Trailer Safety

 24 Mar 22:

Hauled ST. JACQUES to Bob's Boat Trailers today, but before we left we check a few things. Lights plugged in, safety chains crossed and we like to lock the trailer coupler.

One of the most important things to check is that the couple pawl has engaged the lower part of the hitch ball. There are times where it can get caught on top of the ball, which does nothing to hold the trailer to the hitch. And it's a good idea to check if someone else has hooked you up, we had an instance where the UHaul place rented us a truck and auto transporter, and the trailer was not connected properly. Luckily the weight on the tongue kept the trailer connected as I drove home, on the highway. And imagine my surprise when I tried to load our car and the tongue of the trailer lifted off of the hitch!

Check the trailer lights.

And check the straps. If 3 straps are enough, use 4. 

Check straps after 1, 10 and 100 miles. These straps were new, and we got rained on, so they stretched a bit during the trip. I pulled over and tightened them up, all good the rest of the way.