How to Tow a Camper Trailer

During the summer, there is no better way to spend a family vacation than packing up the camper and heading to the great outdoors. But before you decide to take off, you need to know how to securely tow a camper trailer. Nothing will ruin a vacation more quickly than watching what you thought was a secure camper trailer veering off the side of the road in your rear view mirror. Here are some steps to follow for making sure you are ready to tow your camper trailer.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Camper trailer
• Towing vehicle
• Towing package (recommended)
• Brake controller (recommended)

1. Secure all the loose items in the camper. Anything that can go flying around inside while driving down the road needs to be tucked into cabinets or secured in totes.

2. Raise all trailer jacks under the camper trailer and secure.

3. Back your vehicle up to the front of the camper trailer. You may want to use another person to help guide you.

4. Position the towing ball on your vehicle directly under the towing hitch of the camper trailer.

5. Lower the towing hitch of the camper trailer so it lays over the towing ball of your vehicle.

6. Secure the latch on the towing hitch of the camper trailer so it securely locks onto the ball of your vehicle.

7. Hook up the wires from the camper trailer to your vehicle. Check to make sure all brake lights and turn signals are in working order before you get on the road.

8. Hook the two safety chains that are connected to the camper trailer onto the towing vehicle.

Tips & Warnings

• A towing package can be bought that will help displace much of the weight of the camper trailer onto your vehicle. This will prevent all of the weight from being placed in one spot and weighing down the back of your vehicle.
• Consider mounting a brake controller in your vehicle. This will make the brakes on the camper trailer work with the brakes on your towing vehicle. Without this, the whole weight of the camper trailer will be pushing into your vehicle when you come to a stop. The sensitivity of the camper trailer brakes can also be adjusted from this mounted device.