Welcome back to Part 2 of our series on how to make your camper trailer tow rig perform better on a budget! This time around we’re looking at some seriously budget ways to get a better experience every time you hook up your camper trailer and head away on an adventure. In fact, these are SO budget that one of these costs about $10, and the others are free! We’re then going to finish off with six essential quick tips to make your camper trailer tow better that are all about driver technique and as such won’t cost you a thing. Let’s get into it!

TRAILER WIRING CHECK

One single wire could be the difference between a safe, or a dangerous, tow setup. With the amount of kilometres we love doing on our adventures, it is little wonder that just about every element of our rigs get worked so hard. None more so than the humble trailer plug, which seems to be on the receiving end of more damage than anywhere else, and scarily has a dramatic effect on trailer performance. If your camper trailer plug can’t transmit power to your trailer brakes, then you’re relying on your tug’s brakes to halt up to four tonnes of metal and rubber in an emergency. And it’s not even just damage you need to look out for either – corrosion buildup within the plug’s pins can have just as much of a negative effect. A tin of WD40, a rag and a screwdriver will let you visually inspect the male and female plugs for damage and corrosion, and allow you to easily rectify the situation in the safety of your driveway.

COST: $10

PROPER LOAD DISTRIBUTION

This one costs next to nothing, but has a massive influence on your setup’s towing ability. With so many camper trailers now coming with large rear storage areas, it can be tempting to store very bulky, often heavy equipment like generators and portable washing machines over the rear of the vehicle. However, this can upset the camper trailer‘s balance, making your entire rig much more inclined to sway in adverse conditions. Excess weight over the rear has the effect of raising the weight off the front of the camper trailer, in turn lifting the weight off the rear axle of the tow rig. With less pressure over the tow rig’s rear axle, there’s less ability to handle cross-winds and buffeting from trucks.

COST: FREE!

TYRE PRESSURE CHECK

So simple, but so many camper trailer owners still neglect this crucial element in their setup. Crikey, it’s plain scary how many RVers still neglect to check their tyre pressures! Your tyres are, obviously, the sole contact patch between your vehicle, your trailer and the road underneath you. An under-inflated tyre brings with it a number of dangers. Firstly, if it is under-inflated by as little 5psi, the amount of extra movement within the tyre’s steel belts creates an enormous amount of heat which in extreme cases can lead to catastrophic tyre failure. Even in the best case scenario, an under-inflated tyre is going to cause that side of the vehicle to drag, causing your whole setup to pull to one side. As a general rule, run tow rig tyre pressures somewhere between 36 and 40psi, and similar for your camper trailer. Note that all those figures are for a ‘cold’ reading of a morning before the vehicle has driven anywhere. Add 4psi if you’re checking after a drive.

COST: FREE!

THREE QUICK TRICKS FOR A BETTER TOWING EXPERIENCE

Before you next set off with your camper trailer in tow, make sure you go over these essential quick tricks and techniques to ensure it follows you faithfully

1. PACK SMARTER

Take a moment to think about how you pack your camper trailer to get the best performance out of your tow setup. That in particular means that you shouldn’t pack heavy, bulky gear like generators over the rear of the camper trailer, or in the rear storage. What happens when you do this, is the front of the camper trailer lifts up higher than it should, and not enough downforce is placed on the tow rig’s rear tyres. This can, in extreme cases, cause a seriously unstable setup that can lead to an accident due to trailer sway. Keep weighty gear over the drawbar, or in the rear of the vehicle, for the safest towing setup possible.

2. PACK LIGHTER

While we’re on the topic, the simplest thing you can do to improve your camper trailer setup, is to pack as light as possible! Go right through your touring setup and be brutally honest with yourself. Is there something you didn’t use last time that you’re holding onto ‘just in case’? If so, then ditch it! Not only will your rig tow better the less overall weight you’re trying to lug around, but it’ll also pay dividends in terms of fuel economy. That’s a win-win scenario for sure.

3. CHECK TRAILER BEARINGS

Trailer wheel bearings get put under immense stress, when you think about it. On one end of the scale they are asked to spin at phenomenal revolutions for hours on end while you’re travelling up a highway, then when you get to that campsite or caravan park they get huge stresses placed upon them when you’re trying to reverse into a spot on a very tight angle. Grab the trolley jack and jack stand, and one wheel at a time, jack each wheel of your camper trailer up. Support the underside of the suspension with a jack stand and check for both free movement of the bearing by spinning the wheel, and excessive play by grabbing the tyre at the very top and bottom and wiggling back and forth. If there’s anything suspect, have the bearings either cleaned and adjusted, or replaced, by a competent mechanic.