Plan your rest stops around weather and road conditions, and take the opportunity to check over your rig. Caveat: On the road, keep all windows closed to protect your horse’s eyes from debris.

You finally have your dream horse trailer. You can’t wait to haul your horse to a trail-riding adventure away from home. But first, take time to learn how to drive your horse trailer for your and your horse’s safety and comfort, using the following 15 tips. Note that if you’ve never driven a truck-and-horse-trailer rig before, practice by driving off-hours with an empty trailer in an empty parking lot (with permission) and on a seldom-traveled road.

We’ll also provide rest-stop planning tips (opposite page), and give you the rundown on a new medium-duty truck, along with a related glossary (page 73).

1. Adjust mirrors properly. Adjust your mirrors so that you can see your trailer’s back end. Then you’ll know when there’s enough clearance when pulling in front of another vehicle. Also, aim your mirrors down so you can see the road edge behind your trailer. Keep in mind that passenger-side mirrors don’t give accurate distance measurements.

2. Invest in good mirrors. If your current mirrors don’t extend out far enough on the side to see the back of your trailer, buy new ones, or add extenders to the mirror arm. Or, buy “fisheye” mirrors, whose curvature provides a wider viewing area than normal. After-market mirrors are available at auto-supply stores and online; or, you can custom-order them from your local dealer.

Plan Your Rest Stops

Plan your rest stops around weather and road conditions. Rule of thumb: If you’re on a freeway in good weather with no traffic and a smooth surface, you can go about three to four hours without stopping. If you’re on a rough road with a lot of curves and stops, or you’re driving in poor weather conditions, plan to stop for a rest after about two to three hours. When you’re stopped, check your lights, hitch lock, and tires. Test latches and doors to make sure they’re secure and closed tightly. If you plan to unload your horse and clean your trailer, select a safe site out of traffic. Pack out the manure as a courtesy to other drivers, and so you won’t inadvertently leave any exotic weed seeds, which can upset the area’s natural ecological balance.

3. Note your trailer’s tracking. Observe how your trailer tracks behind your towing vehicle — that is, how evenly and closely your trailer’s tire marks follow your towing-vehicle’s tire marks. You’ll use this information to help you turn with care. (See Tip #9.) To see how your trailer tracks, drive your empty trailer to a dirt field. Make some turns, then inspect the tracking pattern. 

4. Turn on all lights. Turn on your towing-vehicle lights (low-beam) and trailer lights for enhanced visibility. The better the other drivers see you, the safer you’ll be.

5. Be a turtle. Be a turtle, not a jackrabbit. Jackrabbit starts and sudden stops are hard on your trailered horse. That sudden jerk when peeling out can throw him against the butt chains or dividers; a sudden stop can throw him forward into the manger or sideways against the trailer wall. Pull out slowly. When approaching a signal or stop sign, allow plenty of room between your rig and the cars ahead of you for greater stopping distance. In stop-and-go traffic, leave about four to five car lengths in front of you to allow for smooth stops. (Bonus: A comfortable, happy horse will tend to trailer load more easily than an uncomfortable, unhappy one.)

6. Watch your speed. Be aware of your state’s speed limits for towing, or for rigs of a specific size or length. And regardless of the speed limit, make safety a priority. Don’t adjust your speed according to a road sign, but to the highway’s weather and safety conditions.

Western Workhorse

Looking for a deluxe towing vehicle that also proclaims your affinity for the Western lifestyle? General Motors Fleet & Commercial Operations, Monroe Truck Equipment, and Cinch Jeans have introduced customized pickup trucks that offer towing, luxury, comfort, and safety amenities designed to protect your most valuable investment — the equine buddy you’re pulling behind you. The Chevy Kodiak and GMC TopKick Cinch editions, customized by Monroe Truck Equipment, feature a “So-Low” suspension, which lowers the pickup by four inches to complement most fifth-wheel or gooseneck trailers. They also include a custom Cinch seat package with distressed-leather captain chairs and a rear bench seat with Cinch crest logo embroidery, and “Cinch*Up” printed on the bottom of the rear window. Specs At-a-Glance Model: 2007 Cinch Edition Chevrolet Kodiak/GMC Top Kick Medium Duty Pickup.   Engine size: Duramax 6.6 Liter 6600 V-8 turbo diesel. Standard engine is the Vortec 8100 8.1 Liter, gasoline-powered V-8. Engine power: 520 foot pounds or 605 foot pounds of torque at 1,600 rpm; 325 horsepower on gas engine. Transmission: Allison six-speed automatic. Safety features: Four-wheel disc brakes with exhaust brake for stopping/slowing heavy loads; electronic throttle control; 120-square-inch side mirrors; rear-view camera for challenging backups; side-view cameras to eliminate blind spots (all images displayed on a Pioneer Navigation System monitor); large windshield and sloping hood for optimal visibility; triple air ride controls ride, cab, and seats; wide front track enables a tight, 38-foot turning diameter. Cargo-carrying capability: Enhanced by an eight-foot dually pickup box with spray-in bed liner and a retractable/extendable tonneau cover. Towing capacity: 16,000 pounds (8 tons). Gross Vehicle Weight Rating: 17,500 pounds (8.75 tons). Gross Combined Weight Rating: 26,000 pounds (13 tons). Pickup box has a 5,500-pound (2.75 ton) capacity, with an overall truck payload of 7,500 pounds (3.75 tons). Average retail price: $90,000. Chevrolet contact: (800) 222-1020; www.cheverolet.com. GMC contact: (800) 551-4123; www.gmc.com

7. Drive defensively. Closely watch your fellow drivers and try to anticipate lane changes, changes in speed, etc., so that you can smoothly adjust for such changes. Don’t simply stare at the road directly in front of you; be aware of traffic behind and ahead of you. Watch for brake lights, your distance from other vehicles, and road signs. Keep an extra pair of sunglasses handy so you’ll never be without them in sunny conditions; sun glare impairs visibility.

