Anyone else petrified of towing?

[Widgeon]

When I bought the trailer I used to feel sick for a couple of days before going anywhere, but I wanted so much to get out and have fun with my horse that I told myself I wasn't going to let the fear win. Eventually I got used to it and now I'm mostly fine. However I do have a set of self imposed limits in my head - I don't go over about 45mph (I drive almost exclusively on narrow twisty country roads) and I cancel trips if I'm at all concerned about the state of the roads. I also don't tow on motorways. This is all mostly to do with setting boundaries in my head so I don't have to be constantly assimilating new information and fretting about what decision to make.

I'm much more confident in my tow car since I failed to fully check a satnav planned route (it's an area I know and I got complacent) and ended up having to tow the trailer up something appropriately named "The Cliff". I swear it was essentially vertical. The old diesel engine just hauled us all up no problem, although I have to say that the state of my legs and stomach when we got to the top was questionable.

 

[scruffyponies]

There's no substitute for practice. My recommendation is to get an old trailer which you're not too precious about and do loads of favours for people shuttling furniture, fence posts, quad bikes or whatever around for them.
Horses and loading can wait. Get comfortable swinging that thing around in gateways first, so you will have the skills and confidence when you need it.

 

[bubsqueaks]

Yes I dont like towing since an accident many years ago.
For me its the whole anxiety over so many things can go wrong scenario not the actual towing the trailer which Im fine without the horse too!
I found that getting a camera fitted reassured me the horse was happy.
Then having as many eventualities covered that I could - always had breakdown insurance, carried first aid kit, high viz, etc.
Then its just down to getting out as many times as you can - good luck!

 

[WelshD]

I had 3.5t boxes as I was scared of towing

But when you think about it there are some right Neanderthals out there towing stuff without so much as a brain cell between the lot of them so look at it that way - if they can then you can!

 

[cheekywelshie]

I've been towing for about 5 years. Hated it, still do but changing tow car to an auto made a massive difference - horse also loads better now....

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

I passed my test way before it was obligatory to have to do the trailer test; I passed my test on the Tuesday of the week, was towing the family caravan from Devon up to Norfolk for the weekend on the Friday! You could do that back then.

Towed the caravan a fair bit in my twenties, then parents sold the blessed thing and didn't tow for a good 20+ years.

Then bought a trailer and a 4X4. Decided I needed some lessons from someone who was experienced at teaching towing and followed a recommendation from a driving instructor I knew at the time, however the guy I used I didn't find terribly helpful tbh and I didn't feel I really benefitted from the session.

So hitched up and drove the trailer around empty for a bit. Which helped, but for me the Big Deal was actually having my pride-and-joy up behind me in the back of the wagon - and here I was with the steering wheel in my hands totally responsible for her. That was scary.

We went over to a friend's place about 8 miles away and rode-out with her. She's got an HGV licence and gave me a few tips - and it really helped having to be focussed and say well here I am, I'm leaving now, kind of thing.

Had to get rid of my towing vehicle sadly, and am looking to get another, when I shall have to go through all this again. Oh dear!!

 

[Titchy Reindeer]

I think that the only way to be more confident is practice. I currently tow between 3 and 5 times a week (only 5km down the road) with with 2 90° parkings to do. You soon get used to it. (always means pony is working on her self loading as well)

The first time I ever towed anything was my friends trailer with her pony in it. I turned up with my new (second hand) car and she just said "ooh great, that can tow, let's take the pony to the riding school for a ride" and off we went!