Towing Safety Guide
This general safety and instructions for towing trailers is a guidance only for the safe operation of the trailer, it does not replace local safety regulations or road regulations.
When towing, you should:
Operate all trailers in accordance with the State road rules.
Ensure safety chain is correctly attached to the towing vehicle.
Ensure the coupling is secure on the tow ball of the towing vehicle.
Check all towing vehicle & trailer indicator, brake, clearance lights are working.
Ensure you know the load (weight) limit of the trailer.
Ensure jockey wheel, gates/ ramps etc are secure & stowed away before travel.
Ensure no safety chains or light leads can drag on the ground while travelling.
Always secure load to prevent loss, damage & fines.
Activate brakes or chock wheels when disconnecting trailer from towing vehicle.
Dress appropriately to avoid entanglement (wear close fitting clothing, avoid rings or other forms of jewellery which can become caught on the trailer, people with long hair must have it securely fixed & confined close to the head).
Apply extra caution in wet conditions (& in early morning when surfaces are wet) as footboards, footsteps, drawbars & other surfaces may be slippery when wet.
Always exercise extreme caution in the vicinity of sharp edges & points.
Keep clothing & body extremities well clear of pinch points while operating trailer, keep well clear of moving parts at all times (these include couplings, ramp brackets, wheels, brakes & pivot points, etc.).
When towing, you should NOT:
Do not operate trailers if tired or suffering any medical condition.
Do not operate trailers if under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Do not have your load overhanging (contact your local transport authority for limits).
Do not leave a load unsecured or uncovered.
Do not exceed the speed limit for the trailer.
Do not allow people or animals to travel in a trailer unless specifically designed for this purpose.
Do not overload the trailer – observe the maximum capacity.
Do not allow unlicensed drivers to tow a trailer.
How to Safely Connect a Trailer
When connecting a trailer to your towing vehicle, extra care must be taken to ensure that every step is executed correctly. Operators have a responsibility to exercise care and safe work practices at all times in the vicinity of the trailer.
Step 1
Inspect the towing vehicle’s tyres, tow bar and tow ball to ensure their serviceability, rating and overall integrity. The compliance plate will state the tow bars maximum load limit and an overall tow rating of the vehicle in which the manufacturer states the tow bar can legally comply.
Step 2
If the tow bar and tow ball are in good working order, attach the coupling over the towing vehicle’s tow ball checking both visually and physically that the trailer will not disconnect for any reason whatsoever. Ensure the coupling locking latch is in the locked position or the trailer will bounce off the tow ball whilst in travel.
Step 3
The trailer must then be connected to the towing vehicle using safety chains to prevent the trailer from disconnecting from the towing vehicle in the event that the coupling should come loose from the tow ball or during an accident. The best way to connect the chains from the trailer to the towing vehicle is in a crossed over pattern where the chains act as a cradle to prevent the trailer coupling from hitting the ground in the event of disconnection. Always ensure there is enough slack for manoeuvring and cornering, allow only enough slack in the chains for turns, so that the trailer will not hit the ground if disconnected from the tow ball. This will ensure the trailer remains with the towing vehicle and doesn’t roll away causing further harm. The chains should never drag on the ground!
Step 4
Connect the power cable plug from the trailer into the towing vehicle input. The cable should never drag on the ground!
Step 5
Ensure all lights are working, this includes – brake lights, indicators, parkers, clearance lights and number plate light.
Step 6
Check that the jockey wheel is in the raised and locked position, ensure the hand brake is off and the coupling brake lockout is in the open position to engage braking on over-ride braking systems. Always ensure the handbrake is OFF while in travel. Always ensure all wheel chocks, ramps, straps etc. are stowed away correctly before travel.
Your Legal Responsibilities
Check your trailer is connected correctly before travel.
All loads must be tied down safely & rubbish covered.
Check your towbar rating to ensure compliance.
The combined weight of the trailer & load must not exceed the unladen weight of the towing vehicle.
Our trailers can only be used with a 50mm tow ball ! Maximum towing speed for trailers is 80km/hr – Motorways included.
The loaded mass of the trailer must not exceed;
The capacity of the towbar; or
The maximum towing mass specified by the tow vehicle’s manufacturer; or
The trailers manufacturers guidance.
How to Safely Disconnect a Trailer
When disconnecting a trailer from your towing vehicle, extra care must be taken to ensure that every step is executed correctly. Operators have a responsibility to exercise care and safe work practices at all times in the vicinity of the trailer.
Step 1
Always ensure the trailer is on level, stable ground before attempting to disconnect the trailer from your tow vehicle. Always use a minimum of 2 supplied wheel chocks, chocking the wheels with one chock behind a wheel and the other chock in front of the wheel to ensure the trailer will not roll forward or roll back once disconnected from your tow vehicle.
Step 2
Pull the handbrake up and ensure it locks in, to ensure the handbrake works correctly.
Step 3
Disconnect the power cable plug from your tow vehicle and place it over the draw bar of the trailer.
Step 4
Disconnect both chains from your tow vehicle and place them over the draw bar of the trailer.
Step 5
Unlock coupling by lifting the handle up and leave it in the unlocked position.
Step 6
Unlock jockey wheel from locked position, ensuring it locks into the vertical position ready to take the weight of the trailer.
Step 7
Start winding jockey wheel up to remove coupling from tow ball, ensure there is enough space for the tow vehicle to safely drive away.