Safe Towing Blog
To improve the safety of the nation’s roadways by raising trailer safety awareness through education of end-users, dealers, and manufacturers on safe trailering practices.
The Safe Towing Starts Here: Understanding and Preventing Trailer Sway webinar is all about helping you feel more confident behind the wheel. Whether you’re hauling for work, towing your boat for the weekend, or moving across town, this session will walk you through the key decisions and habits that directly impact your safety on the road. This webinar features experts from U-Haul International, a trusted leader in moving and towing solutions across North America.
This guide details the need-to-know information for end-users. Have a question about trailering? We've got you covered.
Improving trailer safety takes the collective effort of industry partners, agencies, and end-users. Through Trailer Safety Week (June 7-13, 2026), a nationwide marketing campaign of printed and online resources to trailer manufacturers, dealers, traffic safety professionals, and endorsers across the nation, there are options for everyone to get involved.
Explore In-Depth Insights on Popular Trailering Topics. Delve into the most sought-after trailering subjects on the official Towing Safely Blog.
Towing a trailer can be a convenient way to transport goods, but it also poses certain risks, the most significant of which is trailer sway, commonly known as fishtailing. This phenomenon can be alarming and, if not managed properly, can lead to dangerous situations on the road. Understanding the causes of trailer sway and implementing strategies to prevent it can help ensure a safer towing experience.
Properly torquing lug nuts isn’t just about tightening bolts — it’s about protecting your trailer, preventing damage, and ensuring safe towing. Whether you're performing routine maintenance or reattaching a wheel after service, follow these steps for a secure installation:
When it comes to your trailer’s wheels, torque is everything. Torque is the force that secures the lug nuts to the wheel studs, keeping the wheel attached to the hub. If lug nuts are under-tightened, the wheel can loosen over time, leading to vibrations, wear, or even complete wheel detachment — a frightening and hazardous situation for any road user. On the flip side, over-tightening can stretch the wheel studs beyond their yield point, weakening their structural integrity and increasing the risk of failure. Either scenario can lead to serious damage and danger on the road.
Whether you’re hauling equipment, a boat, or weekend gear, how you load your trailer can make a difference between a smooth ride and encountering an emergency roadside. Improper trailer loading is one of the leading causes of sway, jackknifing, and loss of control.
Many types of vehicles – SUVs, pickup trucks, vans, minivans, and passenger cars – can be set up to tow trailers. However, choosing the right tow vehicle and equipment depends on the trailer type, size, weight, and the load being towed.
While it's tempting to opt for a heavy-duty hitch for towing purposes, many overlook the importance of matching the hitch to the tow vehicle's specifications. This oversight can lead to serious safety hazards on the road.
Towing requires coordination among several elements: the driver, tow vehicle, and trailer, each playing a crucial role in the towing process and safety of the setup. The driver's responsibilities include choosing the appropriate tow vehicle and trailer for the load, connecting the unit, loading it correctly, steering, controlling speed, and braking. Every aspect of the tow vehicle and trailer influences the towing process. Maintaining safe and proper driving practices is essential for trailer safety. Drivers should stay focused and minimize or eliminate distractions.
The first step in trailer hook up is to find a friend to help you. Having someone else outside the vehicle to give guidance will make the process much easier.
The Safe Towing Starts Here: Understanding and Preventing Trailer Sway webinar is all about helping you feel more confident behind the wheel. Whether you’re hauling for work, towing your boat for the weekend, or moving across town, this session will walk you through the key decisions and habits that directly impact your safety on the road.