Most trailers will have an attached jack with a wheel on the end that can help keep the trailer level without it being attached to anything. Keep this out while moving the trailer by hand to reduce some of the heavy lifting. If your trailer is already full, it might be more difficult to move by hand. Rotate it on the spot as much as you can to make the reversing job easier, as trying to move it yourself may be difficult.
Reversing your car into the right position and space is much easier when you have a lot of room to work with. Keeping the trailer and vehicle lined up properly will make driving much easier, especially when you’re first getting onto the road. It might help to get a friend or someone else to help you reverse the car. They can guide you on how far back to drive and help you correct the vehicle if it starts angling in one direction.
If your trailer doesn’t have an attached jack, you could use a regular car jack to hold the trailer at the right height. Attached trailer jacks will be slightly behind the coupler on the trailer. If the trailer is light enough and easy to move, you could simply lift the trailer coupler forward and place it over the hitch ball. The hitch ball is the metal ball on the back of your car that the trailer coupler will attach to.
It’s possible to reverse into position by yourself, but it will take a lot of trial and error. Reverse a little bit, put on the break, and get out to check how much further back you need to go. Repeat this process until everything is lined up. If you reverse too far back, you may hit the coupler and scratch or damage the back of your car.
Some trailers might have methods other than latch pins used to hold the latch in place. Try to raise the latch and see what’s holding it in place to find the right way to release it. The latch will likely be a metal handle on top of the trailer coupler. If the coupler is already unlocked, you can skip this step.
If the latch has been lifted and everything is positioned properly, the socket should lower and sit perfectly on the hitch ball.
The wheel on the trailer jack is not designed for use while driving. Do not drive with the trailer jack on or extended at risk of damaging the trailer, your vehicle, or other vehicles on the road.
Different trailers and trailer couplers may have slightly different locking mechanisms. Always consult the owner’s manual for your own trailer to make sure you lock it into place properly.
The safety chains will be the last safety mechanism in place if the coupler latch fails, so they are legally required in many places. If the coupler disconnects from the vehicle while you’re driving, it will fall and land on the crossed chains rather than hitting the road. The safety chains will be attached to your trailer, just below the coupler.
If you cannot find the wiring socket on your car, check the manufacturer’s instructions for your car for further assistance. If your wiring socket is damaged, corroded, or frayed in any way, have it looked over by a mechanic before plugging the trailer wire into it.
Some trailers will have metal loops along the side of the coupler that the wire can be threaded through to keep it out of the way. Avoid running the wire underneath the coupler and hitch ball, as this will increase the chances of it getting damaged or becoming unplugged should the trailer detach from your vehicle.
If any of the lights aren’t working, you should not drive the trailer. This is the same as driving without the corresponding light on your car working. Call a mechanic to ask for assistance before driving your car with the trailer attached. Rather than moving back and forth from the driver’s seat of your car to the rear end of your trailer, ask a friend to check the lights while you activate them.
