10 Pre-Move Safety Checks Every Trailer Owner Should Perform
The moment before you pull out of the driveway is the most critical in any towing journey. A five-minute pre-move safety inspection can prevent hours of roadside delays, thousands in equipment damage, and potentially life-threatening accidents. Yet many trailer owners skip these essential checks, trusting that everything will work because it did last time.
Here are the 10 essential safety checks every trailer owner should perform before every move.
1. Tire Condition and Pressure
Your trailer tires are the only contact point between thousands of pounds and the road. Inspect each tire for proper inflation using a quality tire pressure gauge when tires are cold. Check for visible damage including cracks, bulges, cuts, or exposed cords. Look for unusual wear patterns that might indicate alignment issues. Don't forget the spare tire.
Trailer tires lose pressure naturally over time, and temperature changes cause significant variations. Under-inflated tires generate excessive heat that leads to blowouts, while over-inflation reduces traction and handling. Tire failures cause loss of control and create road hazards, catching problems during inspection prevents roadside emergencies.
2. Wheel Lug Nuts and Bearings
Loose wheels cause catastrophic failures. Verify all lug nuts are tight using a torque wrench set to manufacturer specifications. After the first 25-50 miles of any trip, re-check lug nuts as they often settle and require re-torquing.
Spin each wheel and listen for grinding or unusual noises indicating bearing problems. Check for excessive play by grasping the tire and attempting to rock it. Wheel separation at speed often results in rollovers, while bearing failure leaves you stranded with expensive hub damage.
3. Lighting and Electrical Systems
Non-functioning lights create serious safety hazards and legal liability. Test all lights including brake lights, turn signals, running lights, and license plate illumination. Have a helper watch while you operate each system, or use a test device if working alone.
Inspect electrical connections for corrosion, loose wires, or damage. Clean corroded connections with contact cleaner and protect with dielectric grease. Check that your trailer brake controller activates properly and test the breakaway brake system.
Invisible trailers cause rear-end collisions, and operating with defective lights results in citations and liability in accidents.
4. Hitch and Coupler Connection
The hitch connection is the single most critical safety point in your entire towing system. Verify the coupler is fully latched onto the ball and the locking mechanism is engaged. The coupler should fit snugly with no excessive movement.
Visually confirm the ball size matches the coupler size, even small mismatches create dangerous connections. Check that the hitch receiver pin is fully inserted and secured. Inspect the hitch ball for wear, cracks, or damage.
Coupler failures cause complete trailer separation, creating uncontrolled trailers that cause devastating accidents. This single check prevents the most catastrophic towing failures.
5. Safety Chains
Safety chains are your last line of defense if the hitch connection fails. Ensure both chains are attached to the tow vehicle frame, not the bumper. Chains should cross underneath the trailer tongue in an X pattern, which catches the tongue if separation occurs.
Check that chains have adequate slack for turning but don't drag on the ground. Inspect chains and connection points for damage, excessive wear, or rust. Verify connection hooks are closed and secured.
Properly attached safety chains can save lives during hitch failures by maintaining control. Improperly attached chains fail exactly when needed most.
6. Trailer Brakes (If Equipped)
Trailer brakes dramatically reduce stopping distances and prevent the trailer from pushing your tow vehicle. If your trailer has electric brakes, verify your brake controller is set to appropriate levels for your load. Test brake engagement manually using the controller before moving.
For surge brakes, verify the brake actuator moves freely and returns to neutral position. Check brake fluid levels if your system uses hydraulic brakes.
Non-functioning trailer brakes dramatically increase stopping distances and can cause jackknifing during emergency stops or on descents.
7. Load Security and Weight Distribution
Improperly loaded trailers become dangerous at any speed. Verify all cargo is secured and cannot shift during transport. Use quality tie-down straps, not bungee cords, for critical loads.
Check that weight distribution places 60% of cargo weight in the front half of the trailer. Ensure tongue weight is appropriate, typically 10-15% of total trailer weight. Too little causes dangerous sway, while excessive tongue weight overloads the tow vehicle's rear axle.
Confirm you're within trailer weight limits and tow vehicle capacity. Improperly loaded trailers develop severe sway that can quickly become uncontrollable.
8. Trailer Jack and Support Equipment
Your trailer jack must be fully retracted and secured before moving. Verify the jack is fully retracted and locked in the up position. For swivel jacks, ensure they're rotated into storage position and pinned. Check that stabilizer jacks are fully retracted.
Remove wheel chocks and store them securely. Verify leveling blocks or ramps are clear of the trailer path.
Forgotten jacks catch on pavement, causing dramatic failures including jack breakage, trailer damage, and loss of control. A jack dragging on pavement at highway speeds can start fires or damage the trailer frame.
9. Clearance and Obstacle Check
Trailers significantly change your vehicle's dimensions. Walk completely around your trailer and tow vehicle combination, looking for obstacles in your departure path. Check for low-hanging branches, overhead clearances, curbs, or landscaping.
Verify doors, compartments, and access panels are closed and secured. Check that awnings are retracted and antennas are lowered. Confirm any slide-outs are fully retracted.
Overhead obstacles damage trailers and equipment, while open compartment doors tear off during movement. These damages are completely avoidable with proper checking.
10. Mirror Adjustment and Visibility
You can't safely control what you can't see. Adjust or install towing mirrors that provide clear views down both sides of your trailer to the rear corners and beyond. You should see the entire length of your trailer plus several vehicle lengths behind.
Check that your rear camera (if equipped) functions properly and provides a clear view. Clean all mirrors and camera lenses.
Inadequate visibility causes lane change accidents, backing collisions, and prevents you from noticing trailer problems like tire failures or separated loads.
Creating Your Pre-Move Routine
These ten checks form the foundation of safe towing, but they're only effective when performed consistently. Create a routine that works for you, many experienced towers follow the same physical path around their trailer before every move.
Start checks at the tow vehicle and work systematically to the rear, or begin at the trailer tongue and work around the perimeter. The specific order matters less than consistency, following the same pattern prevents skipped steps.
For short moves like repositioning in your driveway, you might reduce certain checks, but never skip hitch connection, safety chains, and jack retraction verification.
Five Minutes That Save Everything
A comprehensive pre-move safety inspection takes approximately five minutes but provides protection worth far more. These checks prevent the vast majority of towing accidents and equipment failures.
The most dangerous words in towing are "it worked fine last time." Conditions change, components wear, and problems develop between uses. Each trip deserves the same careful inspection regardless of how recently you last towed.
Make these ten checks as automatic as fastening your seatbelt. Your safety and the safety of everyone sharing the road depend on the few minutes you invest before beginning your journey.