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How To Prevent Your Travel Trailer From Tipping Over

Jan. 9 2024 Ownership Tips By RV Land

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Tipping over is one of the biggest dangers when it comes to hauling a travel trailer. Whenever a travel trailer tips over, injury and damage to the RV is almost certain to result. Luckily, this guide from the experts at RV Land will help you prevent your travel trailer from tipping.

Why Travel Trailers Are At Risk For Tipping Over

Travel trailers come in a variety of sizes, with larger ones being more at risk of tipping over. While designers do what they can to make travel trailer models as safe as possible, accidents still happen. That’s why it’s important that you know the factors most likely to cause a travel trailer to tip over, and how to prevent these kinds of incidents from occurring.

Issue 1 - Trailer Sway

The Cause:

  • Improper weight distribution or a broken hitch can cause a travel trailer to sway mid-transit.

How To Prevent:

  • Know the proper weight distribution strategies to use when packing an RV.
  • Inspect the travel trailer’s hitch before each usage. 

Issue 2 - Tire Blow Out

The Cause:

  • Tires that are overinflated, underinflated, or just in poor condition.

How To Prevent:

  • Inspect your travel trailer’s tires before each trip and adjust/fix them if needed.

Issue 3 - A Sudden Stop

The Cause: 

  • Not taking the time to slow down/stop properly.

How To Prevent:

  • Practice slowing down/stopping while hauling your travel trailer. Use an empty lot or other safe place. 
  • Give yourself plenty of following distance, and avoid slamming on the brakes whenever possible. 

Issue 4 - Taking A Corner Too Fast

The Cause:

  • Not slowing down enough to safely take a turn.

How To Prevent:

  • Start slowing down before you actually start making the turn. 

Issue 5 - Ice Patch

The Cause:

  • Cold conditions leave the ground frozen and slippery.

How To Prevent:

  • Avoid traveling during/after bad weather if possible. 
  • If you have no choice but to travel in bad weather, take things slow. 

Issue 6 - Excessive Wind

The Cause:

  • Winds of 55 MPH or more.

How To Prevent:

  • Avoid traveling on windy days. If necessary, pull over and wait for the wind to die down. 

Shop travel trailers at RV Land in Kyle, Texas. We’re proud to serve communities like Austin and San Antonio, Texas. We also offer servicing, parts ordering, and boat/RV storage.