The Complete Pre-Departure Checklist for Towing a Trailer
Towing a trailer changes everything about how your vehicle handles. Braking distances stretch, turning radius widens, and a single overlooked detail can cause a dangerous incident on the road. Whether you’re hauling a box trailer to a job site, loading up a horse float for the weekend, or moving equipment on plant trailers, following a solid trailer towing checklist before every departure is essential.
Here’s what to go through before you pull out of the driveway.
How Towing Differs From a Normal Drive
Towing demands more attention than a regular drive.
Your combined vehicle and trailer weight significantly increases braking distance, sometimes by 50% or more, depending on load. Trailer sway can develop quickly at highway speeds if trailer weight distribution or tyre pressure is off. Reversing requires the opposite steering input. And your mirrors (without proper tow mirrors) may leave large blind spots on either side of the trailer.
None of these is a reason to avoid towing. But they are reasons to check your setup thoroughly before you go.
Your Pre-Trip Trailer Inspection Checklist
The Tow Vehicle
- Towing capacity: Confirm your vehicle’s tow rating covers the Gross Trailer Mass (GTM) of your loaded trailer. Exceeding this rating puts stress on your drivetrain, brakes, and transmission, and voids your insurance in the event of a crash.
- Tyres: Check pressure on all four wheels (cold, before driving). Soft tyres under extra towing load increase heat buildup and the risk of a blowout.
- Brakes and suspension: Brakes that are fine solo may feel inadequate when hauling serious weight. If they’re due for service, have it done before the trip. Check that suspension isn’t visibly sagging under the trailer’s nose weight.
- Fluids and fuel: Top up coolant, brake fluid, and engine oil. Towing generates more heat under the bonnet.
- Mirrors: Ensure you have adequate rear vision on both sides of the trailer. Extension mirrors are legally required in most states if the trailer is wider than your vehicle.
The Trailer
- Hitch and coupler: The coupler should lock fully onto the hitch ball with no lateral movement. The hitch pin and retaining clip must be secure.
- Safety chains: Cross the chains in an X pattern under the trailer tongue and attach them to the chain attachment points on the vehicle’s tow bar. Leave enough slack for turning, but not so much that they drag.
- Lights and wiring: Plug in and test all trailer lights: brake lights, indicators, tail lights, and reverse lights. Check the plug connection for corrosion or damage. A faulty light is both illegal and a serious safety issue for vehicles behind you.
- Tyres: Check pressure and inspect for cracks, uneven wear, embedded debris, or other issues. Don’t forget the spare if your trailer carries one.
- Wheel nuts: Torque wheel nuts to the manufacturer’s specification. New trailers and those with recently removed wheels require retorquing after the first 50–100km.
- Load security: Secure your load with rated tie-down straps and check that weight is distributed forward of the axle. Unsecured loads pose a significant legal liability and a hazard to other drivers on the road.
- Breakaway system: If your trailer has electric brakes, confirm the breakaway cable is attached to the tow vehicle and the battery in the breakaway box is charged.
Tools and Spares to Keep On Board
- Tyre pressure gauge
- Rated tie-down straps (extras are always useful)
- Wheel brace and jack compatible with your trailer
- Spare wheel (if applicable)
- Spare globe kit for trailer lights
- Tow hitch pin and safety clip (spare)
Make Maintenance Part of the Routine
A pre-trip trailer inspection works best as part of a broader trailer maintenance habit. Wheel bearings, brake pads, and structural components need periodic inspection. Not just before big trips, but on a regular service schedule.
At Coastmac, we stock a wide range of trailers for sale across box trailers, plant and machinery trailers, car trailers, horse floats, and more, built to Australian standards and backed by after-sales support. If you’re not sure whether your current setup is road-ready, our team can help you assess it.
