How to safely tow a boat or trailer | PEMCO

We recently heard from a Perspective reader who was driving behind a boat on a trailer, only for the boat and trailer to suddenly detach from the truck...while traveling down the road! Eek! 
 
The loyal Perspective reader and PEMCO customer suggested it was time for a brush-up on boat and trailer safety, and we agreed! There’s no better time to get a refresher on towing best practices, especially now that we’re in the middle of PNW boating season. 

Here are our top tips for getting your truck and trailer connected properly, as well as safety tips for on the road. 

How do I safely connect my trailer and truck or towing vehicle? 

Every towing package is unique depending on your vehicle, but these are the basics: 

• Align your hitch and ball, and slowly lower the trailer hitch down over the ball. 

• Close the latch and insert safety pin. Never, ever tow without the safety pin in place. 

• Make sure you have safety chains. Cross them and attach them to the truck (these are in place in case the hitch fails). 

• If your trailer has it’s own brakes, make sure the safety line is attached to the towing vehicle. This will engage the brakes if the trailer accidentally detaches from the truck. 

• Make sure all brake lights and turn signals are working before you drive (this is an important step—don't skip it!) 

What rules should I follow when towing a boat? 

When towing your boat or travel trailer, there's one place you want to avoid: the left lane on the freeway. 

Generally, unless you're exiting on the left or using an HOV lane (which isn't considered the left lane), it's illegal to tow in the left lane. Washington and Oregon law spell out the restrictions, which vary slightly between the states. For example, Washington specifies freeways with three lanes moving in one direction (with specific stretches of road exempted), while Oregon specifies freeways with two lanes in one direction (with no roadways exempted). 

Most trailer manufacturers recommend top towing speeds of 55 miles per hour, which is rarely fast enough to use the left passing lane. Here are some other safe-towing tips: 

• When shopping for a tow vehicle, look for tow/haul packages that include the proper hitch, trailer brakes, larger mirrors, and an updated cooling system to prevent your engine from overheating. Make sure the vehicle is rated for the weight your travel trailer and/or boat and trailer combined. Study the vehicle's towing features and capabilities. 

• Watch for excessive shifting. With the added weight of towing, an automatic transmission will shift more often than it usually does. That creates heat, which can lead to a breakdown. Unlike your engine, your transmission probably doesn't have a heat gauge on your dashboard display. Check your transmission fluid levels often and change fluid as scheduled. You might also ask your mechanic for recommendations about installing an external transmission cooling system or a deeper pan, which can accommodate more fluid. 

• Fill your gas tank before you hitch up the trailer and keep an eye on the gauge. You burn more fuel when towing.  

• Plan routes to avoid dense city traffic and steep hills. If you do need to climb steep hills or drive down them, there are a few best practices to keep in mind.
  
  At the beginning of a steep incline, make sure you’ve moved to the right so faster vehicles can past. Place your vehicle in a lower gear, to keep your engine’s RMPs (revolutions per minute) steady and transmission temps in check. 
  
  When you’re towing down a hill, ensure you’re traveling at an appropriate speed before you begin the descent, rather than attempting to slow down once you’re on the way down. This will allow you to stay in control. 

• Brake early and gently – you have much more weight to stop when towing.

• If your trailer starts to fishtail, ease up on the gas, but don't hit the brakes. This could result in a further loss of control. If the trailer has electronic brakes, apply the manual brake controller while maintaining pressure on the gas pedal. The tension will help straighten the trailer. 

We hope these tips serve as reminders to all drivers who tow boats or trailers. Have a great boating season, PNW, and don’t forget to check out this boat safety checklist before you hit the water. #worryless #livemore 

NOTE: While we're experts in loss prevention and home/auto safety, we don't consider ourselves experts in traffic laws or their enforcement. Information shared here is for educational purposes only and is not legal advice. If you have legal concerns, we urge you to contact a law enforcement source or attorney in your community.