Travel trailers are some of the most versatile and maneuverable campers, making them great for a range of camping and road trip styles. But hitching it up to your tow vehicle, while necessary, can be a pain. We here at McGovern’s RV & Marine want to help you get out on the road faster, so we’ve put together some tips for hitching your travel trailer. To learn more, or to see the travel trailers we have for sale, contact our store in Grande Prairie, Alberta, today!

Before You Start

First things first: you’ll want to look over your owner’s manual. It won’t be an exciting read, but it might contain a few extra tips and tricks for hitching your model, among other things. If you can’t find your manual, check the manufacturer’s website for a copy you can download or print.

Supplies

You’re going to need a few things beside the trailer and your vehicle, including but not limited to:

• WD-40 to lubricate the jack on the front of the travel trailer.
• A grease gun and high friction grease to lubricate the hitch ball and ball receiver.
• An apron or towel (or two) to wipe lubricant off your hands.
• Rubber blocks to create traction between the trailer jack and the ground to help reduce the chance of your travel trailer slipping around.
• Prepping The Travel Trailer
• Next, you’ll want to make sure the trailer itself is ready for travel. Make sure everything aboard is secured, locked, turned off, and disconnected. Close and lock the doors and raise the stairs, then make sure the wheel chocks are in the right position and snug against the wheels.

Prepping Trailer Connection

Next up, you’ll get the trailer ready for hitching.

Remove any hitch lock there might be.

Place the receiver latch in the vertical open position.

Raise the front of the trailer using the jack.

Once the jack piston is extended, lubricate it.

Make sure the trailer doesn’t shift during this process, and double check the wheel chocks if it does. 

Connecting Hitch To Tow Vehicle

Finally, you’re ready to get things connected. We recommend storing the hitch itself in a tub with handles, since its weight makes it hard to carry. Make sure the part you plan on grabbing isn’t greased. Once everything is in place:

• Gently put the hitch in position and slide it into the receiver.
• Insert and secure the hitch locking pin.
• Use the grease gun to grease the hitch ball.
• Connecting Vehicle To Travel Trailer
• Last but certainly not least, it’s time to connect your tow vehicle to the trailer trailer. You might want a spotter to help you with this step so you’ve got more than one pair of eyes working on it.

When you’re ready:

• Back the vehicle up, aligning closely with the trailer.
• Once you hit the right position, engage the safety brake.
• Attach the sway control bars and/or weight distribution bars.
• Lower the travel trailer until the hitch ball is in the ball receiver.
• Flip the receiver latch closed to lock it in place.
• Raise the jack up and remove the jack blocks, then lower the jack and remove it.
• Double check the tension in the sway bars.
• Connect the brakes, lights, and safety chains. Make sure the chains hang a bit, but don’t hit the ground.
• Remove the wheel chocks.

Ready to hit the road? Contact us at McGovern’s RV & Marine if you have any questions or just want to see our travel trailer selection. We proudly serve Edmonton, Alberta—let us serve you today!