Tips to Gear Up For A Long Haul

by Luis Jimenez Auto Transport And Manufacturing Business

Making a car trailer ready for a long haul properly is extremely essential if the driver wants to avoid unnecessary hassles or mishaps during the journey. There are certain key areas which must be given undue attention. Not only will it ensure a smooth ride, but also help in maintaining the integrity of both the trailer and the towing truck.

Let’s have a look at some important tips that can help in gearing up for a lengthy hauling journey :

Assessing the Cooling System of The Tow Vehicle

The most critical aspect associated with successful long distance trailering is keeping the drivetrain or engine of the tow truck cool. If either of them get heated up excessively, it can slow down the speed of the whole setup and result in unnecessary delay. Heat starts to build up as soon as the engine of the truck is activated and then the factory cooling mechanism may prove to be insufficient. Therefore, it would be prudent to check the condition of the coolant level and look for toxic sludge in it before setting off on the journey. In case existence of toxic sludge is detected, the cooling system must be flushed in order to dislodge grime present in the water jackets or radiator passageways. Once that has been done, fresh coolant must be filled in the system for restoring its cooling capacity.

Checking The Trailer

Irrespective of whether it is 4 or 5 car trailer, the hauling equipment also needs proper and thorough inspection:

The tires must be checked for appropriate inflation
It is important to ensure that the wheel lug nuts have been torqued as per specifications
The hitch ball mount must be secured properly along with the suitable ball
All lighting should be verified visually for functionality
Checking the safety chains is also vital to make sure that they are correctly attached in place
The cargo should be double-checked and fastened securely via ratcheting tie-down straps
The trailer must be plugged in properly.

Performing Preventative Maintenance

The worst thing that can happen during a long trailering journey is being stranded in the middle of nowhere because of a glitch which was preventable. Before heading out on the journey, it is therefore necessary to ensure that regular maintenance of the truck is entirely up-to-date. This includes inspecting the oil level, taking a look at the fuel filters, checking the truck’s tires and torquing the lug nuts to spec.