Towing a trailer — South Carolina Permit Test

Load a trailer with 60 percent of the cargo weight in the front and 40 percent in the back.

A trailer that is light at the front sways, and failing to load heavier in front is a leading cause of trailer mishaps.

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

If a trailer begins to sway, steer straight and reduce speed gradually without applying the brakes.

Braking or speeding up while the trailer swings makes the swaying worse and can jackknife the rig.

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

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

A slower pace keeps the trailer stable and saves fuel, and lowers the chance of losing control.

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

When towing a trailer down a grade, slow down before starting down the hill.

Once a heavy rig picks up speed downhill, it is much harder to bring back under control.

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

When towing a trailer, never pass on hills or curves.

Passing takes much longer with a trailer, and hills and curves hide oncoming traffic.

never pass on hills or curves.

When backing a trailer, keep your hand at the bottom of the wheel and move it in the direction you want the trailer to go.

Steering from the bottom of the wheel matches the trailer's movement to your hand, avoiding the reversed feel of backing.

Keep your hand at the bottom of the steering wheel. To move the trailer left, move your hand to the left.

If a trailer starts to jackknife while backing, stop, pull ahead to straighten out, and start again.

Continuing to back a jackknifing trailer drives it into the vehicle and damages both.

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

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

Couplers and chains can loosen on the road, and a check at each stop catches it before the trailer comes off.

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.

Keep heavy items on the trailer floor, not packed on top of other items.

Weight stacked high makes the trailer top-heavy and more likely to sway or tip.

Keep heavy items on the floor of the trailer, not packed on top of other items.

When you begin to hook up a trailer, do not pause to do something else; always finish the process first.

A hookup left half-done is easily forgotten, and the trailer separates on the road.

When you begin to hook up a trailer, don’t pause or stop to do something else, always finish the process first.

What share of a trailer's cargo weight should go in the front, nearest the towing vehicle?

60 percent. A trailer that is light at the front sways, and failing to load heavier in front is a leading cause of trailer mishaps. South Carolina Driver's Manual, p.135: “Sixty percent of the cargo weight of a trailer should go in the front (nearest the towing vehicle) and 40 percent in the back.”