Top Ten Towing Tips

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Bootz

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I am hiring a equitrek trailer for a few days in august....now I've never actually towed anything before and am getting my knickers in a bit of a knot about it all but I am determined to have a go. I will have an experienced friend with me for back up but I am one of those that like to be as prepared as possible - so could I ask you for your tips to successful, stress free towing please? Many thanks x
 
Towing is fine once you get used to it. Will you get the chance to practice - its worth having a practice in an empty trailer before you take a horse in it.
Just take it slowly, look ahead and keep an eye on what's going on, remembering that you can't accelerate or brake suddenly.
If you're unsure of reversing, try to park facing the way you want to go, but if you get stuck there is usually someone around who will be happy to show off their skills!
 
Do a check list so you always do things in the same order (I forgot to shut the front top door once because I wasn't travelling with the person who usually shuts it)
that way you won't make silly mistakes or omissions.

Check you tyre pressures and engine fluid levels before you pick up the trailer, towing is an extra load on your engine (and make sure you have a good spare tyre and can change it if you have to)

Pull away smoothly, plan ahead with your braking and take corners carefully.

When you park the trailer, chock the wheels rather than using the handbrake.

don't forget the width of the trailer behind you, or the length of it on turns.

always be prepared for your horse not to load, wherever you go, and have whatever you use to encourage it on with you (lunge rope, food, whip, polos)

Have fun and enjoy the freedom
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practise practise and more practise! i get more confident everytime i go out. Good advice from before take the trailer out empty first. Plan ahead, drive as smoothly as you can and don't get stressed about the queue behind you remember those passengers on board mean more to you than the impatient person behind!!
 
Did you pass your test before 1997 (I think it was 1997)? If not you need to take the trailer test.

Ditto Cotswold re the braking though.....gentle & slow, combined with smooth gear changes (both up & down....)
 
I hate towing as I have an overactive imagination. That comment's not really very helpful, sorry. I do however really enjoy the freedom and towing isn't actually that tricky as long as you take it slowly.
I always have a good slug of rescue remedy just before we set off and it does seem to help.
You have to become almost a little arrogant when towing, as isalbrown says, don't stress about the queue behind you. I'm sure you've sat behind enough tractors before, so now it's your turn!
Take it nice and slow especially when approaching junctions and going round roundabout as rememember the horse will have to be rebalancing himself in a new direction, if that makes sense.
Try to get someone to go with you for moral support.
Have fun and enjoy. x
 
Take corners wider than normal and when reversing you have to turn the wheel the opposite way to what you normally would, hope that makes sense.
If you can borrow one first then do and have a play with it empty.
 
i agree with louby - you should tow a trailer (any really) before you tow a horse. I took my trailer test 3 years ago and to be a safe tower there's a lot to learn. Trailers are wider than cars & cut the corners. Also when towing a horse you want to brake on a straight line before going around the corner else your horse will struggle to stand up! Roundabouts also require careful negotiation as they throw the horse from side to side (i should know being in milton keynes!) The trick with reversing is to push the steering wheel towards the mirror you want to push the trailer away from (move trailer left put right hand down). Hope that makes some sense.
 
My top hints would be -

1. Make sure your lights work and your indicators work (I've seen people indicate left with their car but the trailer indicated right!) and make sure you connect them! I drove for nearly 20 miles before I realised I'd forgotten to connect them!

2. Make sure your tyres are all at the right pressure and the spare is pumped up.

3. Lock your horsebox to your vehicle - I've heard of people having their trailers nicked while they put their horse away! 5 - 10 mins after unloading it!

4. Some people loop the safety cable around their tow bar - DON'T DO THIS, IT'S DANGEROUS!!! Make sure the cable is connected to the towing vehilcle with the clip. This is the only thing that will activate the handbreak if something happens to the tow bar! Plus make sure the safety cable is in good condition.

5. If you are only traveling with one horse, load the horse on the right of the box as it will be more comfortable for the horse (and you
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6. Make sure all breast bars are securely done. Also make sure it is set at the right height for your horse. I've to have mine on the high setting as Kiyo has jumped the bar on the lower setting! (In fairness - she was stung by a wasp!). I normally have tail bar on the lower setting, bcause if it too high the horse can get underneath it and skin their tails.

7. I'm not sure about tying the horse - is it a personal thing?? I tie Kiyo to the front of the trailer with one lead rope with a enough slack to allow freedom of her head but not too loose that she could try to look back (and get stuck!). Some people crosstie their horse to the sides using two leadropes. I personally don't like this as the horse can try to look around and get stuck!

8. Prevention is better then cure! I use 4 overreaches sometimes, but other times I just put two on the front legs. I use travelling boots at all times, tail bandage, rug (weather dependant) and a poll guard - most important piece of equipment!

