When you add that extra weight at the back of your vehicle, everything changes. The weight drags the car, the braking slows down and the steering feels a little off. Adapting needs practice but before you drive enough trips to call them practice, you need to ensure you are safe from the beginning. Towing can get risky because of this change in driving and you need to be properly prepared. So if you've gotten your first towing project, here are some safety tips to ensure you're drive remains flawless.

Choosing the right gears

Check your manufacturer's instructions for the appropriate gear to use when towing. However, when you are moving up a hill, don't wait for the car to struggle before switching to a lower gear because it would only struggle again soon after. When using automatic cars, use second gear to prevent the transmission from moving up and down as it changes the gears.

If you are moving down a steep slope, use a lower gear to reduce the need of constant breaking. Actually, using a lower gear also helps you reduce the number of times you're going to keep braking. Once you use a higher gear, your brakes are going to be constantly in use and this can cause them to overheat.

Watch your braking

You need to anticipate any need for braking and start doing it in advance. Allowing more distance to brake gives your vehicle a smooth stop and prevents the trailer from swaying. Electric trailer brakes are the most efficient and their advantage is that they can be operated separately from the car. Whenever there is excessive swaying, activate the trailer braking by hand.

The greatest mistake you can do is applying the tow vehicle's brakes, this will worsen the swaying immediately the trailer starts pushing against the back of the car.

Remember the height

While driving your ordinary vehicle, you never worry about checking the height. However, the world is a little different in towing. Get an estimate of the height of your trailer before you start the journey. You'd then be able to be on guard when passing under overhanging trees, car parks or bridges.

Another reason why you need to know your height is because some roads don't permit certain heights. Watch out for any low clearance signs before you start moving on roads even if you've been going through them before.

Learn more about your options and learn more tips by consulting with resources such as Executive Towing Services.