Driving with a trailer – important tips

Trailer driving: Reach your destination with composure

Special regulations – and peculiarities of the harness

Practice makes perfect when reversing and maneuvering

The driving license regulations must be observed

A trailer is bought.
Maybe even a large caravan?
This marks the beginning of a whole new chapter in motoring.
Because with the trailer, the maneuverable passenger car becomes a not-so-maneuverable combination.
This combination is subject to its own laws – both legal and practical.
GTÜ Gesellschaft für Technische Überwachung mbH explains what needs to be observed with a few tips.

Probably the most important tip is to take a calm approach.
This starts with the coupling.
Carry out all steps carefully: connect the trailer coupling to the ball head on the car and, if available, close the anti-sway coupling.
Always plug in the power cable, sometimes an adapter is required.
Is the breakaway cable wrapped around the coupling?
Finally, check everything again: Is the breakaway cable correctly wrapped around the coupling?
To ensure that the connection is secure overall and the trailer cannot jump off the ball head – this has all happened before.

Safe coupling also includes the obligatory test of all rear lights on the trailer.
In addition, the wheels of the car must have the correct air pressure for trailer operation.
Corresponding information can be found in the operating instructions.
Is the jockey wheel raised and locked in this position?
Are the additional exterior mirrors fitted on extra-wide trailers?
Are the wheel chocks removed from the road surface?
If all these questions can be answered in the affirmative, the journey can begin.

The experienced driver switches gears mentally at this moment, because in a sense he is driving a completely different vehicle.
It helps inexperienced drivers to keep reminding themselves of this: From this moment on, they concede to the trailer’s peculiarities.
Driving with foresight is even more important than usual.
The train is longer and, with a caravan for example, wider and higher than the solo car.
The background noise is different.
When cornering, you have to pull out further and keep an eye on oncoming traffic.
When overtaking, you need more space than usual to pull in and out.
Particular attention must be paid to the blind spot.
When accelerating, the vehicle and trailer react more slowly to the accelerator pedal.
The braking distance is longer.
The following also applies here: when driving a trailer, it helps to remain calm.
Rushing is out of place.

Are you going on vacation with a caravan?
Then you should definitely plan enough breaks.
In addition, the average speed is significantly lower than with a car alone, so the family should expect the journey to take 30 to 50 percent longer.

You should also be careful when planning your route.
Does the originally chosen route include extreme inclines and declines or very narrow roads?
Sometimes it is more convenient to bypass such sections and take a few extra kilometers.
Navigation systems help with this and increase safety.
There are solutions, including cell phone apps, which not only take into account the lower driving speed in the estimated time of arrival, but also the dimensions of the car and trailer.
The devices only recommend suitable routes.

Reversing and maneuvering is a real challenge for beginners with a trailer.
When reversing, the rear of the trailer moves in the opposite direction to the steering movement of the towing vehicle.
A short practice session in an empty parking lot will get you into the routine.
Modern vehicles have built-in maneuvering assistants, which can be a great help.
It is essential to have a guide who also warns the traffic behind.
If you feel unsure, you can take a few additional driving lessons.
Or complete a special driving safety training course, as this usually includes maneuvering.

The legal aspects.
In Germany, trailers may not drive faster than 80 km/h outside built-up areas.
This also applies to the highway – unless the trailer is approved for 100 km/h.
The slightly higher speed allows you to overtake trucks.
Be careful at higher speeds, as the trailer can react sensitively to crosswinds.
Different speeds often apply abroad: It is best to find out in advance to avoid fines.

Look out for special road signs on the road.
These include the no overtaking sign for car and trailer combinations, marked by a symbolic car with trailer.
The prohibition sign for long vehicles is less common.
It shows a truck and states the corresponding length – this also applies to car and trailer combinations.
Other signs warn of bottlenecks or low clearance heights.
A cheat sheet on the dashboard with the length, width, height and weight of the combination shows at a glance whether it is possible to drive through.

Special rules also apply to parking.
Here are a few examples: If a registered trailer is parked at the side of the road without a towing vehicle, it may remain there for a maximum of two weeks.
If it is connected to a towing vehicle, there is no time limit.
However, it must then be a parking space that is not reserved exclusively for cars.
This is because a trailer may not be parked there.
If a trailer weighs no more than 2.8 tons, it may be parked on the edge of the sidewalk if this is permitted by traffic signs.
The corresponding markings must not be exceeded.
If the trailer is heavier, it must be parked in a truck parking space.

Finally, the driver’s license.
If you obtained your driver’s license before 1999, you’re in the clear.
With the old class 3 license, the driver is allowed to move three-axle trailers with a total weight of 12 tons.
The situation is different with a class B driving license, with which the trailer may weigh a maximum of 750 kilograms.
Class B can be extended to include B96 for heavier trailers without a test and usually in a one-day course.
Whether B alone or in combination with B96: In both cases, the weight limit for the complete combination is 4.25 tons.
Do the math: If the towing vehicle weighs 2.2 tons, for example, this leaves 2.05 tons for the caravan.
Both fully loaded and ready to drive.
That should be enough in many cases.
Or you can upgrade your driving license to category BE, in which case the total combination may weigh seven tons.
A sideways glance at the motorhome: With a class B driving license, it may weigh a maximum of 3.5 tons.
If it weighs up to 7.5 tons, category C1 is required.
This license is limited in time: After five years, a medical certificate of fitness and a current eye test must be presented for renewal.

Note: The situation described in this article and the laws, regulations and ordinances mentioned relate to the Federal Republic of Germany.
Different conditions and other legal requirements may apply in other countries.