# How to load a trailer

- **Published:** 2 August 2023
- **Type:** Both Video

![How to Load a Trailer](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/media/jchlqpnb/thumbnail.jpg?width=1350&height=760&bgcolor=white)

To ensure the safety of you and others on the road, it’s important your trailer is loaded correctly. To give you some peace of mind, we have put together a comprehensive guide that will allow you to follow the correct procedures when loading your trailer.

## What you need to know about towing a trailer

Before you load your trailer there are a number of [things you should be aware of when it comes to towing](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/guides/trade/everything-you-should-know-about-hiring-a-trailer.md). Understanding safe towing practices is key to ensuring you get from A to B safely, without any setbacks.

### Towing capacity

The first thing you need to check is whether your vehicle has a suitable towing capacity for the goods you’re planning to carry.

Towing capacity indicates the maximum weight your vehicle can tow. Ensuring you [calculate your towing capacity](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/guides/trade/how-to-calculate-your-towing-capacity.md) beforehand, will ensure you don’t do any damage to your vehicle, cause an accident, or break down.

To find your vehicle's towing capacity, you can also check your vehicle handbook, your tow bar, or the NZTA website.

### Safety on the road

When using a trailer there are some parts of driving that are affected, so it’s worth keeping the following in mind.

- Visibility

The additional width or length added with the use of a trailer can impair your ability to see well behind you, so check your mirrors are in the best position before you take off.

- Speed limit

Legally the open road speed limit with a trailer is 90km/h. Maneuvering is harder with a trailer so keeping to a lower speed will help to keep it under control.

- Overhang

Depending what you are carrying, you may have extra length or width that sits over the trailer. Keep this in mind when merging, turning into roads and parking.

- Route

Step hills, unsealed and narrow roads can all hinder your access. It’s always worth checking the route you plan to take, to ensure your vehicle and trailer can make it safely.

- Vehicle maintenance

Ensuring your vehicle is roadworthy before hitching on a trailer is key. Check your indicators, headlights and tyres are up to scratch, then double check your trailer connection is secure so the brake lights are working.

### Choosing the right trailer

There are a [range of trailers available](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/products/equipment/trailers.md) at Hirepool, and choosing the right one will ensure you get the job done smarter.

Things to consider for choosing the right trailer are:

- Exposure to weather

If you are moving household items like furniture, you may prefer to choose a [furniture trailer](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/products/equipment/trailers.md) so you can keep everything clean and dry on the move.

![tyge-furnitur-trailer](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/media/wltjnjfa/ac5b81cb-6e26-44fc-aeb1-89eeb32be2a0.jpg?width=2067&height=2584&mode=max)

- Capacity for bulk loads

Rather than doing multiple trips with a smaller trailer, you can get the job done faster with a [high side trailer](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/products/equipment/trailers/cage-high-side-trailers.md), especially for things like green waste.

![278401698_473587727884621_5423297038392298122_n.jpg](https://previews.dropbox.com/p/thumb/ACR5kMUtAbKM7Vv-urS9POnHTn2Iyl1J40kbCfw3wSoYQwG6gDERttXEjhysyIV3oshMqcvzo1vTugJL-3O0BKBcNlcDRCcBiiv4mnAg2bwyKUsgic1rrtpWVU0S4_xpG3WFF5mVmXZBezxB2zHLi9olpLtQgoqn5OH66RtwgAMOkWEfociW5fKa-88SzWOisH4l4En0xZOZMXuxBYshNNKARXoyynDSvQvgpq2eKXZbN5y5bYtITT5HosUhO294FoWveRKfcKJ5sJoiZ1ZmWsBPTHqvrAYGqxBaBg05N46hFjyXVEyRn4rADIVpS7f_B6wD0-gs_vtlq6dhTpexGdyhoQSfey2ozff-f9i086Nteg/p.jpeg)

- Weight capacity

Moving heavy items like equipment can be done safely with the use of [specialised equipment trailers](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/products/equipment/trailers/specialised-equipment-trailers.md). These are made to carry heavier items which is important for safety.

- Loose items

If you have loose items that are likely to escape onto the road once you get moving, a [low side trailer](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/products/equipment/trailers/standard-low-side-trailers.md) with a [net](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/products/equipment/trailers/accessories-for-trailers/trailernet-aerofast-trailer-net-1-5-x-2-4m.md?addToCart) or [tarpaulin](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/products/equipment/building-renovation/tarpaulins/550a-tarpaulin-3-0m-x-3-0m.md) is a good idea to ensure falling items don’t cause hazards on the road.

## How to load a trailer safely

A trailer that is loaded safely ensures that you have good weight distribution, less chance of tipping, and reduced risk of an accident or breakdown.

Here are our top tips for ensuring your trailer is loaded correctly so you can get the job done smarter.

- Connect on level ground

Connecting to the tow ball on level ground will prevent what you’re loading from tipping or being damaged.

- Position the load correctly

* - Avoid placing heavier loads towards the rear of the trailer. If you’ve got a few items to carry, make sure you spread your goods out evenly across the floor or deck of the trailer, to keep its height as low as possible.

+ Check overhang

- The maximum rear overhang is 4 metres. Rear overhang means the distance from the rear axle on the trailer to the rear of the load.

Overhangs of 1 meter or more from the rear of the trailer must be flagged. In daylight, this means attaching a white or fluorescent red, orange or yellow flag that’s at least 400 x 300mm in size.

- Tie down loose items

  It’s illegal to travel with loose items in your trailer. Hirepool has a full range of [trailer accessories](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/products/equipment/consumables/tie-downs-trailer-nets.md) such as [tie-downs,](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/products/equipment/consumables/tie-downs-trailer-nets/259rtd-freight-tie-down-9m-2500kg.md?addToCart) [tarpaulins](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/products/equipment/building-renovation/tarpaulins.md) and [nets](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/products/equipment/consumables/tie-downs-trailer-nets/trailernet-aerofast-trailer-net-1-5-x-2-4m.md) to help secure and protect your load.

If you’re using tie-downs, you’ll need to work out the strength of the tie downs you’re using – known as ’lashing capacity’ to determine if they are strong enough to secure what you’re planning to carry.

Secure your tie-downs to suitable anchorage points (rails, hooks or eyes) on the trailer. A minimum of two tie-downs should be used to prevent the load, or part of the load, from twisting, rotating, or pivoting.

Ensure you correctly tighten your straps before starting your journey, and check that your item has limited movement.

If you'd like more information, our friendly Hirepool staff will be happy to answer any of your questions.
[Visit a branch](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/branches.md) or give us a call 0800 15 15 15

## Useful products for this guide

- [Trailer Standard Tandem Axle up to 2.4m x 1.5m](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/products/equipment/trailers/standard-low-side-trailers/612a-trailer-standard-tandem-axle-up-to-2-4m-x-1-5m.md)
- [Trailer Caged Tandem Axle up to 3.0m x 1.5m](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/products/equipment/trailers/cage-high-side-trailers/612b-trailer-caged-tandem-axle-up-to-3-0m-x-1-5m.md)
- [Trailer Car/Salvage Tandem Axle up to 4.2m x 2.0m](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/products/equipment/trailers/transport-trailers/612d-trailer-car-salvage-tandem-axle-up-to-4-2m-x-2-0m.md)
- [Trailer Flatdeck Tandem Axle up to 4.8m x 2.2m](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/products/equipment/trailers/transport-trailers/612e-trailer-flatdeck-tandem-axle-up-to-4-8m-x-2-2m.md)

Source: https://www.hirepool.co.nz/guides/diy/how-to-load-a-trailer