9. Not a big point, but still important - when putting up the back ramp, try not to bang it
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also never stand behind the back ramp, try and stand to the side of it.

10. When starting off - try to accelerate slowly and smoothly. When braking, again slowly and smoothly. If a cat or dog runs out in front of you - your cargo is far more precious and jamming on for dogs or cats is, I' afraid to say, not an option! When cornering again, slow down well before the corner and smoothly go around the corner and slowly and smoothly accelerate away. When your turning left at traffic lights, take the corner wider and slower then usual - otherwise your trailer will mount the path! Again slowly accelerate away. When I'm on back roads my max speed is 30 - 35 mph, on national roads 40 - 45 mph and on motorways 50 - 55 mph - screw anyone who beeps you for going slow!

11. Before opening any ramps just go in and make sure all the bars are up and in place. It's not nice to put down a ramp and discover the horse already coming down it! Also make sure before releasing the bars that you've untied the horse because if the horse rushes out and you haven't untied it, it can be dangerous!

12. A little tip for reversing - apart from slowly does it
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use your mirrors. If you watch your mirrors when revesing it can help with confusion! So if you see the trailer appearing more into your left mirror - turn the wheel to the left to correct it and if you see it appearing more into your right mirror - turn your wheel to the right to correct it. If it goes a bit too far, just move forward a bit and that will straighten it out
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I suppose to sum up - just take it handy, don't rush, watch your breaking and accelerating. Go easy around corners, take sharper corners wider then usual. It will take you longer to reach your destination so leave earlier then usual as well
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Hope that helps
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Oh and smile and enjoy it
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The first time I towed a trailer was when I bought it. The second time I towed a trailer, was the next day after buying Kiyo!!! and we had her in the back and I had to drive 40 miles!! I was sweating with nerves, but we took it handy and slowly and it was ok
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You'll be okay, just take it easy and leave in good time so you won't be rushing
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I bought an equi trek last year from warrington and had never towed a trailer before or driven the land rover that I bought that day !!! Anyway, after spending three hours getting the trailer, I learnt abour the car and after a 10 min lesson from the lady I bought the trailer from, I was off. It was much easier than I thought - same sort of principles as driving a lorry - allow plenty of time before junctions and take it slowly to start with - it's definitely a question of practice makes perfect. I had to take my horse to the vets the next day and he had refused to go in all trailers before, so it was make or break as I had already spent the money on the trailer and he went straight up the ramp. . . . phew !!!

Also load on the left with an equi trek as the ramp on the right is really heavy and spreads the weight better.

Also, use your mirrors - you can't see what's behind you very well, but you can make sure that the trailer has cleared a corner before completing the turn.

Good luck - don't panic and enjoy . . . . x
 
Well, you often have the open road in front of you - open road round here is a rarity!

You have the excuse to go slowly in places you've never been before!

Have your wing mirrors set so you can see the the trailer wheels, then you shouldn't hit any kerbs - as long as you constantly check!

I've found reversing in a straight line is harder than going round a corner. The slower the better. You'll notice a point at which the trailer will pivot, so go slowly so that you can see when the trailer is going to react.

Would be best to try the towing without a horse in first - but it's not all that bad if you don't get the chance. My first experience of towing was in my friends' car and trailer, taking our two horses home from a lesson, when my friend had suffered concussion and was sitting in the passenger seat gibbering away about falling off. Thought I did rather well to get us home without me having a nervous breakdown!!

I enjoy towing now I have 4x4 and trailer of my own
 
Ooo thanks very much everyone - you've really given me some major inspiration! Lusolover, I'm gonna go down the rescue remedy path I think!! Second time this week someone has suggested it (the other time was for hairy hacking!) - AKelly, wow that's a real comprehensive rundown - think that's most things covered cheers. Moosemum, I'm being a bit thick here - could you run through the loading from the left bit again? Really sorry, only rear loaded other people's trailers(or not very successfully I should say hence trying the equitrek) Thanks again all. x
 
The best pieces of advice I have been given is

Imagine you are driving with a glass of water on your dashboard (You don't want to spill it)!!

Relax

Make sure everything mechanical is sound. Make sure your tyre pressures are correct. They can make all the difference between a safe drive and a sketchy one. lol
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I agree with everyone. Practise, practise, practise! Also if poss practise reversing!

The last thing is drive slowly, dont brake suddenly into junctions, use the gears to slow down well beforehand, and dont worry about the long line of cars behind you!!!
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If the trailer snakes, put your foot down to pull out of it and then gradually slow down using the gears as much a poss! If you are not going too fast this shouldnt happen and if it does you have scope to get out of a snake without getting to a dangerous speed.

The temptatiion if a trailer snakes is to brake and that is the worst thing to do!

But that wont happen with an equitrek!!
 
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