Farkn Trailers!!!!

A ranty post on facebook brought this one on.....somebody criticising someone else's trailer, sharing a photo to their wall and really bad mouthing this person, when in reality, the type of trailer they were bashing is no less safe than a "standard" two horse float - and I'll bet my life that difficult horses actually load better into it.

So things brings up the point of towing safety. I so often see setups that are not safe, so let's go over a few things, shall we?

Your drawbar and vehicle should be LEVEL. That's a straight horizontal line - you know, flat!! If your car and trailer resemble a V, or worse, a hill, the download on your towbar will be all wrong. This means that in an emergency situation, you are not going to have a great deal of control of what your trailer is doing, because it's weighted wrong (I won't go into the physics of it, but the greater your ball load, the more stability you have). You can get various different hitches to adjust the height if you need it - Cynical Horse went through about 4 before getting the right one on our older vehicle. Oh, and make sure you have the right type of towbar in the first place! The standard one on your dad's old Falcon probably won't cut it......

Okay, so not a horse float, but a great pic to demonstrate my point.

Wiring!! Make sure your bloody lights work!! This is a 30 second check - and usually if they don't work, it's just a bulb. This too is a quick and easy job to fix. And if it ends up needing wiring, that is not difficult either - if Cynical Horse can do it, anyone can. Just follow the wiring diagram....easy! Now that you have made your lights work, other drivers will actually have some idea of what you are doing! IF you actually use them properly, that is (but that's a whole other story!). Also, make sure your brakes are serviced and WORK! Don't forget the brake unit fitted in your vehicle either - if it's broken, your trailer brakes won't be working. If you have a battery in a breakaway unit, CHECK IT and keep it working. Derrrr!

TYRES!! I've seen some shockers. This goes for both float and vehicle. Tyres can deteriorate if a float is not used for periods of time, they can crack and the rubber deteriorates. Have a SPARE!! (Duh!) Tyres must also be appropriately rated, you can't just chuck any old second hand car tyre on and expect it to be safe. They need the right load and speed ratings and PRESSURE!! Under inflated risks overheating and/or a blowout, over inflated causes vibration and stress on your trailer and horses. Any good tyre retailer can advise you on correct pressure in towing situations, as it does vary. And LEARN HOW TO CHANGE ONE!!

Chains!! First of all, make sure you have two that are correctly rated, along with D-rings that are also correctly rated. Remember, they are your last resort if your trailer jumps off. Each chain takes half the weight (theoretically in a perfect world!), so they must be rated to at least half of your total laden trailer weight each. Preferably more, as your load is not going to be equal should it come off the ball. Now, there is great debate about crossed or uncrossed chains. My preference is crossed - why? If the hitch comes off, it will land in the cross, not nosedive into the road. It also provides more flexibility in tight turns. Seems obvious, but it is vital that the chains are attached to the main towbar framework and not to a detachable ball mount or tongue. Safety chains must be stamped with the chain’s capacity, the manufacturer’s identification and the digits 4177.

Load and towing capacity. So, your car tows 3 tonnes? You can stick 3 tonnes on the back and away you go, right? WRONG! Both Cynical Horse's vehicle have 3 tonne tow capacities. But in reality, one can tow much more than the other. Why is this so? A little thing called Gross Combination Mass, or GCM. This is the maximum allowable combined mass of a towing vehicle, plus all the passengers and cargo in the towing vehicle, plus the mass of the trailer and cargo in the trailer. (Thank you Wikipedia!) In other words - you, all your shit, and then your float and horse. If you have a ute with one tonne load in the back, your tow capcity considerably reduced! And it doesn't take much to create the weight - 4 adults can easily be 300kg+, plus a whole lot of gear! And some cab chassis utes need to include the weight of the tray as well! So make sure you know your specs. If you are loaded incorrectly, your insurance company will laugh in your face when you claim. Cynical Horse's first vehicle has a GCM of 5750kg. The other has a GCM of 5920kg. Okay, not much different. Now let's look at the unladen vehicle weights (AKA tare mass). First one 2025kg. Second one 1635kg. Soooo......that leaves us with 3725kg and 4285kg as "load" allowance respectively. That's a massive difference. They are very different vehicles, yet both are rated as 3-tonne towing. Confused? Well, there's also Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM), but Cynical Horse will not blow your mind with that, or towball loads, but these are also important for stability, especially when equalizer hitches are involved. Get your mechanic or auto place to explain it to you. Your GCM is usually set by the manufacturer, and in some states is listed on your rego papers. Learn it. Learn your tare weight. Load your vehicle accordingly.

Learn how to drive! Learn how to REVERSE your float! (It isn't that hard!) Check your state's road rules for appropriate speed limits and towing laws before you go - too late to check AFTER the cops get you. Manual or auto is up to you, but either way, learn your vehicle's capabilities, and how to handle it in an emergency.  It is NOT the time to drive like a dickhead when you have your prized horses on the back! Cynical Horse prefers manual because she was taught by a heavy vehicle driver to use the engine as part of the braking process. However, modern auto transmissions are usually quite suitable for the task, if proper attention is taken with transmission cooling. They can engine brake too, by putting them into a lower gear. They both have pros and cons, so choose whatever suits your driving style. Gone are the days when manuals were the only safe choice. And seriously, I am appalled by the number of people these days who panic at the mention of "manual transmission!" It isn't that hard to drive one! However, if you are driving an auto, don't ride your damn brakes to stop!! If you lose them going down a big hill, I do not want to be in front of you. Learn to use your engine PROPERLY in either transmission. And if you drive a manual, learn how to drive it!! Poor gear changing can be hell on your horses in the float, so make sure you get that sweet spot in the RPMs before you change. And NEVER, EVER tailgate. I'd love to see you stop 5 tonnes in a hurry.....yeah, right!

Here are some driving tips (thank you National Caravan and Recreational Vehicle Towing Guide:

Apart from adding to the driver's legal responsibilities, towing requires a greater degree of knowledge and skill than normal driving. When towing, you should:

• allow for the extra length and width of the trailer when entering traffic;
• apply the accelerator, brakes and steering smoothly and gently to avoid sway, especially in wet or slippery conditions;
• maintain a space of at least 60 metres between you and the vehicle in front to allow for a longer stopping distance;
• engage a lower gear in both manual and automatic vehicles to increase vehicle control and reduce brake strain when travelling downhill;
• allow more time and a greater distance in which to overtake. When towing, your vehicle's capacity to accelerate is reduced;
• if possible, reverse with a person watching the rear of the trailer;
• where areas are provided, pull off the road to allow traffic building up behind you to overtake;
• be aware that towing is more stressful than normal driving and is more likely to cause fatigue. Therefore, more rest stops should be planned.

Now here is the big one - MAINTAIN YOUR VEHICLE!! You will go nowhere fast is you think you can run your vehicle into the ground and expect it to keep going and going and going.....they are not energizer bunnies. If you want to break down in the middle of nowhere with a blown-up anything, then sure, forget your services! I don't care what you do with your runabout cars, NEVER neglect your tow vehicle. Some of the wrecks I've seen getting about......OMG. Accidents waiting to happen. Don't expect sympathy from me if you blow it up and haven't serviced it for three years! I WILL laugh evilly at you.

And remember - ALWAYS keep a toolkit and a first aid kit in your float. Never leave home without them, because you never know what is just around the corner.