Flamingtaco

Tight turns, lol. A friend learned that backing a trailer around the back of his house results in a dented rear quarter panel. This is a lesson he learned a second time, after the panel had been repaired. Or, I guess he didn't learn? Got rid of the trailer before he bought his new truck.

Dave770

My almost learned the hard way moment. Unhook the safety chains last. I pulled into my driveway in a hurry to drop the trailer and get going. I removed the spring bars, released the ball lock and jacked up the tongue. That’s when the trailer rolled until it pulled the safety chins tight. I realized that in my haste I did not chock the wheels. I bet it would have been fun watching the trailer roll a crossed the yard.

Flamingtaco

We get a few posts a year on a national MTB forum about obscuring tickets. Almost no one realizes you can't put anything between the plates, lamps, reflectors, and eyes of other people. Hell, some places will ticket you for the OEM tailgate extender partially obscuring just one tail light. It makes sense, people need to see your turn signals, and differentiate them from hazards. Waited behind a jack-wagon yesterday that I though was taking a left, but was reading the paper with a burnt out right turn signal.

A number of high end racks come with, or you can purchase license plate kits. It has been noted that making a copy of your license plate (laminate it) might still result in a pull over but will keep tickets at bay. They know it's a pain to move the plate back and forth.

If you drive to ride a lot, a set of stand alone trailer lights and 3M conspicuity tape will put you into compliance with the law, and can be a bike saver. I recommend permanently installing Optronic trailer LED lights, they are bright, and have some very cool lighting options. I like GloLight for the rear, Miro-flex Thinline for the sides. Don't forget the backup lights!

kbroderick

It's also exciting when the trailer is uphill from the truck and you realize you forgot to chock it as you try to decide between pushing it uphill (remotely plausible with an open sled trailer, not gonna happen with an RV) and hoping the tongue hits the truck somewhere it can push without doing any damage.

Not that I've done that, too.

Oh, and speaking of which: unless you're on a significant hill, chock both directions if at all possible.

i2oadi2unnei2

My first rule has always been chock first chock last. I hum/chant this every time and all the time. I make my wife and kids beat me with it whenever we get to our destination and home. Chock first, chock last...