The Ultimate Trailer Towing Checklist for Australian Drivers

Why Every Tow Needs a Checklist

Towing a trailer in Australia isn't something you should wing. Trailers are involved in road incidents every year, from detached loads on the Hume Freeway to tyre blowouts on regional highways. Many of them can be avoided with a simple, systematic pre-tow inspection.

Hiring a trailer through TrailerConnect for a weekend move, or towing your own rig to a campsite, run through a checklist every single time. It protects you, your passengers, other road users, and your hip pocket. A single incident can be expensive, and the consequences are serious if someone is injured.

This guide gives you a step-by-step towing checklist you can bookmark, print, and use before every trip, covering everything from coupling to cruising speed.

Before You Hitch Up: Vehicle Checks

1. Check Brakes and Combined Mass

There are rules about when a trailer needs its own braking system, and they differ between states. Your vehicle plus the loaded trailer also needs to stay within the vehicle's rated Gross Combined Mass. Licence rules vary between states too. What limits you is your vehicle's rated towing capacity and tow ball download, which you'll find in the owner's manual or on the compliance plate. Check your state or territory's road authority website for the rules that apply to you.

2. Know Your Vehicle's Towing Capacity

Every tow vehicle has two key numbers listed in the owner's manual or on the compliance plate:

• Maximum tow capacity: the heaviest trailer your vehicle is rated to pull (braked and unbraked ratings differ).
• Gross Combined Mass (GCM): the maximum total weight of your vehicle plus the trailer and all their contents combined.

Stay under both. Overloading is dangerous, and there are rules about it, so check with your state road authority. A common mistake is only checking tow capacity while ignoring GCM. A fully loaded ute towing a heavy trailer can easily bust the GCM limit even if the trailer itself is within tow capacity.

3. Check Your Tow Ball and Coupling Compatibility

Tow balls come in different sizes, and some older or imported trailers use different fittings. Make sure the trailer coupling matches your tow ball exactly. A loose or mismatched connection is a recipe for disaster, so ask the trailer's owner if you aren't sure what you're dealing with.

The Pre-Departure Towing Checklist

Run through every item below before you pull out of the driveway. No exceptions.

Coupling and Connection

1. Coupling locked: the trailer coupling is fully seated on the tow ball and the locking mechanism is engaged. Give it a firm upward tug to confirm.
2. Safety chains crossed: attach safety chains in an X-pattern beneath the coupling. This catches the drawbar if the coupling fails. There are rules about safety chains and their ratings, so check with your state road authority.
3. Jockey wheel raised and secured: retract the jockey wheel fully and lock the clamp so it can't drop during transit.
4. Electrical plug connected: plug in the trailer wiring and test every light individually. Plugs come in different types, so check the trailer's plug suits your vehicle.
5. Breakaway system tested: if the trailer has electric brakes, attach the breakaway cable or chain to the tow vehicle. Pull the pin to confirm the breakaway battery activates the brakes, then reset.

Lights and Electrical

1. Left indicator: working and visible.
2. Right indicator: working and visible.
3. Brake lights: have someone press the brake pedal while you check.
4. Tail lights / parking lights: on and bright.
5. Number plate light: illuminating the trailer's registration plate.
6. Reflectors: clean and unobstructed.

Faulty trailer lights can get you pulled over, and they make the trailer much harder to see at night.

Tyres, Wheels, and Bearings

1. Tyre pressure: inflate to the trailer manufacturer's recommendation, or ask the trailer's owner for the right figure. Check when tyres are cold.
2. Tyre condition: look for cracks, bulges and worn tread. There are rules about minimum tread depth, so check with your state road authority.
3. Wheel nuts: torqued to specification. Re-check them early in the trip.
4. Wheel bearings: spin each wheel by hand. It should rotate freely without grinding or excessive play. If you notice heat after a short drive, the bearings may need repacking.
5. Spare tyre: present, inflated, and accessible. Don't forget a wheel brace that fits the trailer's wheel nuts (they're often a different size to your car's).

