If you are about to go on a trip, maybe as part of a European touring holiday, then it could be time for a little practice driving while towing a trailer.
Towing a trailer is not that tough but if you are new to the experience then it can be a little harrowing. The main issue is getting familiar with the extra weight and length of the trailer and learning how to tow it with a new vehicle.
So if you are in this position,
here are a few tips to remember to ensure you have a safer road trip in your Nissan and also feel more in control of your vehicle, as compiled.
1) Firstly, take a flick through the manual. A trailer should have their own manual or maybe just a sticker on the inside that will have details regarding what size car you need to safely tow your trailer. You should also check the Nissan manual as 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 attach your car batter to your camper or trailer electronic. This system is a must have feature as it will power the rear lights on your camper or trailer, ensuring that other vehicles are aware that you are on the road.
3) Determine your viewing restrictions and limits, when the trailer is attached. This could involve extenders for your wing mirrors to make sure you can see behind the trailer and also give you better visibility of other road users, who may want to overtake. A serious crash could not only ruin a holiday but could also cause some serious damage, so be careful.
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 tyre pressure, attaching the stabilizer and equalizer, making sure the trailer or caravan is balanced and adjust the trailer tongue so that it is in the correct position.
5) Before setting off have a thorough inspection of all of your cases and belongings. It is really important that you take the time to do this as you don't want to arrive and find all of your plates on the floor and cracked into thousands of pieces.
6) When going down a hill ensure you don't go fast. Switch to a low gear and crawl at slow speed down the hill, it is the only safe way to drive down a hilly road.
7) When you reverse you should be especially careful and take your time. If you are steering then any slight touch on the wheel can dent and damage a caravan and destroy the tow bar.
8) Next, drive slower being sure not to make abrupt or sharp turns. Where possible, your driving should be loose and smooth and steering should be made earlier rather than later, this is the best way to make sure you remain safe during your trip.
9) Finally, if you think your Nissan is not really adequate for towing then perhaps you should consider leasing a more powerful Nissan instead. For instance, a few months ago I took out a deal which enabled me to safely pull my trailer.
If you decide to follow this advice then hopefully you should have a great experience during your next journey, regardless of the location.
