Tips for Towing a Trailer in New Zealand

If you’re not familiar with towing a trailer, we’ve got a few tips to help you stay safe on the roads. We want you to know what to look out for to avoid any unsafe driving practices when towing a trailer. At Hirepool, we have a bunch of trailer options available for hire on our website. Purchasing a trailer is pretty expensive and it is unlikely to get used frequently enough to make it worth the large outlay of money. At Hirepool, we have many trailer options including single or tandem axle trailers, cage trailers and more specialised trailers. The trailer you will need will largely depend on what you are towing and what job you are using your trailer for. 

You may also find it useful to watch our ‘Hitching a trailer video’ to ensure you have your trailer correctly hitched before getting on the road. 

Before you start your journey

Safety is the most important thing, so it is vital to do some pre-drive checks before you take off. Make sure to tick each and every item on this list off before you hit the road:

• Check all connections are secure and correctly fastened.
  
  
• Check that your trailer lights are fully functioning.
  
  
• Ensure your trailer is correctly hitched to your tow ball.
  
  
• Ensure the D-Shackle has been tightly screwed in.
  
  
• Double-check your indicators and brake lights are working from behind the vehicle.
  
  
• Make sure you are aware of the new length and width of your vehicle with the trailer in order to drive safely on the road. 
  
  
• If the trailer is wider than your car, you may need to look into mirror extensions so you can see behind you. 
  
  
• Get used to towing a trailer. This is especially important for those who are completely unfamiliar with this. If you know someone who is experienced in trailer towing, it may be beneficial to get in touch with them for some advice. If you are struggling, consider asking them to tow the trailer for you to be safe. 
  
  
• Check your vehicle handbook, check your towbar or look online to figure out what towing weights are safe for your car. This will differ between vehicles so check this beforehand.
  
  
• Check how much you are legally allowed to tow according to your licence. Learners and restricted licences can not tow more than 4500kg, whilst those on their full licence can not tow more than 6000kg. 

Thankfully, if you hire a trailer from Hirepool, you won’t have to worry about all the maintenance checks such as tyre pressure and making sure the lights are working. At Hirepool, we make sure this is all done for you. 

The importance of loading your trailer correctly

Loading your trailer is an extremely important part of the process. An unbalanced trailer could lead to tipping, which could result in serious consequences for those involved. In order to avoid this, we place a lot of value on safe trailer loading. 

• Before you load it up, make sure it is correctly connected to the towbar to avoid damage or tipping.
  
  
• Position your load as close as possible to the axle.
  
  
• Avoid placing heavier loads toward the rear of the trailer.
  
  
• Take care not to overload your trailer, as this could greatly impact your car's handling.
  
  
• If you have a few items to carry, spread them out evenly across the trailer to keep the height as low as possible.
  
  
• If you have long items, the maximum rear overhang is 4 metres. Be sure to measure this and flag overhang of more than 1 metre.
  
  
• Make sure no items in the trailer is loose. Consider using tie downs or other trailer accessories found on our website to keep your load protected and secure.

For more information about safely loading up a trailer, take a look at our video below.

What to check while you are travelling

Conscious steering and braking

Take extra care and keep conscious of your steering and braking. This means allowing extra following distance between yourself and the vehicle in front of you, lightly applying the brakes before turning and always travelling at a slower speed while going downhill. If you have a manual vehicle, change down to a lower gear. 

Unbalanced loads

Keep aware of any swaying from the trailer while towing. Swaying could occur if your load is unbalanced, so it is important to load your trailer correctly before you hit the road. If you encounter swaying do not apply the brakes which may cause the trailer to jack-knife. You should also be careful when it comes to switching lanes when you’ve got an unbalanced load on board. Instead, back off the accelerator and allow your vehicle to gradually slow down so you can pull over safely and readjust the load. 

Uneven roads

If you find yourself driving over a particularly bumpy piece of road, it may be worth pulling over to check your load. As you may know, trailers have a tendency to bounce a lot more than your car due to their suspension. Conditions like this have the potential to move your load around and cause it to become unbalanced. Rather than an unbalanced load tipping your trailer over, take the time to park your car and attend to it. 

Reversing your trailer

If you need to reverse your trailer, it could pay to have someone assisting you, especially if you haven’t done it before. Politely ask your passenger to get out of the vehicle to guide you into your park. It can be a little tricky to reverse a trailer at first, as it is something you need to get used to over time. Check out our guide on how to reverse a trailer for more tips. 

Other traffic

Have you experienced the frustration that comes with being stuck behind a car with a trailer? It is a good idea to take other road users into consideration but don’t feel pressured to speed up. Consider pulling over where possible and allowing vehicles behind you to safely pass. It could be wise to switch up your driving route if possible, to one that allows you to pull over more easily if need be. 

What speed can I travel when towing a trailer?

A very common question we hear  is ‘how fast am I allowed to travel when towing a trailer?” In New Zealand, the maximum open road speed is 90km/h when towing. However, this may be less depending on what you’re hauling, so make sure to ask your Hirepool branch if you’re unsure. 

As a general rule, aim to increase your following distance from the general two seconds to four seconds. This allows you more time to stop, which may take a bit longer with a heavy load towed behind you. If the roads are wet, it is a good idea to drive slower than this recommended speed to avoid skidding. You should also drive slower if the roads are uneven or bumpy at all to avoid potential tipping. 

It is worth getting familiar with the trailer laws in New Zealand so you can follow them at all times. You will also find that different license types are allowed to tow different load weights, so this is important to check too. If you have a learner or restricted licence, your vehicle, load and trailer cannot weigh more than 4500kg. Whereas if you have a full licence, the combined weight cannot be more than 6000kg. Driving a trailer can be tricky and the heavier the load - the trickier this might become. 

In summary here are the key points to remember when travelling with a trailer: 

1. Before starting your journey, check all connections are securely and correctly fastened and trailer lights are fully functioning.

2. Get familiar with the new revised length & width of your vehicle with the trailer. 

3. While you’re towing, be conscious of your steering and braking and allow extra following distance space for stopping. 

4. Be aware of any swaying from the trailer being towed.

5. The maximum open road speed in New Zealand is 90km/h.

6. And finally, stop frequently and check your load is still secured.

Hire a trailer from Hirepool 

So there you have it - that’s how to safely tow a trailer in New Zealand. If you are in need of a trailer for the odd job here and there but don’t want to buy one outright, we can help. At Hirepool, we have a wide range of trailers to suit every vehicle. Struggling to figure out which trailer is right for you? Take a look at our handy guide to help you figure out what type of trailer you need for your towing job.

Want to hire a trailer ASAP? Simply call into your local branch or book online today. If you’d like more information, contact our friendly Hirepool staff. They will be more than happy to answer any of your questions! With our expert knowledge, we can take the guesswork out of choosing the right trailer for the task at hand.