Safety Tips for Getting Ready to Pull Out

Safety Tips for Getting Ready to Pull Out
By Edwin J. Hill

Inexperienced people think the job's done once the trailer is hooked up. I think there's a lot more to towing a travel trailer safely. It's more a matter of common sense than anything else.

I'm a believer in checking, double-checking and checking once more. My family sometimes gets impatient with me but, then, I've never had an accident with an RV

I make sure the coupling, itself, is secure. I check the safety chains, the break-away safety and the electrical hookup.

Part of checking the electrical hookup is checking all the lights. I turn on the parking lights on the tow vehicle and have someone stand behind the trailer. I have them confirm to me that the running lights and tail lights are working. Together, we test each turn signal as well as the brake lights. If they're not working, I don't drive!

I go inside the trailer and make sure everything that needs to be secured is secure. I check all the cupboard doors and drawers. Any doors must be locked in place. Anything that could fall is secured.

I like to walk around the trailer twice. The first time, I check all the compartment doors to make sure they're all locked. I also make sure the trailer steps are folded up and out of the way. On this trip around the trailer, I check all the hookups again. I make sure the truck mirrors are adjusted for trailer towing

The second time around, I try to get at least 30 feet away so I can easily see under the trailer to the other side. I have discovered things hanging down that needed to be secured. Other times, I have noticed something lying on the ground that needed to be picked up. It's during this once-around that I check to make sure the truck and trailer are level.

It may seem like unnecessary overkill. However, I have found something wrong just often enough to make me keep on doing it.

In the name of safety, I recommend you do the same!

Ed Hill was introduced to "camping" by the US Army nearly half a century ago. Since then, he has traveled across most of the United States and parts of Europe using a variety of tents and RV's. Ed is now sharing that love of RV travel in his blog, http://www.EnjoyRVTravel.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Edwin_J._Hill
http://EzineArticles.com/?Safety-Tips-for-Getting-Ready-to-Pull-Out&id=909705