Chapter 12: Towing a Trailer

Towing a trailer dramatically changes a vehicle’s handling, braking, and stability, introducing new risks that require specific knowledge and skill to manage. Understanding the principles of proper loading, equipment use, and modified driving techniques is crucial for preventing dangerous situations like trailer sway or jackknifing. Mastering these rules is essential not only for safety on the road but also for ensuring you are legally compliant with state equipment requirements.

Equipment and Loading

Before towing, a driver must ensure the vehicle and trailer are properly equipped and loaded. Failure in either of these areas is a leading cause of trailer-related collisions.

Required Equipment

• Hitch: The hitch is the connection point on the tow vehicle. It must be the correct class and have a weight rating that exceeds the total weight of the fully loaded trailer.
• Safety Chains: Every trailer must be connected to the tow vehicle with two strong safety chains. The chains should be crossed under the trailer tongue in an “X” pattern. This prevents the tongue from dropping to the ground if the hitch fails and can help maintain some steering control. The chains must have enough slack to allow for sharp turns but not so much that they drag on the ground.
• Lights: The trailer’s lighting system must be connected to the tow vehicle and be fully functional. This includes taillights, brake lights, and turn signals that work in sync with the tow vehicle’s lights.
• Brakes: In South Carolina, a separate braking system is legally required on any trailer with a gross weight of 3,000 pounds or more. These brakes are typically activated electronically by a controller in the tow vehicle’s cab or by a surge mechanism on the trailer itself.