How to check your towbar before a long journey
Reviewed by an experienced Leicester towbar fitter Last updated
Before any tow, run a quick check: the coupling is fully seated and locked, the breakaway cable is attached, the noseweight and load are right, the tyres and lights are good on both car and caravan, and your towing mirrors are fitted. On a detachable towbar, confirm the neck is locked in. Two minutes of checks prevents the great majority of towing problems.
Here is the full walkthrough, starting with the towbar itself.
The 2-minute pre-tow checklist
- Coupling fully over the towball and locked (indicator shows locked)
- Breakaway cable attached to the car (or secondary coupling on an unbraked trailer)
- Detachable towbar neck locked in and secure
- Towball clean, smooth and unworn; mounting bolts tight; no cracks or heavy corrosion
- Noseweight within limits and load secure, heavy items low and over the axle
- Tyres checked on car and caravan (pressure, condition, age), spare included
- All lights working: indicators, brake, tail, fog, and reversing on 13-pin
- Towing mirrors fitted if the caravan or trailer is wider than the car
- Jockey wheel and corner steadies fully up and stowed, handbrake off, wheel lock removed
- Number plate matches and is secure; a brake test at low speed as you set off
Check the towbar and coupling
Give the towbar a quick look for cracks or serious corrosion, especially around the welds and mounting points, and make sure the bolts are tight. The towball should be smooth and unworn, as a worn ball makes a poor, unsafe connection. If you have a detachable towbar, confirm the neck is fully engaged and locked before every journey.
When you hitch up, make sure the coupling head is fully over the ball and the locking mechanism has clicked home, with the indicator showing locked. Attach the breakaway cable to the car so the trailer brakes come on if it ever separates. An unbraked trailer uses a secondary coupling instead.
Load, noseweight and tyres
Load heavy items low and over the axle, and set the noseweight within the lower of your car's and towbar's limits. Our towing weights guide explains how to measure and get it right.
Warning
Check tyre pressures and condition on both the car and the caravan, and do not forget the spare. Caravan tyres are worth extra attention: they degrade with age as well as use, so replace them at around five to seven years regardless of tread depth, because an old but low-mileage tyre can fail on a long, hot motorway run.
Lights and mirrors
Test every trailer light with someone watching: indicators, brake, tail, fog and, on 13-pin, the reversing light. Fit towing mirrors if the caravan or trailer is wider than your car, as you must have an adequate view behind.
When to get the towbar checked
Have the towbar inspected by a professional before towing if you find any cracks, rust that has penetrated the metal, a worn or grooved towball, loose or missing bolts, or intermittent electrical faults. It is a quick job and far cheaper than a failure on the road.
Frequently asked questions
The coupling is locked, the breakaway cable is attached, the load and noseweight are correct, the tyres and lights are good on both car and caravan, and towing mirrors are fitted. On a detachable towbar, check the neck is locked in.
Yes, a braked trailer or caravan needs its breakaway cable attached to the car, so the trailer brakes come on if it separates. An unbraked trailer uses a secondary coupling or safety chain instead.
Caravan tyres age even with low mileage, so the guidance is to replace them at around five to seven years regardless of tread, because age-related failures are common on long, hot journeys.
If your caravan or trailer is wider than the car, yes. You must have an adequate view along both sides, and driving without it is an offence.
The coupling head should sit fully over the towball and the locking mechanism should click home, with the indicator showing the locked position. If in doubt, lift the jockey wheel slightly to confirm it is holding.
Towbar showing wear or faults?
If your pre-tow checks turn up a worn towball, corrosion or an electrical fault, get it looked at. Request quotes from local Leicester fitters.
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