Winter Towing Tips: Staying Safe When the Weather Turns
Towing in winter brings darker evenings, wet roads and the odd icy morning. Here are our simple, practical tips for keeping your car, towbar and trailer safe through the colder months.
Most people think of towing as a summer activity — caravan holidays, bike trips and days out. But plenty of towing happens in winter too, whether it's a trailer run to the tip, moving house, work trips or an off-season caravan break.
Towing in the colder months isn't difficult, but it does need a bit more care. Here are our top tips for staying safe when the weather turns.
Check Everything Before You Set Off
A quick check before every trip is always a good habit, but it matters even more in winter.
- Lights — Walk around and check the indicators, brake lights and tail lights on your trailer or caravan all work. Short, gloomy days mean you'll be relying on them more than usual.
- Tyres — Check the tyres on both the car and the trailer. Look for good tread and make sure the pressures match what the manufacturer recommends — the cold can cause pressures to drop.
- Hitch and breakaway cable — Make sure the coupling is fully locked onto the towball and the breakaway cable or secondary coupling is properly attached.
- Number plate — Your trailer's number plate needs to be clean and readable, which is easy to forget on muddy winter roads.
Keep Your Towbar and Electrics Clean
Winter roads are covered in salt, grit and dirt, and much of it ends up on the back of your car. Over time this can cause rust on the towball and corrosion in the electrical socket.
- Give the towbar a rinse after towing on gritted roads
- Keep the socket cover closed when it's not in use
- A light spray of water-repelling lubricant on the socket contacts can help keep moisture out
- If you have a detachable towbar, remove it when you're not towing and store it somewhere dry
If your trailer lights start flickering or stop working, dirty or damp contacts are very often the cause. A clean usually sorts it — but if not, get in touch and we'll take a look.
Drive Smoother and Slower
Everything takes longer when you're towing, and wet or icy roads make that even more true.
- Leave extra space — Stopping distances are longer with a trailer behind you and longer again on wet or slippery roads. Give yourself plenty of room.
- Be gentle — Smooth steering, braking and accelerating help keep the trailer stable. Sudden movements are what cause problems.
- Take bends slowly — Slow down before the corner, not in it.
- Watch for crosswinds — Winter storms can bring strong gusts, especially on open roads, bridges and motorways. Caravans and high-sided trailers are particularly affected. If it's very windy, it may be worth delaying your trip.
If the trailer does start to sway, ease off the accelerator gently and keep the steering straight. Don't brake hard or try to steer out of it.
Plan for Snow and Ice
If snow or ice is forecast, ask yourself whether the trip really needs to happen today. Towing on snow and ice is much harder than normal driving, and waiting a day is often the safest choice.
If you do need to go:
- Clear all snow and ice from the car, the trailer and especially the lights before you set off
- Stick to main roads, which are more likely to be gritted
- Pull away gently in a higher gear to reduce wheel spin
- Keep your speed down and leave even more space than usual
- Carry a winter kit — a torch, blanket, warm clothes, phone charger, snacks and a shovel are all useful if you get stuck
Don't Overload
It can be tempting to fill a trailer to the brim on a tip run, but a heavy or badly loaded trailer is much harder to control on slippery roads.
Always stay within your car's towing limits, which you'll find in the vehicle handbook. Put the heavier items low down and over the trailer's axle, and make sure everything is secured so it can't shift while you're driving.
Getting Your Caravan Ready for Winter
If you're not using your caravan over winter, it's worth preparing it properly before you store it. Drain the water system, remove anything that could attract damp and make sure it's secure. It's also a good time to check your towbar and electrics over, so everything's ready to go in spring.
Need a Towbar Before Winter?
If you're thinking about getting a towbar fitted — or you'd like your existing towbar or electrics checked — The Towbar Man can come to you. We fit towbars across Leicester, Nottingham, Derby, Birmingham and the wider Midlands, at your home or workplace.
Call us on 07508 135577 or get a free quote online and we'll get you booked in.