AmSnow.com is now SnoWest.com
So, you have your sled ready to play in your favorite place for snow. Whether that’s on a trail, on a frozen lake or out in the mountains, you need to be able to get there safely. Towing a trailer isn’t for everyone; you can find thousands of U-Haul trailer-fails on the Internet to back that up. The best thing you can do before hauling is to be prepared. We came up with a list of hauling tips for newbies, but take note, too, you experienced haulers: Good advice always bears repeating.
¦ Be sure your vehicle can handle the trailer
The rear springs of the towing vehicle need to be strong enough to keep the vehicle at a level position while supporting the weight of the trailer. Additionally, your vehicle needs to have the motor capacity for taking on additional weight.
Compare the towing capacity of your ride to the total weight of the towing vehicle, trailer and its cargo. If you plan to drive in the mountains during winter, make sure you have a good set of snow tires (Our Western Crew uses the
Cooper Discoverer AT3). Carry chains or something like the
AutoSock, which is a great alternative that can be put on in 2 minutes or less, won’t damage your rims and is light and easy to use. And if you’re reading this, you can receive 20 percent off and free shipping by using promo code “SOCK” while checking out!
¦ Properly distribute the weight of your load
Nothing will get you in trouble faster than improper weight distribution. Ideally, you should aim to have 60 percent of the weight in the front half of the trailer leaving 40 percent in the rear. Putting the bulk of the weight in the front and the heaviest items on the floor gives the trailer stability. Failure to properly load your cargo can cause whipping, which is essentially the tail (trailer) wagging the dog (vehicle).