Watch out for this guy on the highway!

Have you seen this trailer on the highway—or one that looks like it?

If so, steer clear!

Why? Take a look at how this trailer is hitched up. See how the trailer is pitched down in front? 

That's because the hitch height of the trailer is way off from the hitch ball height. In other words, the ball is much too low. This causes the trailer to ride more on its front axle and put more weight on the truck that it should. This change in hitch geometry greatly increases the chance the trailer will get into a dangerous sway, and can reduce braking control. 

But there's a bigger problem. Take a closer look at the back and front of the truck:

You can see that the truck is squashed down on the rear tires and the front of the truck is riding pretty high compared to the front. That's because the trailer's weight is all on the rear axle, and it's making the front of the truck float up. 

In contrast, here's what a correct hitch-up should look like – notice the truck and trailer are level, and the front of the truck is not pitched up:

What's the risk?

A light front end means understeer, which is a way of saying the truck won't steer as well. Instead of handling confidently in a sudden maneuver, it will tend to ignore the driver's input and plow straight ahead.

All of that is the result of not having a properly set-up weight distribution hitch. Or, as in this case, no weight distribution at all. (The low tow ball just makes it worse.)

That's dangerous stuff. Without proper weight distribution—which I see on almost every long trip—it will be difficult for the driver to maintain control at highway speeds. The driver will have to make constant steering adjustments and keep the speed way down. It's an exhausting way to tow.

Watch for trailers like this when you travel

When I see a trailer traveling in the right highway lane at 5-10 MPH below the speed limit, I always take a look as I pass. Inevitably, there's no weight distribution hitch on the trailer, or it's not adjusted properly. Rarely is this an issue of "too small" a truck. Our little Ford Ranger routinely blows past much bigger trucks towing trailers that can't seem to get past 60 MPH without white knuckles. That's because setting up the hitch correctly matters much more than the size of your truck.

So, be careful when you're blithely passing other trailers that look like the ones in this post. I'm not exaggerating to say that they can lose control at any moment. A sudden gust of wind, a bit of broken pavement, drifting across a lane because the driver stopped paying attention, an animal running across the road—any of these things can force the driver to make a sudden steering correction, which will start a dangerous sway. 

And we all know how that usually ends. 

Bad trailer hitching is dangerous. Don't get caught in the accident that's likely to happen.

If you suspect your trailer isn't hitched up optimally, it's not that hard to get it right. If you're a DYIer, you can start by reading the owner's manual that came with your hitch, and then weighing your trailer. Knowing the weight of your trailer will help you optimize its weight distribution.

If you're not a DIYer, ask your dealer or trailer service center for some help on proper weight distribution and hitching safety. Either way, you'll enjoy a much easier time when towing, and those around you will be safer for it.