Forum Members’ Trailer-Hauling Tips
Hauling a trailer involves a lot more than hooking up and driving off, after all.
If you’ve got a truck, which of course you do, chances are you might need to tow a trailer one day. If you don’t already, that is. But there are so many options when it comes to trailers and ball mounts that it can be hard to know where to start. That, of course, is why resources like Chevrolet Forum exist. Which is exactly why forum member BigGirlShoes went there to post her inquiry.
“Anyone have suggestions for a good ball mount? I went to Uhaul and they said that for the level of my ‘burban I need to get a custom size? Also, I’ll take suggestions for good trailers too. I am thinking of getting one, but I’m also not sure as to how to reverse with one.”
And of course, it isn’t long before a host of folks chime in with some great advice. And encouraging words as well.
“What kind of trailer are you looking for?,”02Sub asks. “Utility? Camping? I have a bunch of trailers from small utility to 33′ travel trailer. Backing up is ALL practice. Remember, nobody started out good at backing. It was practice in a parking lot. Also, going against what you might think, the longer the trailer the easier it is to back up. Short trailers respond very fast to steering inputs. When backing up, put your hand on the bottom of the steering wheel. The direction the BOTTOM of the steering wheel goes (left or right) is the direction the REAR will go.”
All of which is good advice. But perhaps it’s best to do things the other way around.
“I actually prefer backing my 35′ travel trailer compared to my 12′ cargo trailer,”intheburbs adds. “My single-axle 6×12 is a good size for me – I volunteer for a nonprofit, and the trailer holds all my gear easily, so I don’t have to pack/unpack my Suburban. Don’t buy a ball hitch until you have a trailer. Then, you can measure the height you need on your hitch to keep the trailer level, and of course the proper ball size.”
And as in2pro points out, there are other solutions available to make pulling even shorter trailers a snap.
“I found that having a weight distributing hitch made pulling more manageable for myself, even for shorter travel trailers. As for brake controllers, I installed the Tekonsha 90195 P3 Electronic Brake Control, and have been very happy with its performance and ease of setup”
Finally, intheburbs chimes back in with a few more considerations the OP will need to take into account.
“Owning a trailer is more than just buying a hitch, sticking it in the receiver, hooking up, and driving away. What’s the ball size? 2″, 1 7/8″, 2 1/4”? What’s the proper lift/drop you need on your hitch to make the trailer level? Small trailers (without brakes) use a 4-pin electrical connector. Your truck has a 7-pin. You’ll need to buy an adapter/pigtail.
If you’re looking at a trailer over 3500 lbs, it’ll come with brakes. Do you have the built-in trailer brake controller, or do you need to buy and install one? If you buy an 8-foot wide trailer, you’re probably going to want to get some towing mirrors – either ones that attach to your current mirrors, or replacing them outright. Notice mine, easier to see in the top picture. The OEM mirrors on your truck suck for towing.”
All of which are great tips for any towing noob. Have you got any advice for our budding, trailer hauling, Suburban owning member? Be sure to head over here and chime in!
