Match the hitch hardware
The ball size has to match the coupler, and the hitch has to be rated for the trailer you are towing. A loose ball, a cracked mount, or a coupler that does not drop fully onto the ball is a reason to stop. Lock the coupler latch and pin it the way the hitch maker intended. Put the jack up and secure the crank so it cannot spin down on the road. Connect the wiring only after the coupler is seated, so you are not holding a plug while the trailer rolls. If you do not know the rating, do not guess from the look of the frame. Ask someone qualified or choose a different vehicle.
Cross the chains under the tongue
Safety chains should cross under the tongue and attach to the tow vehicle's frame points, with enough slack to turn and not so much slack that they drag. The cross helps catch the tongue if the coupler fails. Do not twist chains into a knot that shortens them unevenly, and do not hook them to a bumper that was not built as a chain point. If a chain is too long, shorten it with the proper method for that chain, not with a random bolt. The breakaway cable, if the trailer has brakes, needs to be connected too. Read the trailer manual for that hookup.
Walk the rig before you tow
Shake the coupler. It should not lift off the ball. Check the lights with a helper: brake, turn, and tail. Look under the trailer for a dragging jack or a strap. Then drive slowly around the block and listen. At the disposal site, use the lane the attendant assigns for trailers. Do not unhitch on a slope at the bay. If the site wants the whole rig on the scale, follow that. When you unhitch at home, chock the wheels first. A trailer that rolled in a driveway is a failed hitching habit, not bad luck.
Before you go
- Seat and latch a coupler that matches the ball, then raise the jack.
- Cross the safety chains under the tongue and connect the breakaway cable if equipped.
- Check the lights and look for anything dragging.
- Do not unhitch on a slope at the unloading bay.
Towing with the coupler sitting on the ball but the latch still open.
Questions people ask
Can I tow a short distance without chains?
No. Chains are part of the hookup for every trip, including the one to the site.
What if the trailer lights do not match my plug?
Use the correct adapter, and test the lights before you enter traffic. Do not tow dark.
Search Dumpmapper by ZIP code or city, then call the site before you load the truck. Hours and accepted materials change.