Towing a travel trailer. I am excited!!!!!
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,165
Likes: 3
From: Cabot, AR
The biggest thing I have noticed is when passing a semi, that is when the trailer gets squirly. If you get close to one watch out it might get bumpy. When you go to pass one get on the gas several hundred yards behind one and stay on the gas until you are past the last one. The pull of the truck against the trailer will straighten things out. If you happen to feel the trailer sway don't hit the brakes, you will go a$$ first into the ditch. Hit the gas and jerk the trailer straight. If you have electric brakes you could hit the manual switch and correct the sway that way.
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 454
Likes: 0
texas requirement
Quote:
Safety chain, breakaway switch required on trailers over 3,000 pounds, flares or reflective signs, brakes on trailers with unladen weight of 4500 pounds.
sound like that rule counterdicts itself, is it 3000 pounds or 4500 pounds?
if it is 4500 pounds or less you are fine, if the guy renting it to you does not require it, dont worry about it. looking at a map you could not be going more than 70 to 80 miles. you seem to understand that you cant go 80 mph and draft on other vehicles A$$. just take it easy and allow plenty of braking room.
Quote:
Safety chain, breakaway switch required on trailers over 3,000 pounds, flares or reflective signs, brakes on trailers with unladen weight of 4500 pounds.
sound like that rule counterdicts itself, is it 3000 pounds or 4500 pounds?
if it is 4500 pounds or less you are fine, if the guy renting it to you does not require it, dont worry about it. looking at a map you could not be going more than 70 to 80 miles. you seem to understand that you cant go 80 mph and draft on other vehicles A$$. just take it easy and allow plenty of braking room.
You have to have chains and a breakaway switch if the trailer is over 3k lbs.
Unladen = unloaded, going by that it means if the weighs 4500lbs empty you don't need brakes. Kind of a stupid way of doing it IMO, my dad's triple axle gooseneck flatbed weights about that much, and the previous owner hauled bulldozers on it.
