• FIFTH WHEEL TRAILER TOWING    (Travel trailers too!)

  Note:  Most of the following tips apply to both travel trailer and fifth wheel trailer towing.  As opposed to travel trailers, fifth wheels tend to track inside more on turns, are usually a bit more stable under tow and can withstand cross winds and forces from large passing vehicles more readily.

  PRACTICE:   If new to towing trailers, find a vacant lot, set up cones or find usable pavement markings and practice turns, backing and braking maneuvers.

  ROUTES:   Before you leave on a trip, remember to check routes, roadways and possible restrictions on bridges and tunnels.  It’s also useful to find advance highway and weather conditions for your direction of travel on the Internet.  Very useful mountain driving directories can be purchased at www.mountaindiretory.com and a trucker’s atlas is always a good resource.

  HITCHES:   Use only the hitch recommended by your vehicle manufacturer.

  RIDING IN TRAILER:  Even if allowed by law in some states, never allow anyone to ride in the trailer.

  SPEED:   Slow down to accommodate travel conditions. This will place less strain on your tow vehicle and trailer. Trailer sway is more likely to occur as speed increases. Slow down when traveling over bumpy roads, railroad crossings, ditches and especially through construction zones.  Always be aware of your travel surroundings and increased weight and length, and set your travel speed accordingly.  Always allow more distance between you and the vehicle ahead and, if not passing, adjust your speed to maintain that distance.

  TURNING:   Avoid making sudden steering maneuvers that might create sway or undue side force on the trailer. Fifth wheel trailers are less susceptible to side force sway than travel trailers but you should still be aware of the possibility.  Make wider turns at curves and corners. Because your trailer’s wheels are closer to the inside of a turn than the wheels of your tow vehicle, they are more likely to hit or climb up over curbs.  If you encounter a double left turn arrangement, always use the outside turn lane.  Always watch for obstructions along the side of or over the roadway and adjust for clearance.

  ACCELERATION AND PASSING:  When passing a slower vehicle or changing lanes, signal well ahead and make sure you allow extra distance for vehicle clearance before you pull back into your lane of travel.  Pass on level terrain and avoid passing on steep upgrades or downgrades.  If necessary, downshift to improve acceleration.  When passing on narrow roads, be careful not to drive onto a soft shoulder, causing your trailer to jackknife or go out of control.  Don’t accelerate beyond a safe speed.

  DOWNGRADES AND UPGRADES:  Downshift to help with braking on downgrades and to add power for climbing hills.  On long downgrades, apply brakes at intervals if necessary to keep speed under control. Never ride brakes on a downgrade. They may overheat and fail.  If provided by your tow vehicle manufacturer, use trailer tow mode.  Save your brakes!  Use exhaust or compression braking when possible.  Use truck lanes on upgrades and downgrades if possible.

  DRIVING IN WINDY CONDITIONS:  Be aware that, even in fairly light wind conditions, a sudden gust can blow you into another lane or off the roadway.  Slowing down or stopping until the wind decreases can avoid a loss of control in cross wind conditions. High winds can also affect your fuel mileage so keep an eye on your fuel gauge.  Stay alert for trucks passing on either side during cross winds.  They can cause you to sway out of your lane of travel or to lose control entirely.

  BRAKING AND STOPPING:  Keep away from sudden stops and starts that can cause skidding, sliding or jackknifing.  Make available significantly more distance for stopping.  If you have an electric trailer brake controller and too much sway occurs, initiate the trailer brake controller by hand. Do not attempt to control trailer sway by applying the tow vehicle brakes.  Always foresee the need to slow down or stop. To reduce speed, shift to a lower gear and press the brakes gently.

  BACKING:   Put your hand at the bottom of the steering wheel. To turn left, move your hand left. To turn right, move your hand right. Back up slowly. Because mirrors cannot provide all of the visibility you need when backing up. Have someone outside at the rear of the trailer to guide you if at all possible.  Make sure the person directing you uses hand or verbal signals that are understandable.  Use small movements of the steering wheel to adjust direction.  If you have difficulty, pull forward and start again.

  PARKING A FIFTH WHEEL OR TRAVEL TRAILER:  Try to avoid parking on grades. Once stopped, but before shifting into “Park”, have someone place blocks on the downhill side of the trailer wheels. Apply the parking brake, shift into “Park”, and then remove your foot from the brake pedal. Following this parking sequence is important to make sure your vehicle does not become locked in “Park”. For manual transmissions, apply the parking brake and then turn the vehicle off in either first or reverse gear.
   
  UNHITCHING:   When disconnecting a travel trailer or fifth wheel, place blocks at the front and rear of the trailer tires to ensure that the trailer does not roll away when the trailer hitch coupling is released.

  Additional notes:

  1. Always be completely aware of your surroundings.
  2. Always watch your speed and following distance.
  3. Never exceed your limits.
  4. Never drive while tired or otherwise impaired.
  5. Always be aware of other drivers.
  6. Check and maintain your equipment.
  7. Always check your lights and brakes before travel.
  8. HAVE FUN!

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