This article answers the popular question: What are safety tips for hauling a trailer in the rain?
Spring is almost upon us! As the weather starts to warm up, the snow melts, and the days get longer…the April showers begin. Spring in the Midwest brings thunderstorms, lightning, and even flash flooding. As a trailer hauler, knowing how to haul safely during heavy rainstorms is important.
These 5 helpful tips will keep you safe on the road during a Spring thunderstorm.
Headlights
When it’s raining both during the day and at night, visibility on the roadway is minimized. Headlights help other motorists see you and your trailer, but they also help you see other vehicles. If visibility is too little and you are having trouble seeing other vehicles even with their headlights and taillights on, it means other motorists can’t see you.
Change speeds gradually
When towing your trailer in the rain, it’s important to accelerate and decelerate slower than you normally would. Rain on the roadways often results in traction loss and can cause your trailer to sway.
Increase following distance
During normal driving conditions, The National Safety Council recommends a minimum three-second following distance. According to Travelers, you can calculate the three-second following distance by picking an overhead road sign, a tree, or another roadside marker. When the vehicle ahead of you passes that marker, count how many seconds it takes (count 1-1,000; 2-1,000; 3-1,000) for you to pass the same marker.
When it’s raining, roadways can be slick. Increasing the distance between you and the car ahead can help give you the extra time you may need to stop quickly, recognize a hazard, and respond safely.
Do not use cruise control
Using cruise control while driving in the rain means you lose the feel of the road and may not sense hydroplaning. According to Car and Driver, hydroplaning is a dangerous driving condition that occurs when water causes your vehicle’s tires to lose contact with the road surface.
The best thing you can do to prevent hydroplaning, particularly with thousands of pounds of tow weight behind your vehicle, is to keep your speed reduced and your tires inflated to the correct tire pressure. For more details on how to respond when your car hydroplanes, read this article.
Stick to the middle of the road
Stick towards the middle lane of the highway if possible, since water tends to pool towards the edges of the road. Be observant of the roadways up ahead and try to avoid standing water and puddles.
Drive with caution
The most important thing to remember when driving in the rain is to drive with caution. Never be afraid to simply pull over with your trailer and wait out a bad storm if conditions are severe.