that doesn’t require reversing can save time. When this isn’t possible, remember when reversing that your trailer will turn in the opposite direction of which you turn the steering wheel.

Use this principle to get the trailer turning in the direction you need to reverse; then you can start to turn your steering wheel back towards the direction your trailer is going, so you can complete the turn.

Tips for towing a boat

How do I negotiate a boat ramp safely?

If you’re inexperienced at reversing a boat, we recommend you practice. Find a quiet car park or street and set up traffic cones at roughly 4.5m wide – the common width of a single-lane boat ramp – and build your confidence in reversing and manoeuvring your vehicle and boat.

What are some common boat towing mistakes?

Remember your increased size and presence on the road, and allow enough space when merging or changing lanes.

Modern vehicles have a huge array of technologies that ensure your driving safety. Across the range, you’ll find technologies like:

• Lane Departure Warning.
• Intelligent Lane Intervention.
• Blind Spot Warning.

What are the key things to remember?

These three simple tips will go a long way to helping you and others:

• Secure all equipment before heading out.
• Don’t hold up the boat ramp.
• Tow your boat off the ramp and into the parking area to reorganise before departure.

Tips for towing a caravan

What must I do before I depart?

This 11-point safety check is an excellent general guide.

• Check that the 7pin or 12pin is connected properly.
• Make sure chains are crossed and connected correctly, as well as the d-shackles.
• Check that the hitch on the car is connected properly.
• Check the emergency break away is connected correctly.
• Check that the pin on the hitch is in the lock position.
• Check the indicators on each side are working, as well as the brake lights.
• Make sure the handbrake is off.
• Remove the jockey wheel.
• Make sure all van items are secured, i.e. windows, hatches, and doors.
• Check that the fridge is operating.
• Check that the electric brake is working. 

How do I reverse a caravan safely?

It’s best to get out and assess the area before backing in. It’s also beneficial to have somebody guide you in safely. Don’t rush – it’s not a race. And if you have a reversing camera, take advantage of it.

What is the number one safety tip?

Prepare a written checklist prior to departure. It is sure to come in handy time and again.

What are some key things to keep in mind?

It’s best to avoid concentrating too much on trying to maintain the speed limit. Remember, it’s natural to drive slower with a caravan attached to your vehicle.

Also, braking early is essential to stopping correctly and safely.

What are some of the best towing vehicles?

The Ford Ranger, Everest and F-150 ranges make for excellent towing vehicles. 

They all boast features to make towing easier than it was back in the day. Making sure you check the weight of your caravan, boat or whatever you're towing before purchasing a new vehicle to tow it is essential to make sure you tow safely.

Explore the comprehensive range of Ford vehicles for any purpose here.