Brakes

1. Mechanical override brakes: push the trailer forward by hand to confirm the override coupling activates. Check brake pads or shoes for wear.
2. Electric brakes: use the in-cab controller to apply trailer brakes at low speed. The trailer should pull back noticeably.
3. Handbrake / park brake: engage and confirm it holds the trailer on a slight incline.

Remember that there are rules about when a trailer needs its own braking system, and they differ between states, so check with your state road authority. If you're hiring a trailer on TrailerConnect and the listing states it has brakes, verify they actually work before you drive off.

Loading the Trailer Correctly

Improper loading causes trailer sway, one of the most dangerous situations you can get into while towing. Here's how to get it right:

• Weight towards the front: put more of the load weight in the front half of the trailer, closest to the tow vehicle, and less in the rear.
• Tow ball weight: you want enough weight over the tow ball without going past the rated capacity of your tow ball and vehicle. The owner's manual and the compliance plate have the figures.
• Low and centred: keep heavy items on the floor and centred between the wheels. Never stack heavy items high or to one side.
• Secured properly: use ratchet straps rated for the load weight. Tie down to designated anchor points, not the trailer's cage mesh. The load shouldn't be able to shift, slide or fall.

On-Road Driving Tips

Speed Limits

There are rules about how fast you can drive while towing, and they differ between states and between roads. Check local signage and your state road authority.

Safe Following Distance

Leave a bigger gap than you would without a trailer. Your combined vehicle length is longer, your braking distance is much greater, and you need more room to react. In wet conditions, leave even more.

Cornering and Reversing

• Wide turns: the trailer tracks inside your vehicle's path. Swing wider on left-hand turns to avoid clipping kerbs or bollards.
• Reversing: place your hand at the bottom of the steering wheel. Move your hand in the direction you want the trailer's rear to go. Go slowly. Use a spotter whenever possible.

Dealing with Trailer Sway

If the trailer begins to sway:

1. Do NOT brake hard or steer sharply.
2. Ease off the accelerator gradually.
3. If you have an electric brake controller, gently apply trailer brakes only.
4. Hold the steering wheel firmly and straight.
5. Once stable, pull over safely and check your load distribution.

During the Trip: Ongoing Checks

Your checklist doesn't end at the driveway. Build these checks into every stop:

• Your first stop: re-check wheel nuts, coupling, and safety chains. This is when loose components reveal themselves.
• Every fuel stop: check tyre pressures and temperature (feel each hub for excessive heat). Verify the load hasn't shifted. Confirm all lights still work.
• After rough roads: inspect for cracked welds, loose bolts, and shifted cargo. Gravel roads punish trailers harder than sealed surfaces.

Rules by State: Where to Check

Registration, number plates, lights, safety chains, trailer brakes and towing speed limits are all covered by rules, and those rules differ between states and territories. Check with your state road authority, such as VicRoads, Transport for NSW or Queensland's Department of Transport and Main Roads, before you tow.

Printable Checklist Summary

Save this quick-reference list on your phone or print it out:

1. Licence requirements checked with your state road authority
2. Vehicle tow capacity and GCM not exceeded
3. Coupling locked, safety chains crossed
4. Jockey wheel raised and secured
5. All lights tested and working
6. Breakaway system connected and tested
7. Tyres inflated and in good condition
8. Wheel nuts torqued
9. Bearings checked
10. Brakes functional (override or electric)
11. Load secured, weight towards the front, low and centred
12. Tow ball weight within limits
13. Spare tyre and tools on board
14. Mirrors provide clear rear vision (extension mirrors if needed)
15. Registration current and plates visible

Final Thoughts

A towing checklist takes a few minutes. Skipping it can cost you a fine, a damaged trailer, a ruined vehicle, or far worse. Build the habit of checking every item, every time, no matter how short the trip.

When you hire a trailer through TrailerConnect, the owner maintains the trailer and writes the listing, but you're still the driver. Check the trailer is roadworthy and properly connected before you leave, and ask the owner about anything you're unsure of. Take the time. Do the checks. Arrive safely.