For bumper-pull, gooseneck and fifth-wheel trailers. Use this trailer towing safety checklist before every trip and after every hookup. Five minutes is a reminder, not a time limit: take longer whenever something needs attention. Complete your equipment’s setup, maintenance and coupling checks first.
Stop before you tow: Do not leave with an uncertain coupling, damaged tire, loose hitch hardware, unsecured load or failed required brakes or lights. Follow the manuals for your truck, trailer, hitch and brake system, plus the rules where you travel.
Jump to your hitch: Bumper-pull Gooseneck Fifth-wheel
Your five checks before departure
- Tires, wheels and load: Correct cold pressures, sound tires, secure cargo and verified weight limits.
- Hitch connection: Coupler or kingpin fully engaged; every required pin, latch and fastener secured.
- Safety chains and breakaway: Correct anchors, routing and a working emergency brake system where fitted or required.
- Lights and brakes: Test both—working brake lights do not prove the trailer brakes work.
- Clearance and final walk-around: Jacks up, doors and ramps secured, mirrors adjusted and route checked.
1. Check tires, wheels and the loaded trailer
- Check truck and trailer tires with a gauge while cold, including the spare. Use the truck’s tire placard and towing instructions, and the trailer’s placard/manual. Do not automatically inflate the truck tires to the maximum stamped on the sidewall.
- If tires or wheels differ from the original specification, confirm the correct pressure and load capacity with the equipment or tire manufacturer. Inspect for cuts, bulges, cracking, exposed cords and uneven wear; resolve pressure loss before travel.
- Inspect wheels and visible lug nuts for damage or looseness. Follow the trailer/axle manufacturer’s torque specification and recheck schedule, especially after wheel removal.
- Verify actual loaded weights—including passengers, cargo, water and equipment—against truck and trailer weight ratings, axle and tire limits, hitch ratings and combined-weight limits. Tongue or pin weight uses truck payload. Use a scale when weights are uncertain.
- Load for the trailer manufacturer’s specified tongue or pin weight and secure cargo against movement in every direction. Air bags, a higher-rated hitch or weight distribution do not increase the truck’s ratings.
Tire reference: NHTSA TireWise. Load reference: NHTSA cargo securement guidance.
2. Verify the connection for your hitch type
Chock the trailer and secure the tow vehicle as directed before coupling. Keep people out from between moving vehicles and away from pinch points. Inspect the connection directly; a closed handle alone is not proof of correct engagement.
Bumper-pull: receiver hitch and ball coupler
- Match the ball diameter to the coupler marking and verify both ratings. Confirm the coupler fully seats on the ball and the latch closes correctly. Install its required retaining pin or lock.
- Check the receiver pin and retainer, adjustable ball-mount pins and all required hardware. Inspect for cracks, unusual wear or looseness.
- Complete the coupler manufacturer’s coupling-verification procedure. Do not use a generic “lift the truck with the trailer jack” test unless your equipment instructions specifically call for it.
- If using weight distribution or sway control, confirm compatibility and complete the specified setup and travel checks. For a pintle connection, use the correct rated lunette ring and verify the hook latch and safety retainer.
Gooseneck: truck-bed ball and coupler
- Verify the ball size and rating; confirm a removable or turnover ball is fully seated and locked by its retention mechanism.
- Confirm the gooseneck coupler is seated over the ball, its locking mechanism is engaged and all required safety pins are installed.
- Check adjustable stem engagement, cross-pins, set bolts and jam nuts according to the coupler manual. Use the specified torque and adjustment limits. Verify any offset or adapter is approved for the complete setup.
Fifth-wheel: kingpin and hitch
- Follow your hitch’s specified coupling height and approach. Visually verify the locking mechanism has captured the kingpin correctly and that the pin-box plate is properly seated—avoid a high-hitch condition where the kingpin rests above the locking mechanism.
- Secure the handle’s safety latch/pin and verify the hitch base, rails or puck mounts are locked. Put sliders in the manufacturer’s approved travel position.
- Perform the hitch manufacturer’s controlled pull test with the specified wheel chocking, trailer-brake application and landing-gear position. Keep everyone clear. A pull test supplements the visual check; it does not replace it.
