Towing a trailer for the first time

[S-L-A-C-K-E-R]

So our SUV is too small for our trip to the beach. Now that we have a 11 month old coming along, we just can't fit everything in our Honda Element. I was going to rent a van but it's expensive. So I thought of renting a U-haul trailer and towing it down there and back. I have a 4' x 8' trailer reserved and a hitch installation date scheduled. I spent a lot of time reading my owner's manual to figure out the details of towing a trailer. It's a bit more confusing than I expected. The one thing that worries me is that the manual says we need brakes on the trailer if it exceeds 1,000 lbs. The trailer weighs 850 lbs, so I imagine we will exceed the 1,000 lbs limit by a little. The trailer we reserved doesn't have brakes. My wife thinks I'm over analyzing and worrying too much. Do you agree? I know this isn't a hefty load by any means, but it is only a small 4 cylinder suv. I just don't want to do anything dangerous. Anyone have any towing experience with some tips?

[Ed Reed]

Give your self lots of room to stop. Go slower than usual. Make sure you have good rear view mirrors.

[rodie]

i've towed vehicles on tow dollies from one end of georgia to the other, with no brakes other than the truck's, and had no issues. if the uhaul trailer is big enough to need brakes, it'll have them. the wiring for your trailer lights should have a circuit for electric brakes, i believe...

[S-L-A-C-K-E-R]

Originally Posted by rodie

...if the uhaul trailer is big enough to need brakes, it'll have them.

That's kind of what I was thinking. I just needed someone to confirm my assumptions since I'm new at this. Thanks.

[rodie]

jakeddy's advice is dead on too, btw.

[S-L-A-C-K-E-R]

Originally Posted by jakeddy

Give your self lots of room to stop. Go slower than usual. Make sure you have good rear view mirrors.

Originally Posted by rodie

jakeddy's advice is dead on too, btw.

Cool.

Thanks, guys.

[Flyin' Brian]

U Haul should know the legal requirements for trailer brakes and supply them if necessary. The brakes are usually electric and are triggered by your own brakes.

I towed a car behind an RV for 10,000 miles this past year. Of course the car is heavier than a trailer, but aux braking was required in most states and was useful in a few cases.

For 1,000 pounds, I wouldn't worry but Jakeddy's advice is good.

[explorer76]

I know this isn't a hefty load by any means, but it is only a small 4 cylinder suv.

Hmm.....good luck when you hit a hill. Be prepared to drop that transmission down into low gears.

[Joe Dirt]

Three people going to the beach and you need a trailer? Even if you are camping you need to look at your load and ask "do I really need this?" I have been on two week long hunting/camping trips in deep woods with only a foot locker loaded on my ATV,

I also thought elements had roof racks? Maybe look at getting on installed and using a pod on top? Cheaper and easier. No worrys about breaking and backing it up. Backing a trailer isn't easy if you have never done it.

[GAD]

Do you know how to back up with a trailer? If you don't, go learn. Otherwise someone who does will need to rescue you when you jackknife it somewhere.

I learned on a farm with a tractor. Once you learn you'l never forget. You can learn on a garden tractor with trailer-cart if you know anyone with that setup.

[MudPies]

Back in my day my parents would pile what they could into our '86 Pontiac 6000 and we'd head to the beach and we liked it!!!

[Randy]

That sounds really excessive to me. I would just go with the cargo carrier as mentioned. They fit a LOT of stuff. The ones at Sears are big and relatively cheap - just make sure your roof rack is wide enough to hold them. Otherwise the Thule's are a more expensive, smaller option;



Another option if you have a hitch;

[S-L-A-C-K-E-R]

Originally Posted by Joe Dirt

Three people going to the beach and you need a trailer? Even if you are camping you need to look at your load and ask "do I really need this?"

Yeah, but don't forget, one is an 11 month old baby. He needs quite a bit stuff. Height chair, pack and play, stroller, etc. You could probably convince me that we could survive a week without some of this stuff, but you'd be wasting your breath if you tried convincing my wife.

[S-L-A-C-K-E-R]

Originally Posted by Joe Dirt

I also thought elements had roof racks? Maybe look at getting on installed and using a pod on top? Cheaper and easier. No worrys about breaking and backing it up. Backing a trailer isn't easy if you have never done it.

That sounds really excessive to me. I would just go with the cargo carrier as mentioned. They fit a LOT of stuff. The ones at Sears are big and relatively cheap - just make sure your roof rack is wide enough to hold them. Otherwise the Thule's are a more expensive, smaller option;

We have thought about going that route. Maybe I'll revisit the idea. I would like to avoid the trailer if possible.

[germs]

Originally Posted by S-L-A-C-K-E-R

Yeah, but don't forget, one is an 11 month old baby. He needs quite a bit stuff. Height chair, pack and play, stroller, etc. You could probably convince me that we could survive a week without some of this stuff, but you'd be wasting your breath if you tried convincing my wife.

as the father of 2, let me help you out:

high chair - iffy...ONLY used at meals at the condo/beach house.
pack and play - okay
stroller - at the beach? you'll never use it. you'll see.

if i were you (and i've been there with the kid and the beach thing), i would look into picking up one of those car-toppers and be done with it. towing a trailer is a major commitment, especially when trying to park it. for the money you'll burn in extra gas and trailer rental, you might as well look in to alternatives that are easier to manage.

in any event, this is the trip where you learn what it's like to be a dad on "vacation". good luck, and get back to me about that stroller thing!