• Ensure that the vehicle, trailer and tyres are in good condition
• Always fit the breakaway cable or secondary coupling properly
• Use cable ties to keep the electrical cable
clear of the road
• Always check lights before leaving on
a journey
• Secure and stow items safely within the craft
• Ensure that the boat and trailer are correctly balanced
• Keep the centre of gravity of the load as
low as possible
• Check the nose weight with bathroom scales and blocks at the coupling height

• Do not exceed weight limits
• When coupling up to your vehicle, it is easier
to swing a trailer sideways than pull it forward
• Reposition your vehicle if necessary rather than make hard work of manoeuvring
• Stop shortly after beginning a journey to recheck the load
• Use gears to assist braking when
descending steep hills
• Check wheel hubs for heat to ensure that the brakes are not binding
• Never disconnect trailer brakes
• Carry wheel chocks to help manoeuvre on
steep slipways
• Carry a spare wheel