8. Stay to the right. This allows other vehicles to safely pass on the left. In some states, towing rigs are required by law to travel in the right lane (or right two lanes), unless otherwise posted.

9. Make wide turns. Using the tracking information described in Tip #3, allow for sufficient room to clear corners, street curbs, rocks, and trees. Use your mirrors to monitor clearance. If in doubt, safely stop, get out, and check the clearance. Practice your turns in an empty parking lot, with the owner’s permission.

10. Pass carefully. When you pass on a two-lane highway, allow at least the trailer’s length between the back of your trailer and the front bumper of the vehicle you pass. Never pass near the top of a hill or on a curve, where your visibility is hampered. Look for a broken white line, which typically designates a passing area, if you can do so safely.   

11. Stay in the proper gear. When going downhill, shift to a lower gear to help keep your speed down, which will save brake wear-and-tear. Note that some gas engines and newer diesel engines have an automatic “downhill gear,” which helps to keep a rig at a specific speed when going down long grades. If your vehicle doesn’t have this feature, shift manually.

When going uphill, also shift to a lower gear, which will give you more power without “flooring it.” Also, your automatic transmission won’t shift back and forth as your speed varies, which can make for a rough ride. Plus, your engine will stay cooler. However, stay within the safe RPM range (see the glossary on page xx), as indicated on your dashboard display.

12. Avoid overheating. If your towing vehicle starts to overheat, pull over at the safest site available. Turn off the engine, then raise the hood to allow cooling air into the engine compartment. Do not open the radiator cap; steam and boiling water can burn you. If you’ve properly maintained your engine, it should cool down after a few minutes. If you drive a diesel, let the engine idle to cool it down.  

13. Don’t tie up traffic. If six or more vehicles are behind you on a two-lane highway, pull over to let them pass as soon as you can do so safely. (In some states, this is the law.) Allow adequate space to pull over on the road’s shoulder, plus enough for you to safely merge back into traffic. If there are two or more lanes going in your direction, and you see a sign denoting “Slower Traffic Keep Right,” do so.

14. Park with care. Even if you’re comfortable with highway driving, it’s natural to feel anxious about parking once you reach a trailhead or other destination. To ease your anxiety, first pull out of traffic, stop, and eyeball the situation. Then formulate a game plan. Find a way to turn around and face the parking entrance/exit, so it’ll be easier to pull out later in the day when the parking area is full.

Avoid the temptation to park next to another rig; find an area that will give you some “wiggle room.” If you can, park on the side of the parking area, so other drivers can get around you easily. After you park, set out a couple of road cones about 10 feet from each side of your trailer, so you’ll have room to tie your horse to your trailer. Some late arrivals may try to wedge in too closely between rigs, creating an unsafe situation.

15. Back up with skill. When it comes to pulling a trailer, backing seems to be the biggest bugaboo for some folks — another reason why you should always park facing out when pulling into a parking area. Practice backing at home until it feels natural. Turn the steering wheel in the opposite direction from where you want the trailer’s back end to go.

For example, if you want your trailer to go to the right, turn your steering wheel to the left. Move slowly, and watch your trailer in your mirrors for impediments. Practice in a parking lot, with permission. The white lines will help guide you. It’s not hard; it just takes repetition!

Glossary
Air ride: A system using compressed air to provide a cushioned ride.

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating: The maximum allowed weight in the vehicle.

Gross Combined Weight Rating: The maximum allowed combined weight the vehicle can handle, including truck weight, trailer weight, passengers, and cargo.

Electronic throttle control: An electronic system that maintains efficient RPMs. (See below).

Front track: The distance between the front wheels measured along the axle.

Horsepower: A unit of power equal to 550 foot pounds per second (745.7 watts).

Liter: Metric designation for engine displacement using a conversion from cubic inches.

Payload: Maximum allowed weight vehicle can carry, including passengers and cargo.

Pick-up box/dually pick-up box: The load-carrying box (bed) behind the cab. A dually box is configured to accommodate two rear wheels on each side.

RPMs: Revolutions per minute; on an engine, crankshaft rotations per minute.

Six-speed transmission: Six individual forward-gear ratios

Spray-in bed liner: A polyurethane lining that’s bonded directly to the truck bed.

Tonneau cover: Lockable truck-bed cover.

Torque: Turning effort produced by the pressure of the pistons onto the crankshaft.

Turbo diesel: Turbine-compressed air forced into the combustion chamber and mixed with diesel fuel.

Turning diameter: The tightest turning circle a vehicle can make with the front wheels.

V-8: An eight-cylinder engine, divided into two banks of four cylinders each, forming a "V" to the crankshaft.