Drive with a trailer on the car: You should pay attention to this

The car trailer is ideal for larger loads. But there are a few things to keep in mind when driving in a team. And that starts with loading. Here are the top tips.

If you want to use a trailer for garden waste or other transport, deposit heavy loads as far down and towards the middle of the trailer as possible. In this way, the focus does not shift too far upwards, according to the testing organization Dekra. Important: Drivers must secure the load to prevent it from slipping, being lifted off or falling off. Lashing straps or tensioning nets can be used for this.

When hitching up, make sure that the trailer drawbar is correctly attached to the head of the coupling. If the safety lever is not properly closed, the trailer may detach from the vehicle and cause an accident, Dekra warns.

Check that the connector is seated correctly

The connector for the rear lights, indicators and brake lights must also be seated correctly and all functions must be available. If you use a detachable coupling, you should check whether the ball neck is properly engaged. This can often be recognized by a green control field. If you are not experienced in driving a trailer, you should have a second person instruct you, especially when reversing.

With a loaded trailer, different driving behavior and longer braking distances are to be expected - more distance and caution are required.