So, just how 'easy' is towing a trailer?

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applecarrot

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Hi guys,

Following from my previous post about transport, It looks like doing a trailer test is my only option.
I was wondering what the main considerations are when towing a trailer? I dont want to give my horse any bad experiences! I would also like some advice on what is involved in the test.

Thanks everyone! :)
 
I can't give you any advise on what the trailer test involves but I'm sure you'll get lots of advice.

I took the trailer out empty for quite a few times to get used to it. I then went to different Industrial estates to practice reversing and parking....this I did alot.

Good luck :)
 
You'll be fine! The trailer will follow the car, just remember to make wider turns when going round corners, to allow the trailer to get round as well. Also, brake sooner than normal, and try not to use the gear box to slow down too much because it will jolt the trailer.

With reversing, you turn the steering wheel the opposite way to the way you want the trailer to go. Easy! (with lots of practise!)

Good luck with the trailer test!
 
Towing a trailer isn't difficult, reversing you just need to go somewhere quiet (Industrial estate on sunday) and work it out!

Towing a live load is a whole different kettle of fish however!
 
Its not as bad as you think - just try to make all your movements slow and smooth, and try to anticipate other people's actions a lot sooner.

Also, as others have said, practice reversing with an empty trailer on a quiet industrial estate - its SO much easier without an audience! :)
 
My trailer is the same width as my car, so I find it very easy to tow!! I also learnt to reverse 20ft trailers on a farm when I was a teenager, so I can pretty much reverse and park where ever I want! In fact, I am probably better going backwards!!!....practise, practise, practise..... :).....You'll be fine!
 
Towing is fine once you get used to it. As mentioned above you just need to learn how to take very wider corners, break a long time in advance of when you want to stop, and drive very slowly!! Reversing takes a bit of getting used to - going in a straight line, but reversing into a parking space takes practice. It used to take me ages - now I can do it first time!
 
I can tow but still not reverse, luckily my daughter can and she's quite good at it.
I think the comment about driving like you have a bucket of water in the boot is a very good analogy!
 
Also - in a safe area like a car park / field, have a go standing in the trailer while someone tows it. You'll get an idea how careful you need to drive doing that - you feel every bump and things like tree branches hitting the side of the trailer sound very scarey!!
 
maxapple said:
Also - in a safe area like a car park / field, have a go standing in the trailer while someone tows it. You'll get an idea how careful you need to drive doing that - you feel every bump and things like tree branches hitting the side of the trailer sound very scarey!!
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I was just going to post the same reply!!

I stood in mine while OH went at about 10mph - what a shock! I don't know why horses are so willing to get back in after the first journey...I wouldn't :eek:

When driving with horses in my trailer I always try and slow down without having to brake etc, it just makes the journey a lot smoother for your horses.
If you double the normal distances..ie if you would normally start to slow down 50m from a roundabout when towing start at 100m etc

I also crawl around corners, a 'friend' of mine actually tipped her trailer over on a roundabout and to this day swears it wasn't her fault as she clipped the curb :mad:

And as others have said....go off and practice where no one is watching. I thought I was confident with reversing until I had to do it with a large audience waiting for me to get out of their way..OOpppps!!:D

Most of all - Good Luck and Enjoy x
 
my mum has just started towing our new trailer, she doesnt have to do the test, but decided to get some lessons anyway, and she now loves it she has only ever towed in the last week, and can already park the trailer (has to reverse in) and has gotten the hang of it fairly fast, all she needs to do now is get a horse in it, will start with the pony.

One thing that was said was that you jump up the gears as it gives the horse a smoother ride as they feel everything. and you have to break alot slower, so you have longer breaking distances etc
 
I found the best thing to do when reversing is to watch the trailer not the car and ignore all the 'helpful' advice from bystanders... which really gets you confused. Forward is no probs at all, just remember that the trailer is slightly wider than the car and you'll be fine.

Blitz

Who is glad she is old enough not to have to do a trailer test:)
 
same as the others have said really, break a lot earlier than you normally would and watch the wheels when turning. The test of course has the theory questions, hitching and unhitching, breaking test and the reversing part but the main bit of the test is the approx hour drive. Once you're away its all good. I passed my test last year. This is really the main bit, so get used to using your mirrors loads and good luck!
 
