KEY POINTS:
It's getting near that time of year again. The children will be breaking up from school (if they haven't already), summer's on the way and it's time for the Christmas holidays.
And part of the Kiwi holiday tradition is to hitch the trailer, caravan or boat to the back of the car and head to the coast.
On average, seven people a year are killed and 26 seriously injured in crashes involving a light vehicle towing a trailer (either a caravan, boat, horse or garden trailer).
A sobering thought. So with the help of Land Transport New Zealand, take note of these tips for safe towing in the days ahead.
THE GOLDEN RULE
Do not hold up following traffic unnecessarily. We have narrow roads in New Zealand and it's not an ego trip to see how many motorists you can infuriate.
Pull over when it's safe to do so and allow following traffic to pass. This in itself will reduce road rage by a good percentage.
BEFORE LEAVING HOME
* Make test stops at low speed to check how the brakes feel with the extra weight attached.
* Check all doors, hatches, covers and loose items are properly secured.
* Check that the trailer is correctly loaded by gently moving the steering wheel from side to side while the car is moving at about 40 to 50 km/h. Only attempt this on a clear road where you can see at least 500m in either direction.
Feel and watch the trailer's response. If the trailer does not fall back into line quickly, stop and adjust the load inside.
* Check any securing ropes and straps are tight. The load in your trailer may have settled due to road vibration and any tie-downs may become loose.
* Carry the smallest load in the boot or luggage area of the car.
* Check the coupling and safety chains are properly fastened.
* Check the trailer brakes (where fitted), tyres and wheel bearings are not overheating.
* Check all the lights are working.
* Check tyre pressures on the trailer and the car.
* Allow extra time for the trip.
DRIVING
* The maximum open road speed for light vehicles towing trailers or other motor vehicles is 90km/h. If you're leaving early in the morning or late afternoon/early evening, the towed vehicle must display a white light towards the front that shows the towing connection and a red light towards the rear of the towed vehicle.
* An unbalanced load can cause the trailer to pivot on the tow bar, forcing the towing vehicle to sway from side to side.
* If you're carrying passengers, you must ensure they ride in a position where they are not likely to be injured during the journey. It is against the law for passengers to ride in a caravan being towed.
* Allow extra space for stopping. Leave a four-second gap between you and the vehicle ahead even more if it's wet or windy, and apply brakes lightly before cornering. Always use a lower gear when travelling downhill.
* Do not suddenly change lanes or direction.
* Do not place large items together towards the ends of the trailer.
* If the trailer starts to sway, do not apply your brakes - instead, take your foot off the accelerator and allow the vehicle to slow down of its own accord.
OVERTAKING
* Allow more time and distance to overtake.
* Give yourself extra room when pulling back into the lane to avoid clipping the overtaken vehicle with the trailer.
REVERSING
* Try to avoid reversing or ask someone experienced at reversing to help. Turn the front wheels to the left to pivot the trailer to the right and vice versa. Straighten the wheels as the trailer moves in the desired direction.
* Reverse slowly.
* Check clearances often.
* Remember that soft ground may slow your trailer's response.
PARKING
* Choose where you park carefully. Roadside cambers can trap your caravan against poles.
* Trailers cannot be parked on a roadway for more than seven days unless written permission has been obtained from the road-controlling authority.
ANIMALS
* Animals should be transported in adequately ventilated cages, boxes, pens, crates or containers that are suited to their size, and are held securely inside or attached to the deck of the vehicle. Animals should be protected from extreme weather conditions.
* If large animals are carried in the passenger compartment, a proprietary harness fitted to the seatbelts should restrain them. Otherwise they should be tethered in a ventilated space at the rear of the vehicle or placed behind a suitable restraining barrier.
* Horse trailers: when towing a horse trailer you need to take extra care, because the trailer will sway as the horse moves.
In addition to the legal requirements and suggestions above, the law requires that every light vehicle and trailer combination must be capable of stopping within a distance of seven metres from a speed of 30km/h.
In effect, this means that the maximum allowable weight of an unbraked trailer is limited by the weight and braking ability of the vehicle being used to tow it.
Land Transport NZ recommends, as a guide, that the laden weight of an unbraked trailer should not exceed three-quarters of the unladen weight of the towing vehicle, and then only if the towing vehicle's brakes and tyres are in excellent condition.
If the trailer is equipped with brakes, it may be possible to safely tow a trailer heavier than three-quarters of the unladen weight of the towing vehicle.
However, the seven metres from 30km/h brake performance requirement still applies. Remember the key rule: take your time and be sensible.
