Trailering — Kentucky Permit Test

Sixty percent of the cargo weight of a Kentucky trailer should go in the front nearest the towing vehicle, and forty percent in the back.

Weight in the back of a trailer is what starts the sway that ends in a jackknife.

Sixty percent of the cargo weight of a trailer should go in the front (nearest the towing vehicle) and 40 percent in the back.

Failure to load a Kentucky trailer heavier in the front is a leading cause of vehicle-trailer mishaps.

The manual names it as the leading cause, which is why the sixty-forty split matters.

Failure to load the trailer heavier in the front is a leading cause of vehicle-trailer mishaps.

The maximum recommended Kentucky speed for most vehicle-trailer combinations is 55 mph, and a driver must never exceed the posted speed limit.

Fifty-five is the recommendation whatever the sign says, and the sign is still a ceiling.

The maximum recommend speed for most vehicle-trailer combinations is 55 mph.

If a Kentucky trailer begins to sway or whip, the driver steers straight, reduces speed gradually, does not apply the brakes and never increases speed.

Braking or accelerating in a sway makes it worse. Easing off is the only thing that settles it.

If the trailer begins to sway or whip, steer straight and reduce speed gradually, do not apply the brakes.

When backing a Kentucky trailer the driver goes slowly, keeps a hand at the bottom of the steering wheel, and moves that hand left to move the trailer left.

Steering from the bottom of the wheel makes the trailer follow the hand instead of fighting it.

Keep your hand at the bottom of the steering wheel.

If a Kentucky trailer starts to jackknife the driver stops and pulls ahead to straighten out, then starts again.

Continuing to reverse only folds the trailer further into the towing vehicle.

If the trailer starts to jackknife – STOP – and pull ahead to straighten out; then start again.

A Kentucky vehicle-trailer combination requires more distance to stop, so a driver allows extra space in front and even more in rain, snow or fog.

The trailer adds weight without adding brakes, so everything takes longer.

A vehicle-trailer combination requires more distance to stop.

Before driving and at each fuel stop a Kentucky driver walks around the vehicle-trailer combination and rechecks the hitch and coupler tightness, safety chains, lights and tire pressures.

Everything on that list works loose over miles, and the walk around is when it is caught.

Before driving and at each fuel stop, walk around the vehicle-trailer combination and recheck the hitch and coupler tightness, safety chains attachment, lights, and tire pressures.

When going down a grade with a Kentucky trailer, a driver slows down before starting down the hill.

Once the weight is pushing from behind there is much less that the brakes can do.

When going down a grade, slow down BEFORE starting down the hill.

How much of a Kentucky trailer's cargo weight goes in the front?

Sixty percent. Weight in the back of a trailer is what starts the sway that ends in a jackknife. Kentucky Driver Manual, p.70: “Sixty percent of the cargo weight of a trailer should go in the front (nearest the towing vehicle) and 40 percent in the back.”