Once the travel trailer is hooked up to the truck (or car) and all the safety checks have been made, how do you keep the safety thing going?

One of the first things to do is to set the mirrors for towing. People who have driven larger trucks or buses know the value of mirrors. Driving large vehicles isn't like driving your family sedan and this is where a lot of people get into trouble.

For one thing, there's the issue of visibility. With your car, you can turn your head and look over your shoulder. You also have your rear view mirror to see what's straight back behind you.

You don't have that advantage with a large vehicle. Your side mirrors are your only option. They have to be set correctly so they'll do the most good.

I, personally, like to set the left mirror to look straight back. The right edge of the view in the mirror should go right down the side of the trailer. Most of the traffic I want to watch will be to my rear or left rear. I also want to watch for traffic coming up from a distance that will probably pass me.

The right mirror is set to look right down the side of the trailer with the trailer only visible in the left-most edge of the mirror view. It should be tilted down slightly so you can more easily watch the curb on the right side. Oncoming traffic on the right side should only be visible in the top third of the mirror view.

Why am I so concerned about the curb on the right side? The curb on the right side is the closest to the vehicle. Depending on the traffic situation, I might be putting the trailer wheels only inches away from that curb. I want to know every second where my wheels are in relation to the curb.

Another factor with pulling a travel trailer is the overall length of the rig. Big truck or bus drivers know you have to allow more room to make a turn. The rear wheels don't follow in the same track the front wheels make. They "cut across" the turn.

To keep the rear wheels off the curb, you'll need to swing wide with the front end of the tow vehicle. It's in a right turn that well-adjusted mirrors are invaluable. As I come around the corner with the tow vehicle, I watch the right side mirror to see where the trailer wheels are going. If need be, I make adjustments in the turn.

Another major difference is the amount of weight you are trying to stop at an intersection or in an emergency. Although travel trailers normally have brakes, you simply will not be able to stop both the tow vehicle and the trailer in the same amount of space you could with the tow vehicle alone.

Inexperienced drivers tend to run right up to the light and put on the brakes. They seem to expect that a several thousand pound rig will stop on a dime like a sports car. They soon learn to allow a greater distance and a bit more time to come to a stop.

While this is, by no means, a complete list, your level of RV safety will be greatly enhanced if you work to get these down. If you'll master these skills, your enjoyment of RV travel will continue to climb.

Go for it!