Chapter 12: Towing a Trailer

Towing a trailer adds significant weight and length to your vehicle, dramatically changing its handling, acceleration, and braking characteristics. Understanding the specific equipment requirements and safe driving techniques for towing is essential for preventing loss of control, collisions, and equipment failure. This knowledge is crucial for the safety of the driver, their passengers, and everyone else on Hawaii’s roads.

Equipment and Loading

Properly equipping your tow vehicle and trailer, and correctly loading the cargo, are the most important steps for a safe towing experience. An improperly equipped or loaded trailer is an accident waiting to happen.

Required Equipment

• Hitch: The hitch must be appropriate for the size and weight of the trailer. Bumper hitches are not sufficient for most trailers. The hitch assembly must be securely bolted to the frame of the tow vehicle.
• Safety Chains: Every trailer must be connected to the tow vehicle with two strong safety chains. These chains are a critical backup system in case the hitch fails. They must be crossed under the trailer tongue in an “X” pattern and attached to the frame of the tow vehicle, not the hitch itself. The chains should have enough slack to allow for turns but not so much that they drag on the ground.
• Lights: The trailer must have a functioning light system that connects to the tow vehicle. This includes taillights, brake lights, and turn signals that operate in sync with the tow vehicle’s lights.
• Brakes: In Hawaii, a trailer must be equipped with its own braking system if its gross vehicle weight is 3,000 pounds or more, or if its loaded weight is more than half the weight of the towing vehicle. These brakes are essential for helping to slow the combined weight of the vehicle and trailer safely.

Proper Loading (The 60/40 Rule)