General pointers for hauling a trailer with your new Skoda

May 8
09:32

2011

Edward Nolan

Edward Nolan

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If you are planning a bit of a vacation, maybe a long car journey to France, then you might need a bit of practice driving while hauling a caravan trailer.

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It isn't too difficult but if you are completely new to pulling a trailer then it can be a little over-whelming. In most cases,General pointers for hauling a trailer with your new Skoda Articles drivers find the number one problem to be adjusting to the additional weight of the trailer and learning how to tow it with a new vehicle.So if you are about to use a trailer, then here are 9 tips to keep in mind to make sure you have a safe trip in your Skoda and feel a bit more confident about driving with a trailer.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 size car you need to safely tow your trailer. You should also check the Skoda manual as you don't want to overload your Skoda's engine.2) Next, check the trailer to see if it has a hitch package. This package is a facility to connect the electronics of your trailer or caravan to your car. This type of package is a necessary feature because it provides the electricity to the lights on the trailer, making sure that other drivers can see that you are on the road.3) Make sure you have a good view from your Skoda. This may involve extenders that attach to your wing mirrors giving you a better view of your camper and also make you more aware of anyone else on the road, in the event that they want to overtake. Just imagine how bad a crash could be, it would not only ruin your holiday but it could cause serious injuries.4) Before you leave the house have a safety inspection. You should take this time to make sure all connections are tightened correctly. It will include: checking hitch wiring is long enough to account for turns, checking the pressure of tyres, attaching the equalizer and stabilizer, ensuring that the caravan or trailer is balanced and place the trailer tongue into the correct position.5) Make sure all your belongings are secure even before you start the engine. It is important that you take this precaution as you don't want to arrive and discover all of your belongings are broken, all over the floor and smashed to a million pieces.6) When going down a hill ensure you don't go fast. Put your gear stick into a lower gear and then slowly drive down the decline, it is the only real way to deal with hills and inclines.7) Be extra careful when you are reversing. During a steering manoeuvre the slightest of touches on steering wheel can damage the caravan or camper and destroy the tow bar, making it unusable.8) Next, drive slower being sure not to make abrupt or sharp turns. Ideally, your driving should be extremely fluid and any steering adjustments should be made earlier rather than later, this is the best way to make sure you remain safe during your trip.9) Lastly, most Skodas should be appropriate for towing but if you have concerns then perhaps you should consider leasing a more powerful Skoda instead. For example, I recently found a Skoda leasing deal that was more appropriate for my road trip.Hopefully, if you follow this advice you will have a stress free time as part of your next holiday, irrespective of the final destination.

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