Travelling With A Trailer: Summer Road Trip Hacks
The Kiwi summer is the perfect opportunity for a road trip.
The sun is shining, the beaches are calling… what else is there to do but hook up your trailer, load it and hit the road?
It’s the consummate Kiwi holiday.
If you are planning on travelling with a trailer this summer (or at any other time), you need to read our road trip adventure hacks now.
Travelling With A Trailer: Summer Road Trip Hacks
Travelling with a trailer can be a fantastic way to ensure you have everything you need for summer fun and adventure. Here’s how you can make sure you have a safe and enjoyable trip:
Trailer Safety Checks
Is your trailer ready to hit the road? This is the very first thing you want to check and do it well in advance of your trip in case anything needs remedying.
Before you can start travelling with a trailer, perform the necessary safety checks to ensure it is going to be safe to tow. Firstly, you’ll need a current registration and insurance cover. Then, you need to check for roadworthiness. Assess the tyres, brakes, lights, connections and other mechanical components to confirm everything is in good working condition.
Check The Roads
Some New Zealand roads are an adventure in themselves! So, before you hit the tarmac, it pays to research your planned route online before you leave. That way, you can check that the roads you are considering are suitable for travelling with a trailer in tow.
Depending on your towing confidence, you may or may not want to brave some of NZ’s more infamous narrow roads, unsealed surfaces or one-way bridges.
Secure Towing
It is vitally important that your trailer is connected to your vehicle correctly. This will allow for safe and secure towing without issues. Luckily, attaching a trailer to your towbar is a pretty straightforward process.
While the trailer is empty, check that the locking mechanism is open, then raise the towing bar so that the coupler is just above the tow ball. Once aligned, lower it down onto the tow ball and lock the coupling in place with the safety catch. Attach the safety chains using the D-shackles and connect the electrical plug.
Do final safety checks by trying to manually lift the trailer off the tow ball, if it doesn’t move then it is securely connected. Check that the lights are operating, disengage any parking brakes on your trailer and verify that the number plate is clean and visible.
You can follow more in-depth step by step connection instructions in our recent blog post here.
Balanced Loading
A safely loaded trailer is easier to control and is less likely to cause any incidents on your trip. Before you start chucking things in willy nilly, double check that you have a trailer that is appropriate for towing all your holiday gear and what the the load capacity is so that you don’t overfill it.
Once you have verified those things, you want to make sure you are balancing the weight of your load. Distribute the load evenly across the trailer deck with the heaviest items at the bottom. Try not to have anything hanging over the sides of the trailer and make sure you secure it well.
You can find more handy tips on how to load a trailer safely here.
Consider The Weather
While we can have some glorious summer weather here in Aotearoa, sometimes Mother Nature likes to throw us some curveballs too! You may want to use a weatherproof cover or tarpaulin to protect your gear from rain, dust or other weather elements. Make sure any weather-sensitive or fragile items are adequately shielded and covered.
Drive To The Conditions
When travelling with a trailer, your vehicle will be heaps longer and heavier than usual, so make sure you take this into account when towing. Drive carefully, especially around corners, while braking, and when changing lanes. It’s also helpful to allow for extra stopping distance.
Plan Some Rest Breaks
When travelling with a trailer, it is a good idea to plan for some stops along the way. Not just so that the kids to go to the toilet, but so that you can check the trailer. Check that everything is still working as it should – that the tyres, lights, brakes and hitch remain in good working order.
Also, cast an eye over your load to check that nothing has come loose in transit. Resecure anything when necessary and ensure everything remains properly in place (including your weather cover).
Unloading
When you get to the other end of your journey, be careful when you start to unload. Things may have moved around during your trip, so be mindful of this when taking things off the trailer. Try to unload things in a logical order so that you don’t have to double handle everything!
Security
Unfortunately, trailers can be pretty easy to steal. It is important to secure your trailer so that someone doesn’t come along and simply roll it away! The best way to do this is by using a trailer lock or a wheel clamp. Often, a visual deterrent is all you will need, but these devices also make it REALLY hard to move a trailer away.
You can check out more in depth information about securing your trailer here.
The Right Trailer For The Job
When travelling with a trailer, you want to make sure you get the right one for the job. Here at Lucca Trailers, we stock an impressive range of trailers suitable for every need.
Whether you need a trusty trailer for the annual family holiday or a valuable tool for your tradie business, we have you covered. Browse our website now or chat with our friendly team to see which option is best for you.
