Going to be towing this festive season? Make sure you’re doing it right

Whether it’s a trailer, boat, caravan or a broken-down car, towing should be done correctly to avoid damage to your vehicle and accidents on our roads.

Les Mc Master, chairman of the Motor Industry Workshop Association (MIWA), said the first thing to ensure is that the trailer or caravan has been properly serviced by a competent person.

“During the service the following areas should receive special attention: brakes, electrical connections and components such as lights, cables, wheel bearings and tyres, with emphasis on the tyre age.”

He added that it is also important to ensure you have the correct licence and what you are towing falls within the legal requirements in terms of weight in relation to your vehicle.

“Many motorists don’t realise that their driver’s licence regulates the vehicle they can drive and what type of trailer they can pull. The AA provides a break-down of licence codes and the corresponding trailer weight. It also explains how to calculate the trailer to car weight ratio. It is important that motorists don’t attempt to tow an item that is too heavy for their vehicle,” said Mc Master.

The cost of fuel and fuel consumption is also a factor to consider before heading off on holiday with a trailer, boat or caravan in tow.

“Towing roughly halves your normal distance, so be careful to plan your stops beforehand. It’s also important to budget for the additional fuel you’ll use when towing. You’ll need to double your usual fuel expenditure,” he advised.

Mc Master said that speeding is the number one cause of accidents when towing and that drivers need to be aware that the stopping distance is far longer when towing and to allow for this.

He added that passing heavy vehicles and vice versa creates a vortex which can affect the towing combination stability.

“Ensure that you are not caught unawares. Do not use excessive braking when descending a steep descent, as this may overheat the brakes on the units and lead to premature brake failure,” he explained.

”Rather select a lower gear to assist with the braking force and keep to the recommended speed limit.

“Use only approved towing equipment, such as towing bars and ropes. Be aware when using a rope that it will slacken on deceleration. By using the correct rope you avoid the risk of the rope snapping on acceleration.

”A tow bar should be used if the towed vehicle’s brakes are not working. Be aware that the steering on the towed vehicle may be extremely heavy when the engine is not running and so, too, are the brakes without vacuum assistance,” he added.