Rupert-the-bear
Well-Known Member
Any tips gratefully appreciated for a towing/showing novice....even if they seem really obvious- knowing me i'll forget the pony!! 
Tips for towing novice...
- Thread starter Rupert-the-bear
- Start date
ROG
Well-Known Member
This HHO thread might be useful -Any tips gratefully appreciated for a towing/showing novice....even if they seem really obvious- knowing me i'll forget the pony!!
Towing a trailer for the first time
brucethegypsycob
Well-Known Member
practice towing without the pony first.
brucethegypsycob
Well-Known Member
use your gears for slowing down before your brakes. give yourself plenty of space re stopping distances. breathe and enjoy. you`ll be fine.
ROG
Well-Known Member
Do not use gears for slowing down
Modern vehicles are designed to be slowed soley on the brakes in normal driving conditions
Using brakes only also makes the slowing down smoother and safer
AengusOg
Well-Known Member
Why assume that the OP is driving a modern vehicle?
Smooth changes up and down the gear box, gentle steering, and indicating your intentions to other road-users will help too.
Smooth changes up and down the gear box, gentle steering, and indicating your intentions to other road-users will help too.
ROG
Well-Known Member
I think my assumption they are (modern being within the last 20 years) is likely to be correct
wyrdsister
Well-Known Member
Expect other drivers to be even more idiotic than usual! Be prepared for people pulling out in front of you at the last minute and without accelerating (of course you can stop fast if need be, it's not as though your box is heavy and carrying live animals!), people overtaking wherever they think they might be able to zoom through, regardless of space available, people undertaking and cutting you up, people expecting you to reverse in narrow and wiggly roads...the list goes on endlessly. Assume everyone else will drive appallingly badly, even dangerously, when you're out with a horse vehicle. Not everyone does, but the ones that do really do make it lively on the roads out there. You need to stay very, very alert!
rockysmum
Well-Known Member
If you are towing with an automatic, do a manual gear select if you come to a very steep hill (down)
Only time I have worried myself in the last 30 years was with a Disco automatic.
No engine braking as it just keeps changing up. Although new and recently serviced trailer it still seemed to push to car unless you braked.
Had to use the brakes so much they were on fire at the bottom, not sure how thats possible but lots of heat and smoke.
Next towing vehicle will be manual, even if the dammed thing did give a lovely smooth tow.
Only time I have worried myself in the last 30 years was with a Disco automatic.
No engine braking as it just keeps changing up. Although new and recently serviced trailer it still seemed to push to car unless you braked.
Had to use the brakes so much they were on fire at the bottom, not sure how thats possible but lots of heat and smoke.
Next towing vehicle will be manual, even if the dammed thing did give a lovely smooth tow.