When towing a trailer one must develop a TOTALLY DIFFERENT way of driving compared to the way most people drive when not towing. Here are a few examples:
- Look MUCH further down the road. Towing requires that one SEE situations WELL BEFORE you are actually right in the middle of them.
- Resist the temptation to make SUDDEN lane changes and brake TOO HARD and TOO LATE. Steady and predictable driving is KEY.
- SLOW the heck DOWN. Regardless of what others might say one should not tow well over the posted speed limits or too fast for road conditions. You need more time and more distance to stop. Speeding + towing lengthens stopping distance and increases the risk of an accident.
- Using CRUISE CONTROL when towing is a NO-NO. The increased weight and mass of a trailer can cause the cruise control to speed up/slow down in a very unpredictable and NOT VERY SMOOTH MANNER. Towing without cruise control lets one take advantage of one's momentum and gravity. When used properly, the physics of towing is your friend.
- Take Turns much WIDER than you normally do. Remember that your 4Runner is now longer just 16 feet long when towing. In your case you are now pushing 28-30 FEET LONG.
- Do not get too close to the side of the road. If you get the trailer's tires off the edge of the road you will be in SERIOUS TROUBLE. Also on two lane roads you would not believe how many home owners have their mailboxes sticking WAY TOO FAR out onto the road. Some home owners also park their vehicles on the edge of the road that stick out onto the edge of the road.
With a 6 foot wide trailer this is not as important as with an 8.5 foot wide trailer but a good practice none-the-less.
- In some states when towing a trailer the tow vehicle and trailer are considered a "Truck" and are supposed to follow road sign instructions for "trucks". If you see signs like "No Trucks in Left Lane" you might want to stay out of that lane. Also do not be surprised if when towing a trailer you are told to pull into a commercial truck checkpoint. I have had to do that on accassion even though my tow vehicle and trailer are "not for commerical use". When I got pulled in they checked the weight of the trailer, it's general condition and that it was properly registered, inspected and that tow vehicle insurance was current.
In your case, make sure you have the U-Haul rental agreement for the trailer with you at all times.
- When towing and you stop for gas or breaks ALWAYS take a walk around you tow vehicle and trailer. Visually, check the trailer's tires conditon, hitch, safety chains, wiring plug, etc.
- Avoid unnecessary lane changes when towing. When you are in the right lane of a highway that has an on-ramp (with a yield sign) that intersects with it do not move over for someone on the on-ramp unless you ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO and it is SAFE to do so. If the other person fails to YIELD and hits you THEY are at fault. If you change lanes to let them in and you have an accident YOU are at fault.
- Before starting a towing trip ADJUST you mirrors for towing.
Depending on the width of the trailer being towned it may be necessary to purchase additional mirrors. With my 8.5 foot wide car trailer the standard 4Runner mirrors are simply not enough and pose a SERIOUS Safety hazard if used by themselves. I cannot stress enough the importance of reducing/eliminating BLIND SPOTS when towing. Blind spots are one of the chief causes of accidents involving trailers.
- When towing turn the tow vehicles headlights on even on a Sunny day. Anything to increase the visability of your tow vehicle and trailer is good. Believe it or not when I tow, other drivers have not "seen" my BIG, Silver, Car trailer with red & white relective tape on it.
