Transportation is a significant part of the process when you do just about anything. Your vehicle needs to do more than carrying people in most cases, and sometimes, this is simply not possible when you’re just using the vehicle itself. Towing and making the most efficient use of your vehicle’s power is what you need to do to transport what you need safely and efficiently.
Towing is different from hauling in several ways, and these ways can significantly influence the level of safety for both you and those around you. Hauling with just the vehicle involves different physics from towing, but can impact how long it’s going to take you to get your items where they need to go. Making a few choices early on can make your work a lot easier or a lot harder to do.
How Much to Pack
Whether you’re hauling or towing, you want to limit your view to the rear as little as you can. While you can rely exclusively on your side mirrors, this is only something you should do if you have no other choice. Making a second run with better visibility for both is often a safer idea than overly stacking your truck bed or loading a large amount into your trailer.
Visibility is actually the smaller reason to be careful with the amount of load you carry with you. You also have to be mindful of the actual weight of the goods you’re taking with you. If the weight becomes too great, it’s going to impact every area of your ability to drive properly. With too much weight, or with it too unevenly distributed, you’re going to run into problems based on the changed weight profile. You’ll be able to feel the difference immediately when the vehicle starts moving. The amount of weight a vehicle is rated for is actually more than you should practically load up, especially if you forget to factor in your weight and the weight of any passengers you have with you.
The Attachments to Your Vehicle
In a lot of cases, having your trailer hitch professionally attached is better than a DIY job because it’s too easy to miss some aspect of it. First off, a pro is going to let you know if the hitch you select is going to be right for your vehicle before you even buy it. The wrong hitch may fit incorrectly, or may cause damage to your vehicle or the complete loss of control when you try and hook up the trailer to it. Going down the road and suddenly not pulling your trailer is an awkward and dangerous situation to find yourself in.
Also, a pro will know things like the tongue weight and can give you advice on how to load up properly, so that your trailer will ride as well as it can. The little pro tips can save you a lot of pain down the road.