SLOW, SLOW, SLOW. The best bit of advice I was ever given about towing a horse in a trailer was "Don't ever go above 45 mph" I never did,even on dual carriageways. My OH had to travel in with a horse many years ago, for about five miles on a straight A road. When we got to destination, he said "Crikey, how fast were you going, that was appalling!" I told him I hadn't gone above 30. He also expressed amazement that a horse ever got into a trailer more than once, as it was loud, unstable, and felt as if i was doing 60 mph. He bought a lorry a few months later. I see some horrific examples of towing, and at speeds that make me think "I hope they aren't loaded" - often they are, and then people wonder why their horse won't load!
 
Hi, good luck its great to be able to get out and about. One useful tip I was given when learning to reverse was that if too much of the trailer was showing in one wing mirror, to turn the steering wheel towards that mirror and it straightens the trailer out - hope that makes sense! Another thing I would seriously recommend is to buy stabilisers, to cut down on the risk of the trailer snaking, not wanting to put you off, but having been involved in an accident caused by this happening (thankfully us and horses fine), i'd never tow without them now.
As everyone else have said, drive slowly and carefully and you wont go far wrong
 
Groom42 said:
SLOW, SLOW, SLOW. The best bit of advice I was ever given about towing a horse in a trailer was "Don't ever go above 45 mph" I never did,even on dual carriageways. My OH had to travel in with a horse many years ago, for about five miles on a straight A road. When we got to destination, he said "Crikey, how fast were you going, that was appalling!" I told him I hadn't gone above 30. He also expressed amazement that a horse ever got into a trailer more than once, as it was loud, unstable, and felt as if i was doing 60 mph. He bought a lorry a few months later. I see some horrific examples of towing, and at speeds that make me think "I hope they aren't loaded" - often they are, and then people wonder why their horse won't load!
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Oh so true. It always amazes me, Not that horses wont load,but that horses are so wonderfully trusting that they will even consider getting inside a noisy scary cramped hot tin box that shakes about somthing awfull,just because they trust us. It gives us a lot to live up to.
 
It's not until you're pulling a trailer that you realise how bad the roads are in places - even tiny little dips make it sway and even small pot holes are HORRIBLE! Uneven fields and dirt track roads are horrific for the horses to travel on.
 
Mike007 said:
Kallibear you could tow my hoss ,cos you understand!
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I am the only driver my horse will load happily on the way home with ;)

I am horrified by some people's towing - they have no idea they are going far too fast and think nothing at going along badly repaired roads at 30mph. You can HEAR the trailer bouncing, never mind see it in the mirros :eek: When (sublty cos no-one likes their driving critisized ;)) suggested they might want to slow down a little, they slow for the corrners a bit more but still continue over the uneven surface at the same speed. I genuinely don't think many realise how uncomfortable uneven road surfaces are! Something you wouldn't normally even notice in a normal car much feel like a ploughed feild for the horses :(

I have been in a trialer a couple of times with the horses ( for a specific reason: yes, not safe I know) and can say from experience - going round corners on a smooth road is absolutly fine, and many people slow down more than required. Whizzing along the motorway at 60mph on a flat smooth well-repaired surface is fine and easy. Doing 25mph on a older road surface (even if it looks kind of ok) if horrible and I too cannot beleive many horse will go willingly into the trailer!
 
What I find difficult to deal with is going slow, well I mean I dont find it hard going slow as I (as above) agree that road surfaces can be very bad, I try and go slower. But then you get cars right behind you, dangerously over taking and pulling out in front of you. Can be scary. I just try to ignore them and think of my girl in the back.
 
I went on a loading course and were put into groups. We rode in the back of a big lorry, then a 2 horse rear facing lorry and a trailer. I have to admit the trailer ride was awful and I question why my horse will travel in it.

I am so careful and don't give a jot if I'm slowing traffic down. I have recently taken a mare to the vets 3 times. The first time she wouldn't load and she actually came in a trailer. The second and third time she was great and I think this is because I really took my time and gave her a smooth journey.
 
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