How to Stop When Pulling a Trailer

Assuring that you can stop your vehicle while pulling a trailer is very important. Failure to do so could cause serious injury to you, bystanders and the load you carry on your trailer. Follow these steps to stop your car and trailer safely and without shifting your load.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Allow extra space between vehicles when pulling a trailer so you have ample room to stop. A car can take as much as three times the regular space needed to stop. Winter driving conditions will increase the space needed to stop even more, so be sure to consider the weather conditions as you plan to stop when pulling a trailer.

2. Drive in a way that avoids having other vehicles ride along side your trailer for extended periods of time. This will leave you a way out in case of an emergency stop, and this will keep the vehicle safe from a swaying trailer in a quick stop.

3. Brake slowly so that the trailer does not push too drastically on your car, forcing you to lose control.

4. Apply steady pressure when braking in non-emergency situations when pulling a trailer. This will keep the trailer from lurching and swaying.

5. Pump the brakes in an emergency situation to slow the heavy load of the trailer and to prevent a jackknife if you use a brake box.

6. Search for a way out, such as veering onto the shoulder of a road, in case you need to make an emergency stop.

Tips & Warnings

• Avoid riding the brakes so you don't overheat the pads, making them less effective or dangerous. Remember that overheating the brakes will cause the possibility of fire.

Resources

• Department of Motor Vehicles Information