Towing Your Trailer Safely In The Rain
Spring is here and no matter where you go, you’re likely to encounter some rain showers. Rain can be tricky enough to drive in with a standard car or truck, but it becomes significantly more risky when you’re towing a trailer behind you. You need to do what you can to follow safe towing practices while driving in the rain to protect yourself, your cargo and all the drivers around you.
Glenn’s Trailer Sales is your Florida trailer dealer, located in Hobe Sound. Read on to learn more about the steps you should take to ensure that you’re being safe when towing your trailer in rainy weather.
1. Test Your Lights
The lights on both your trailer and towing vehicle need to be functioning properly before you tow in the rain due to reduced visibility. Your lights also help other drivers to see you and your trailer and anticipate your movements. Test the lights and replace any burnt-out bulbs and tighten connections where necessary. If you have dimmer lights, try replacing them with bright LED lights that will burn stronger and longer and help you to see further into the distance.
2. Inspect Your Towing Vehicle
Next, you’ll want to make sure your towing vehicle is in good working order before you use it to tow your trailer. Check your oil, fill up your fuel tank, check tire pressure and condition, test windshield wipers and replace as needed, refill windshield-wiper fluid and coolant, test your brakes and make sure that everything is operating properly.
3. Drive With Caution
When driving while towing, reduce your speed to five to ten miles below the posted speed limit and increase your following distance. Doing these two things will help ensure that you have sufficient room to bring your entire towing set-up to a complete stop on slick roads. Other cars may try to jump into the cushion you create between yourself and the vehicle in front of you, so be mindful of this. Signal any lane changes well in advance of making them and endeavor to remain in the rightmost lane of traffic as much as possible.
If your trailer could use a little tender loving care before you start towing, contact the service department here at Glenn’s Trailer Sales. Our professional mechanics will be more than happy to help you with any trailer maintenance issues you may be having.
Looking to purchase a new trailer instead? Visit our dealership in Hobe Sound, FL, today to check out our fine selection of new and used trailers for sale. We can even assist you with financing options if you so desire. Glenn’s Trailer Sales proudly serves Jupiter and West Palm Beach, FL.