Your Guide to Travel Trailer Hitching
Practice makes perfect when it comes to hitching your travel trailer to your tow vehicle. You should not expect yourself to do it right the first time. Give yourself time to become accustomed to the steps, and you will soon be hitching your travel trailer quickly and efficiently. If you neglect the proper steps or forget to take safety measures, you may be frustrated with the results. When in doubt, visit Airstream of South Carolina in Lexington, South Carolina. Our professional staff would be happy to offer tips to customers from Columbia and Greenville, South Carolina.
Supplies and Equipment
Before you prepare to hitch your travel trailer, you need to gather supplies. All of the equipment must be well-lubricated, so invest in a high-quality lubricant. Get yourself an apron or towel to protect your clothes from the mess. Consider using rubber blocks to offer better traction between the trailer jack and the ground. You can avoid dangerous accidents with this type of block.
Install Ball Mount or Hitch Head
The first step to hitching a travel trailer is installing the ball mount or hitch head. Depending on your model, you might be dealing with one or the other. Lift the piece of equipment carefully and do not force it into position. Do not forget to secure the hitch head or ball mount with a pin and clip. This linchpin is perhaps one of the most critical points of hitching a travel trailer.
Line Up Trailer and Tow Vehicle
You will be able to complete the second step easier if the level ground is available. Someone will need to help you back up towards the trailer if your tow vehicle does not have a backup camera. Slowly back the end of your tow vehicle to the hitch of the travel trailer. Remember to engage the emergency brake before stepping out of the tow vehicle.
Hitch Open Receiver
The final step is to connect the hitch ball to the trailer coupler on your vehicle. Everything should be aligned already. Lock the receiver latch securely once the ball is in place. Any sway bars should be connected at this time, too.
Add Safety Gear
After hitching the travel trailer, you need to remember the safety gear. The brakes and lights need to be checked to see if they are working. And safety chains are a last resort in case the hitch receiver fails while you are driving.
Follow the steps as precisely as possible, and you can successfully hitch your travel trailer every time. You never want to deal with the consequences of improper hitching. Visit Airstream of South Carolina, and our team will show you around our complete inventory. Our dealership, located in Lexington, South Carolina, welcomes customers from Greenville and Columbia, South Carolina.