Vacations are here. You have been waiting all year for this wonderful time of year to arrive, to rest from the stress and exhaustion of everyday life and spend a few days relaxed with family or friends. This time you have encouraged to put a hitch ball to your car to tow a couple of motorcycles, a caravan or even a boat. However, you’ve never driven with a trailer before, and you need some tips for taking your hitch vehicle for the first time. The first thing you should know, for your peace of mind, is that towing is not as difficult as it may seem at first, although you do need to adapt to this type of driving. To do this, we present you some practical tips that will help you this summer.
Key tips
The first thing you should do is make sure you have the correct license , since it is allowed to tow weights less than 750 kg with the type B permit. However, when the vehicle weighs 3,500 kg or less and the trailer weighs more than 750 kg, weighing Between the two less than 4,250 kg, the B96 type card is necessary. Whereas if the vehicle weighs 3,500 kg or less and the trailer, more than 750 kg, weighing between the two between 4,250 and 7,000 kg, the B + E permit will be necessary. Finally, for vehicle and trailer or semi-trailer assemblies weighing more than 7,000 kg, it is mandatory to have the C + E truck license.
Another thing to keep in mind is whether the trailer needs insurance . In this case, if the trailer is light (weight less than 750 kg), it is not necessary to insure it, as it is covered by the insurance of the vehicle to which it is attached. On the contrary, trailers of more than 750 kg do need to be insured, so you will have to declare the installation of the hitch ball in your company.
The data for the maximum permissible weight, maximum load and maximum towable load can be found on the technical sheet of each vehicle. It is essential that you look at this information first, to ensure that the weight of the trailer (including the load) does not exceed half the weight of the vehicle to which it is to be hitched.
Practice before you start
Practice is also important , so we advise you to get close to a wide, open area to test out driving with a trailer before heading to your actual destination. The maneuvers are the hardest part, especially at the beginning. You should bear in mind that, when reversing, the trailer is directed to the opposite side to that of the vehicle being driven, so it is advisable to always start any of these maneuvers with the trailer and the vehicle aligned.
Finally, you will have to take into account other issues such as the safety distance that you must maintain with the vehicle that precedes you. The distance has to be lengthened, because in case of having to make an emergency braking, more meters will be needed to stop the vehicle. To overtake, we must be aware that the vehicle with a trailer that we drive will not respond the same due to the greater weight, in the same way that the total length of your car will not be the same.
