When you are driving in your car, taking sharp turns does not bother you that much right? In fact, most people like to take sharp turns just to show off their driving skills. But when you attach a trailer to your car, things get a little tricky. You might even find it a little tricky to steer the vehicle in a straight line forget about taking sharp turns. The braking system will be stretched out and the acceleration will be a lot slower.
It does not matter whether you live in an urban environment or in a rural place, you have to take turn. There is simply not getting around it. Taking a turn eventually become a second nature to every driver but things get complicated when you add a trailer to the equation. You will have to plan well in advance before making the first move while trying to take the turn.
Give Yourself Plenty of Room
While you are towing a trailer, you need to give your as much room as possible. All types of curbside hazards should be should be taken into consideration while making a turn. It is the edges of the trailer that always tend to catch on something. Avoid coming in contact with objects like – street signs, mailboxes, trash bins or other vehicles. Trailer tends to swing from side to side while making a turn and which is why it is important to extra space to make room for the trailer.
Apply Brakes
If the trailer is fully loaded, you simply can’t apply brakes and expect it the vehicle to come to a screeching halt immediately. Nope, physics don’t work that way. A fully loaded trailer requires wider turn radius and greater braking distance. Making right turn with a fully loaded trailer poses greater challenge than making a left turn. While making left turns, you will enjoy more room for errors but the same can’t be said of when you are making a right turn.
Pull Straight then Turn Late
While trying to make a right turn, you need to pull straight forward before making the turn. Late turning is the key here. You need to realize that you are not driving the car alone, the trailer is attached to it.
The trailer increases the length of the vehicle and that means, you will have to drive further into the intersection than what you are used to. This will help the trailer avoid coming in contact with obstacles and the curbs. Failing to clear the corner will result in hitting the curb and the result could be disastrous. A bent tire rim, hitting the awning or blowing out a tire are some of the worst case scenarios that you might have to deal with if the trailer hit the curb.
Tail Swing
When the rear section of the trailer moves in the opposite direction of the turn, it is touted as Tail Swing. This is a common problem and even the most seasoned drivers have to deal with this on a regular basis while making a turn. Tail swing tends to pose serious threats to pedestrians, other vehicles and other objects like electrical pole, mailbox etc.
Since you will be trying to make a turn with a trailer attached, you have to extra careful of the tail swing. The greater the distance between the trailer wheel and the trailer hitch, the greater will be the tail swing.
Mirrors
Mirrors can help you immensely when you are trying to take a turn. When adjusted correctly, mirrors can save your skin in more than one way. It should let you see the entire width of the trailer while making those crucial turns. By looking at the mirror, you will be able to figure out the position of the trailer in relation to other surrounding objects and nearby vehicles. You can even spot the exact position of the trailer wheels. Basically mirrors can be life saver in such tricky situations.
