What's the Most Common Mistake Renters Make at Pickup or Return?

After renting trailers to hundreds of customers, I've learned something important: the mistakes that cause the biggest problems are often the simplest ones.

And they aren't limited to first-time towers.

Fort Worth Trailer Rentals Pro has customers who have pulled trailers for years and some still occasionally show up with the wrong equipment or overlook something important. That's why at Fort Worth Trailer Rentals Pro, we don't assume someone knows everything just because they have experience towing.

The two problems we see most often are surprisingly simple: showing up with the wrong tow ball at pickup and improperly adjusted trailer brakes during the rental.

Both are preventable.

The #1 Mistake at Pickup: The Wrong Tow Ball

This is probably the most common problem we encounter when someone arrives to pick up a trailer.

Sometimes it's obvious. The customer has a 2-inch ball when the trailer requires a 2-5/16-inch ball.

But there's another problem that many renters—including experienced ones—overlook:

The tow ball may be the correct size but not have a high enough weight rating.

A tow ball isn't rated based only on the weight of the empty trailer. It needs to be appropriate for the weight being towed.

For example, suppose you're pulling a 5,000-pound trailer and putting a 7,000-pound load on it. You're dealing with approximately 12,000 pounds—not just the 5,000-pound empty trailer.

Showing up with a tow ball rated for 7,500 pounds isn't enough simply because the trailer itself weighs less than 7,500 pounds.

Even Experienced Towers Get This Wrong

One pickup in particular stands out to me.

A customer arrived and told me how experienced he was with towing. He rented our 24' Equipment Trailer and was planning to haul a tractor weighing approximately 7,500 pounds on a trailer weighing around 3,100 pounds.

Then I inspected his hitch.

His tow ball was rated for only 5,000 pounds.

In other words, he was preparing to tow roughly 13,500 pounds using a tow ball rated for only 5,000 pounds.

I didn't make a big deal about it or try to embarrass him. I simply explained that his tow ball wasn't rated for the job and that we needed to replace it before he left.

Fortunately, we had a properly rated tow ball available for him to use.

He understood immediately and was thankful that we caught it and had the equipment necessary to get his job done.

That experience illustrates something I see regularly:

Towing experience doesn't mean you can't overlook something.

I've seen experienced towers make mistakes, and I've seen first-time renters arrive extremely well prepared because they took the time to read the information we sent them and ask questions beforehand.

That's Why We Inspect the Tow Ball

Our rental confirmation emails tell customers what equipment they need before arriving.

But we don't stop there.

At pickup, we inspect the customer's tow ball and towing setup. If the tow ball isn't the correct size or isn't adequately rated for the job, we can provide a properly rated one for the rental.

I'd much rather spend a few minutes changing a tow ball than allow someone to leave with equipment that isn't appropriate for what they're towing.

And there's no reason for a renter to be embarrassed if we find something wrong.

That's exactly why we check.

The Most Common Problem We See at Return: Flat-Spotted Tires

If the wrong tow ball is one of our biggest pickup issues, one of our biggest problems during a rental becomes apparent when the trailer comes back:

Flat-spotted tires caused by trailer brakes being set too aggressively.

Trailer brakes are extremely important, particularly when towing heavier loads.

But more braking isn't automatically better braking.

If the trailer brake controller is set too aggressively, the trailer tires can lock up under braking instead of continuing to rotate normally.

When that happens, the tire slides across the pavement.

That can grind one section of the tire down and create a flat spot.

Sometimes the damage is immediately obvious.

Other times, it's surprisingly difficult to see.

Nighttime returns make this especially challenging. We inspect our trailers, but a smaller flat spot can sometimes be missed in the dark.

Unfortunately, that doesn't mean the tire is fine.

A flat-spotted tire can immediately—or eventually—become warped and create an unsafe towing condition.

And once a tire has been damaged badly enough, replacing it is the only responsible option.

Tires Are One of Our Largest Expenses

This isn't a theoretical problem for us.

Tires are one of the largest expenses in our trailer rental business.

When we catch renter-caused tire damage at return, it can become an expensive mistake for the customer.

When we don't catch the damage immediately, it can become an expensive mistake for us.

Either way, I'd rather prevent the damage in the first place.

That's why we explain trailer-brake operation before rentals and provide instructional videos to our customers.

One of the most important things I want renters to understand is that the brake controller needs to be adjusted appropriately for the trailer and the load.

Don't simply turn the trailer brakes up high because you're pulling something heavy.

Learn how your controller works and make sure the trailer brakes are helping the tow vehicle stop without unnecessarily locking the trailer tires.

And if you're unsure?

Ask us.

The Most Important Advice I Give Renters: Ask Questions

If I could get every renter to remember one thing, it would be this:

If you don't know something, ask us before you leave.

I'd much rather have someone tell me, "I've never used a trailer brake controller before," than pretend they understand it and damage four tires—or worse, create an unsafe situation on the highway.

The same applies to hooking up the trailer.

• Not sure how the safety chains should be attached? Ask.
• Not sure how the breakaway cable works? Ask.
• Not sure whether your tow ball is rated high enough? Ask.
• Don't understand your trailer brake controller? Ask.
• Not sure how to secure your load? Ask.

And the questions don't have to stop once you leave our property. If you're in the middle of your rental and aren't sure about something, contact us.

We would much rather answer a question than deal with an accident, damaged equipment or an unnecessary repair afterward.

Know How to Tow the Trailer, Too

Having the right equipment is only part of safely towing a trailer.

Renters also need to understand how towing changes the way their vehicle handles.

That includes knowing how to:

• Make wider turns without clipping curbs or objects with the trailer.
• Change lanes while accounting for the additional length behind the tow vehicle.
• Leave additional stopping distance.
• Back a trailer safely.
• Understand how the trailer behaves differently when loaded.
• Properly use the trailer's brakes.

You don't have to be a professional truck driver to rent one of our trailers.

But you do need to respect the fact that your truck and trailer combination may be considerably longer and heavier than the vehicle you normally drive.

We Try to Educate Renters Before They Ever Arrive

One thing we've learned from operating a trailer rental business is that the best time to prevent a problem is before the customer gets to our location.

That's why the confirmation email we send after a customer books online includes instructional videos covering many of these topics.

We want customers to know what equipment they'll need, how to properly hook up and operate the trailer, how to use their trailer brakes, and the basics of safely towing it.

The goal isn't to make trailer rental complicated.

It's actually the opposite.

A few minutes of preparation can make the entire rental easier.

Experience Is Valuable. Asking Questions Is Better.

One of the biggest misconceptions in towing is that experienced people don't make mistakes.

They do.

I've seen experienced towers arrive with equipment that wasn't properly rated for the load, just as I've seen inexperienced renters do an excellent job because they prepared beforehand and asked questions.

I don't expect every customer who rents from us to be a trailer expert.

That's our job, and don't be afraid to ask Fort Worth Trailer Rentals Pro for guidance.

What I do expect is for renters to take towing seriously, use the right equipment, follow the instructions we provide and ask when they aren't sure.

So before your next trailer rental, remember four things:

Know what you're towing. Know what equipment you need. Know how to use your trailer brakes. And don't be afraid to ask questions.

Those few steps can save you money, prevent damage and—most importantly—help make sure you, your load, our trailer and everyone else on the road gets home safely.

Your Adventure, Our Trailers…Let's Roll