Checklist for Towing
If you are going to tow an auxiliary vehicle, tow the lightest vehicle you can that meets your needs. Look at your travel patterns and plans. If you use your motorhome as a home base for sightseeing, you'll find that an auxiliary vehicle is necessary. If you are going for a few days of wilderness hiking, you might not need a vehicle.
If you are towing, you will make your life much easier if you have a checklist that you use every time you travel. While you may be able to do everything in your sleep, a checklist used properly is an insurance policy in case of illness or other events that may be distracting.
Before you get on the road, be sure to check on the following things to be sure that you are ready to leave with your vehicle properly anchored to your RV. Checking these things every time will prevent damage to your RV, to your towed vehicle, or to any other vehicle or object you encounter on your travels.
Is the tow bar connected in the proper way? Are the pins and clips secured?
Check for any signs of damage to the tow bar or brackets that may weaken it.
Check all nuts and bolts to be sure they are properly tightened (and be sure to keep your toolkit out to tighten any that need attention).
Check that the safety cables are hooked up properly. They should be crossed under the coupler and properly attached to the towed vehicle and motorhome with the correct amount of slack.
Is the electrical wiring connected properly? Check that all lights including turn signals and brake lights are working properly and are not burned out.
Check that the transmission on the towed vehicle is in the correct gear for towing as specified by your owner's manual.
Check that the drive shaft on the towed vehicle is disengaged, if necessary.
Check that the parking brake on the towed vehicle is released.
Unlock the steering wheel by turning the ignition to the first on or auxiliary position to allow the steering wheel to turn freely.
ALERT
Towing a vehicle wheels-down will put a drain on the tow-vehicle battery because you will have the ignition turned to the first position whenever the vehicle is in tow. You may want to consider electrical wiring that includes a six-wire system that will keep the car battery charged by the motorhome alternator while you are traveling.
If the towed vehicle or trailer is equipped with an auxiliary braking system, check that it is connected properly and is functioning correctly.
Lock the doors on the towed vehicle before you leave to prevent access by unwanted intruders (or stowaways). Make sure you have a spare key in the motorhome.
FACT
Print out your checklists from your computer and then slip them into a clear plastic sleeve. Keep them on a clipboard with an erasable marker. Check off items as they are completed before you get on the road. Once all items are checked off, you can wipe the marker off and stow the checklist for the next stop.
