10 Essential Items You Need to Tow a Trailer Safely

Are you planning to tow a trailer? Whether it’s for recreational use or to haul goods, there are certain items that you need in order to safely and securely tow your trailer. From the right hitch equipment to the proper lighting, here are 10 essential items you need in order to tow a trailer safely.

By investing in these ten essential items, you can ensure safe and secure travel when hauling your cargo. Read on for more information about what they are and why they’re important!

Call 317-247-8484 if You Need Trailer Towing in Indianapolis Indiana
Call 317-247-8484 if You Need Trailer Towing in Indianapolis Indiana

What You Need to Tow a Trailer Safely

1. The Right Hitch: The right hitch is essential for safe trailer towing. Choose a ball mount that’s compatible with your vehicle’s frame and can support the weight of the trailer and whatever you’ll be hauling. You might also need a trailer hitch adapter.

2. Safety Chains: Safety chains are an important item when it comes to towing safety. They provide a backup connection between your vehicle and the trailer. This helps in case something like a lost pin or broken coupler occurs while on the road.

3. Brake Controller: If you’re planning to tow a heavier load above 3,000 pounds, you’ll need an electronic brake controller installed in the vehicle. Trailer brake controllers will activate and control your brakes when slowing down or stopping. This is essential for maintaining safe control of your trailer.

4. Trailer Lights: Make sure you have the proper lights attached to your trailer before setting out on any journey. The law requires that you have brake lights, turn signals, and running lights when towing a trailer. So, make sure everything is connected properly prior to departure.

5. Hitch Lock: A hitch lock will not only deter potential thieves from stealing your gear, but it will also keep your trailer securely connected to your vehicle during transport.

5 More Items for Trailer Towing

6. Towing Mirrors: When hauling a trailer, the view in the rear view mirror may be blocked due to its size and length. Installing larger tow mirrors can help increase visibility while driving. This makes towing a safe and enjoyable experience.

7. Extra Fluid: Be sure to top up all the essential fluids in your vehicle prior to setting out on any long journeys. They may be needed when towing a heavier load. This includes checking engine oil, coolant, brake fluid and power steering fluid levels.

8. Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS): A tire pressure monitoring system is an important item for keeping track of your trailer’s tire pressure while you drive. It also helps detect potential problems with the tires before they occur. Problems include low or overinflated tires which can lead to dangerous situations on the road. 

9. Jack Stands: When loading or unloading cargo from the trailer, jack stands will help to ensure that your trailer is securely supported and not at risk of tipping over.

10. Fire Extinguisher: Make sure you have a fire extinguisher in the vehicle in case anything goes wrong during transport. This could include an electrical fault or fuel spill whilst on the road. Having an extinguisher nearby can be invaluable if a fire were to break out.

In Summary

By investing in these 10 essential items, you’ll be ensuring safe and secure travel when hauling your cargo. Remember to check each item carefully before you hit the road, as well as periodically checking for wear and tear throughout the life of your equipment.

How To Prepare Your Trailer and Hitch Before Hitting the Road

One of the most crucial aspects of safe towing is ensuring that your hitch is properly secured–otherwise, it could lead to disaster on the highway. Additionally, take the time to inspect your trailer for any signs of damage or wear and tear, as well as ensure that your weight distribution and sway control systems are in good working order. By taking these steps, you can enjoy peace of mind and a smoother ride on your next trailer excursion–whether it’s a quick weekend getaway or a cross-country road trip.

Looking for a professional towing service near you? Contact Zore’s Towing at 317-247-8484 for a wide range of towing services in Indianapolis and surrounding counties. We offer everything from light-duty and long distance towing to heavy equipment transportation, wrecker service, and more. We transport all throughout Indiana and across state lines.

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Recommended Tow Hitch Fittings You’ll Need for Long Distance Hauls

There are several hitch accessories that are recommended for drivers to use when towing a trailer longer distances. Although there are several hitch accessories you don’t necessarily need for shorter hauls, long distance towing is a more serious undertaking, especially when using highways and interstates at high speeds. Continue reading to learn a little about some of the most popular and recommended tow hitch accessories, and who to contact for additional towing advice and information you can trust.

Indiana Long Distance Towing Service
Indiana Long Distance Towing Service 317-247-8484

What You Should Have for Trailer Towing

➾ Ball Mounts

The hitch receiver and ball mounts are entirely separate assemblies. A ball mount should slide into a hitch receiver and be secured with a locking pin. Always be sure to use a ball mount that matches your hitch class. This is the amount of weight your truck can pull, of course. Class I hitch pulls up to 2,000 pounds, Class II hitches pull up to 3,500 pounds, Class III’s pull up to 5,000 pounds, and so forth. You can find class V hitches that can pull more than ten thousand pounds!

➾ Hitch Balls

Hitch ball shanks fit through a hole in a ball mount, and secured with nuts and washers. Because these holes in ball mounts come in different sizes, it is important to check the shank diameter of your hitch balls before trying them out or purchasing them.

➾ Couplers

Although couplers are technically part of a trailer, they are an important accessory to mention because a trailer cannot be connected to a vehicle without them. They are attached at the end of the tongue, and must match the size of hitch ball diameter. They must also be able to handle that total weight of the load in haul. This is called the gross trailer weight, or GTW.

