If you are planning a bit of a vacation, maybe as part of a European touring holiday, then you might need a bit of practice driving with a trailer.
Driving using a trailer is not that taxing,
however if you are completely new to pulling a trailer then it can be a little over-whelming. The real issue is getting used to the additional weight and length of the combination of car and trailer and finding a way to control them on the road.
So if this sounds familiar and you are going on a trip, then here are 9 tips to keep in mind to make sure you have a safer road trip in your Nissan and also feel more relaxed and confident when towing the trailer, as compiled.
1) Firstly, take a flick through the manual. A trailer should have their own manual or even just a sticker on the side that will tell you what class of vehicle you need to tow the trailer safely. At the same time you should check the Nissan manual because you don't want to overload your Nissan's engine.
2) Next, make sure it has a hitch package. A hitch package is a facility to connect your trailer or camper electronics to your vehicle. This is an essential safely feature as it supplies the electricity to the lights of the trailer, which lets other drivers know that you are on the road.
3) Determine your viewing restrictions and limits, when the trailer is attached. This could involve extension gadgets that can fix to your side mirrors and allow you to have a better view of your trailer and also give you better visibility of other road users, who may want to overtake. The last thing you want to do is crash into a car that is trying to overtake you.
4) Before you put the key in the car you should have an inspection. This should involve a thorough inspection of the trailer fittings and connection points. This should include: checking tyre pressure, checking that the hitch wiring is the required length to account for turns, attaching the equalizer and stabilizer, ensuring that the caravan or trailer is balanced and place the trailer tongue into the correct position.
5) Before you put the key in the engine you need to make sure your belongings are secure. It is important that you take this precaution as you don't want to arrive and discover that all of your things are broken and cracked into thousands of pieces.
6) Don't speed down a hill or steady decline. Switch to a low gear and crawl at slow speed down the hill, it is the only safe way to deal with inclines and declines in the road.
7) Be extra careful when you are reversing. When you are steering the slightest of touches on steering wheel can damage the trailer or caravan and make the tow bar inoperable.
8) Then, during your drive you need to change your style to avoid tight turns. Your driving really needs to be subtle and fluid and steering wheels movements need to be made as early as possible, this will help to ensure you remain safe during your trip.
9) Lastly, most Nissans should be appropriate for towing but if you have concerns then it might be a good idea to hire or lease a newer Nissan instead. For instance, a few months ago I took out a deal that was great for towing my caravan during my holiday.
If you decide to follow this advice then hopefully you will have a stress free time as part of your next road holiday, regardless of the particular destination.
