6 things to know before you tow this summer

Whether you've been hauling the family Airstream for years or are about to set off on your first vacation with a new side-by-side in tow, towing is a serious matter. Just ask Lucille Balle's character from the 1954 classic, "The Long, Long Trailer." No one wants to end up hanging off the side of a cliff — especially your 4-year-old who needs to use the potty.

"Guys in the know, who tow every day for work or play understand how important a 3/4 or 1-ton pick-up truck is," says Kolby Hansen, owner of National Buick GMC in American Fork.

To be done safely, towing requires a whole new set of driving skills and preparation. Once learned, towing can become second nature. But should you ignore the proper procedures and precautions, you risk causing serious damage to your cargo, family and others — and no one wants to ruin a trip before it even starts.

National Buick GMC has dozens of trucks and SUVs capable of towing whatever houseboat, trailer, or oversized meat smoker you can dream of. But before you set off in your dream rig, know what you're doing.

To help, here are six things you can do to avoid problems while towing.

Check the trailer tires

This might sound obvious but it's all too common for a traveler to check their vehicle's tire pressure and condition and completely forget about the trailer tires and brakes. Be sure to check the tire pressure and tire condition and make certain the lug nuts are torqued to proper specs. Keep in mind that even if there aren't very many miles on your trailer's tires, they may need to be replaced anyway if they are six years old or older, David Muller of Car and Driver reports.

Match the hitch to the trailer

Of all the things to go wrong when towing, having the wrong size hitch ball is among the most common. Kent Sundling, the founder of MrTruck.com, told Consumer Reports that "Incorrectly sized hitch balls are the number one cause of trailer accidents."

Ensuring the ball on your hitch is the same size as the coupler on your trailer is essential to avoiding accidents while towing. Not sure what you need? Ask a professional.

Cross the chains

This simple step in preparing your trailer for travel could make all the difference should the worst occur. Most trailers come with safety chains that hook up to the hitch. Instead of running the chains straight, cross them before you attach them to the hitch.

This creates a cradle in which the tongue of the trailer will rest should it come off the hitch. Keep the chains loose enough to permit sharp turns but taut enough that the tongue won't dig into the ground, John Ibbotson, Consumer Reports' chief mechanic recommends.

Make wide turns

Mike Monticello at Consumer Reports suggests if you plan on doing any sort of driving that requires going around corners and curves (dragsters need not apply), you'll want to ensure you're making extra wide turns. Your trailer's tires will be much closer to the curb than the vehicle's tires so giving a wide berth is always a good idea for maneuvering your boat or trailer, he writes.

Give yourself some space on the freeway

In the same article, Monticello explains that towing a trailer or boat means adding a massive amount of weight behind your vehicle. If you're not used to this, you might be surprised at how much extra space you need to accelerate and brake.

On the freeway, stay in the right lane. Staying in the right lane means you'll have extra stopping room should you need to brake suddenly and an easy turnout if you have a tire blowout.

Don't ride your vehicle's brakes down hills

When towing a heavy load, the last thing you want is to lose your brakes, especially when going down a hill. To avoid that, downshift to a lower gear and allow the engine to offer some relief. Most new trucks have a tow/haul mode that, when activated, will automatically make the gear change for you.

Once the vehicle has downshifted, pump the brakes periodically to keep your speed in check. Doing this will help ensure the brakes don't overheat and cause you to be a runaway load.

Get your next (safe) truck or vehicle at National Buick GMC

"We build the best custom trucks for towing toys, boats and RVs. Or if you need a work truck we have hundreds of 3/4 and 1-ton trucks to choose from," Hansen said.

There's a lot to towing, and these tips only scratch the surface of what you need to know. But, none of these tips will matter if you don't have a vehicle capable of towing your trailer or boat. Visit National Buick GMC today to check out their vast inventory of trucks and SUVs ready to haul your rig. Visit their website at National Buick GMC.

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