➾ Safety Chains

One of the most highly recommended accessories for any tow are safety chains. Just like couplers, safety chains are located at the tongue of the trailer, but on each side. They serve the purpose of keeping a trailer connected to a vehicle, while providing extra security and safety when towing a trailer. In fact, most states require them under law.

➾ Locks, Pins, and Clips

As mentioned before, pins are used to secure ball mounts to hitch receivers. Then a clip is placed over the head of the pin to prevent it from slipping out of place. Hitch locks are popular alternatives to pins and clips, as they do the job of both; but they also protect the ball mounts from thieves.

➾ Tube Covers

Customizable and fun to use, hitch tube covers are another popular and useful accessory for towing a trailer. When tow hitches aren’t being used, they can collect dirt, mud, and grime. This exposure can cause pre-mature corrosion and deterioration of your tow hitch. The solution for this issue is using a hitch cover! They are steel or plastic tube covers that protect your tow hitch from overexposure to natural elements and harsh weather conditions. Simply insert them into the ball mount hole when not in use. They are fun because they come in a variety of colors and patterns that you can match to your truck or your personality!

➾ Hitch-Mounted Cargo Carriers

Hitch-mounted cargo carriers are another accessory that can be useful when not towing a trailer. They are like a mini-flatbed trailer because they offer a flattened platform capable of holding up to 600 pounds of cargo weight. Cargo carriers simply connect to the hitch receiver on one side, providing the platform deck on the other! There are two types of carriers, open-style and enclosed. Talk to your local wrecker service for details and advice on which style to use for your truck or SUV.

➾ Extenders and Adapters

Extenders and adapters are used as accessories to hitch-mounted accessories, like cargo carriers. When a ball mount doesn’t fit the size of a receiver, a tow adapter might be used. And when you need to increase the clearance of a cargo carrier or other hitch-mounted device, an extender might be used for this. Extenders are important for trucks and vehicles that have something hanging over the bumper, like a tire or camper shell.

➾ Weight Distribution Systems

Weight distribution systems are great towing accessories to consider when you need to tow a large amount of weight. This means loads heavier than 3,000 pounds or so. In this case, you would of course need a Class VI or V trailer hitch.  These systems come with shanks, hitch heads, and spring bars.

➾ Trailer Jacks

Trailer jacks do not actually mount to the hitch, but they make the hitching process much safer and much easier. They are mounted to the trailer, on the tongue, in close proximity to the coupler. They allow you to raise and lower the trailer from the hitch ball with a crank.

Indianapolis Roadside Assistance Towing Services You Can Count On

Call Zore’s Towing at 317-247-8484 for 24 hour towing and roadside assistance in Indianapolis and throughout Central Indiana. Our friendly staff is waiting by the phones, ready to help you get back on the road, safe and sound. We operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year, so you can always count on us. Request a free estimate, today.

Indianapolis Towing & Recovery 317-247-8484

Use the Proper Hitch for Your Upcoming Tow

Indianapolis Towing Company 317-247-8484

Indianapolis Towing Company 317-247-8484

The tow hitch is one of the most important components to towing any sort of load, large or small. The proper hitch can mean the difference between a stress-free trip, and a dangerous disaster.

Using the right tow hitch for your needs not only ensures safety for yourself and other drivers, it ensure safety of the freight you intend to carry or haul. Appropriate tow hitch use also ensures an easier ride with less pulling and reduced stress to your truck or vehicle.

Fortunately, it is quite simply choosing the proper tow hitch for your hauling needs! Continue reading to learn how and who to call on for professional assistance and information.

Tow Hitch Buying Guide

Although it can be an easy process buying a new tow hitch, it is still a process that requires careful attention and thought. It is, as you already know, one of the most important parts of towing when it comes to safety and effectiveness. One common purchasing rule for tow hitches is to buy bigger than you actual need. This means choosing a setup that is slightly bigger than you require for your intended tow. It is better to have too much hitch than not enough! Buying a larger setup leaves room for more haul capability, and will safeguard you from not having enough support for your tow. Be sure to not buy a hitch setup that is too big, on the other hand. A professional Indianapolis towing company can offer you information and advice about hitch sizes and guides, free of charge.

Be sure to also consider the size and weight of your trailer, prior to loading, before shopping for a tow hitch. If you are unable to decide the weight of the trailer you wish to haul, refer to the manual it came with for its weight and size. Use this weight, plus the weight of the load you intend to tow, in order to find the proper size trailer hitch. If you cannot locate the manual, take a look online for the make and model trailer dimensions. You may contact the manufacturer for a copy of the manual as well.

CLASS 1 TRAILER HITCH:

Total Weight of Trailer < 2,000 LBS Tongue Weight < 200 LBS CLASS 2 TRAILER HITCH:

Total Weight of Trailer < 3,500 LBS Tongue Weight < 300 LBS DRAW BAR TRAILER HITCH:

Total Weight of Trailer < 5,000 LBS Tongue Weight < 300 LBS

Indianapolis Towing Services

Indianapolis Towing

Indianapolis Towing 317-247-8484

Call Zore’s Towing at 317-247-8484 for professional towing services and advice in Indianapolis, Indiana and its nearby counties. We are highly trained and licensed tow truck operators with decades of experience in the towing industry. We provide a wide range of towing services; including roadside assistance, junk car removal, cash for cars, 24 hour customer service, and much more! Count on our towing contractors to provide punctual and prompt tow truck services, 24 hours a sat and 7 days a week! Call 317-247-8484 and learn more about
our towing services in Indianapolis, today.