How did you learn to drive while towing? I know this seems like a basic question, and you've all probably done it so much that it's nothing. But I've been thinking about how it's done, and the only thing I have to compare it to would be my minivan that I drive daily, and the trucks I've driven in the past. I make wide turns when driving a truck. How do you turn when pulling a trailer? How do you stay in your lane without your trailer ending up in a ditch?

Wide is good but don't cut them short. That may get your tow through the turn but not your trailer. Keeping it between the ditches the you should be looking to where the marker lines come together. That is the same as if you were not towing.

Practice.Swing wide and go slow. Watch your mirrors. GO to the Walmart parking lot at night and try maneuvering through the islands. That will teach you how much space you need to turn. Just watch out for light posts. Hitting a curb here or there at slow speed probably wont hurt anything. Brushing a light post will!!!

Being observant, add some common sense, then a bunch of practice. Started when I was 16. I live in a small town where there are about 3 percent of the male population that don't have some towing experience.

As mentioned before use parking lots, High school lots on a Sunday, Industrial plants as well. Backing, remember small changes magnify almost exponentially. Make tiny changes and allow gradual course corrections to take effect.

- Leave PLENTY of space between you and the car in front (you're now towing several tons - which have a lot of momentum)- Always keep an eye on the right mirror and watch what the trailer is doing when you go round right hand corners. Watch out for low lying posts, water hydrants etc.- Look WAY in the distance and try to anticipate - remember you're towing several tons.- DON"T get mad when someone jumps into you're "braking" space - just let it go and concentrate on what you need to do.- Look in your left mirror and see what is coming - big rigs may buffet you as they pass you.- NEVER enter a spot where you can't see the exit or a way out. I tend to stay away from smaller gas stations and go to the larger WAWA/Sheetz type.- Watch your headroom......

Learning to tow | Good Sam Community

34 Replies

kerrlakeRoo
Explorer
May 05, 2017
As mentioned before use parking lots, High school lots on a Sunday, Industrial plants as well.
Backing, remember small changes magnify almost exponentially. Make tiny changes and allow gradual course corrections to take effect.
Redwoodcamper
Explorer
May 05, 2017
Being observant, add some common sense, then a bunch of practice. Started when I was 16. I live in a small town where there are about 3 percent of the male population that don't have some towing experience.
jersey_traveler
Explorer
May 05, 2017
Practice.

Swing wide and go slow. Watch your mirrors.

GO to the Walmart parking lot at night and try maneuvering through the islands. That will teach you how much space you need to turn. Just watch out for light posts. Hitting a curb here or there at slow speed probably wont hurt anything. Brushing a light post will!!!
stickdog
Explorer
May 05, 2017
Wide is good but don't cut them short. That may get your tow through the turn but not your trailer. Keeping it between the ditches the you should be looking to where the marker lines come together. That is the same as if you were not towing.

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Learning to tow

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