Fifth-wheel camper converted to a gooseneck ball? Use the gooseneck connection checks and the conversion manufacturer’s instructions, including required safety chains. Confirm the pin box, trailer frame, adapter and truck hitch are compatible. The camper’s name does not determine the connection procedure.
Use your model’s instructions: Shocker Hitch installation and setup guides.
3. Inspect safety chains and the breakaway system
- Bumper-pull: Cross the safety chains beneath the tongue and connect to the tow vehicle’s designated safety-chain anchors. Allow turning clearance without dragging. Use properly rated chains, hooks and connectors; do not shorten chains by twisting them.
- Gooseneck: Attach chains to the approved truck-bed safety-chain anchors specified for your hitch. Check hook closure and clearance through turns. There is no universal anchor distance that applies to every truck and hitch; do not substitute sheet metal, tie-down loops or improvised anchors.
- Conventional fifth-wheel: Follow the hitch/trailer instructions and applicable chain requirements. Do not assume an exemption for a gooseneck conversion.
- Breakaway cable: Attach to a suitable vehicle attachment point specified by the system manufacturer, independently of the safety chains. Do not loop it around the hitch ball or attach it to a safety chain. Route it so turns cannot pull the switch accidentally.
- Check the breakaway switch, wiring and battery charge where fitted. Test system operation using its manual; some systems require disconnecting the trailer plug first to protect the controller. Reinstall the switch pin after testing. The breakaway system is not a parking brake.
Breakaway reference: Example manufacturer instructions; use the instructions for your own model.
4. Test lights and trailer brakes
- Secure the electrical plug and route the cable away from the road, pinch points and hot surfaces, with enough slack for turns.
- With a helper or a safe viewing method, test running/marker lights, left and right turn signals, brake lights and hazard lights. Repair intermittent or failed lights before departure.
- For electric or electric-over-hydraulic brakes, confirm controller compatibility, connection and settings for the loaded trailer. Check operation at low speed in a clear, safe area using the manufacturer’s procedure.
- For hydraulic surge brakes, follow the actuator’s fluid, leak, lockout and operating checks. Do not tow with a reverse lockout inadvertently disabling forward braking.
5. Walk around once more and check clearance
- Fully retract and secure the tongue jack, landing gear and stabilizers after completing the prescribed coupling checks. Stow steps and secure ramps, gates, doors, slide-outs, awnings and loose gear. Remove and stow wheel chocks only when ready to depart.
- Verify the loaded trailer rides at the attitude specified by its manufacturer. See how to check trailer level and measure the drop or rise you need. Check ground clearance and clearance to the truck’s bed rails, tailgate, cab and bumper, allowing for turns and uneven ground. Follow the setup’s specified clearances—do not assume an offset guarantees cab clearance.
- Adjust mirrors, confirm visibility and know the combination’s height, width, length and weight for the route. Check weather, road restrictions and overhead clearance.
- Allow extra stopping and turning room. Stay within posted and equipment speed limits, reduce speed for conditions, and stop safely if handling, braking or noise changes. Recheck the hitch, tires, chains and load at the first safe stop and during travel.
A quick check does not replace maintenance
Keep up with the manufacturer’s brake, bearing, tire, fastener and hitch maintenance schedules. If you find damage or cannot confirm correct engagement, have the equipment inspected before towing.
More help with trailer setup and towing
Use the checklist for your departure check, then explore the complete trailer towing tips and guides for detailed setup, troubleshooting and maintenance instructions.
- Identify your connection: Fifth-wheel vs. gooseneck and how to measure receiver hitch size.
- Investigate handling problems: Trailer sway, truck squat and trailer chucking.
- Check gooseneck setup: Offset coupler considerations and backing up a gooseneck trailer.
- Maintain your hitch: Hitch-ball lubrication and Shocker air-hitch pressure setup.
Further safety references
Along with your own equipment manuals, see Big Tex trailer owner’s manuals, Ford towing guides and CURT fifth-wheel coupling and pull-test instructions (model-specific example). Procedures and limits vary by model.