How to Hook Up a Trailer

Step-by-Step Guide

1. 1

   Step 1: Raise your trailer tongue ball socket or coupler to a height to clear the ball.

   Use a jack attached to the tongue.
   
   Be sure to jack up enough so you have enough clearance so you do not hit the trailer. , Put the vehicle in park.
   
   Turn off the engine.
   
   Set the emergency brake. ,,,, This keeps the trailer tongue from hitting the ground if it accidentally comes loose from the hitch while moving. ,, Use the tongue jack to rise on the tongue to make sure the tongue coupler does not come off the ball. ,,,,
2. 2

   Step 2: Line up the center of your vehicle with the center of your trailer.

3. 3

   Step 3: Stop the vehicle once the tongue coupler is over the ball.

4. 4

   Step 4: Lower the tongue coupler socket onto the trailer hitch ball until the full weight of the trailer is on the ball.

5. 5

   Step 5: Close the coupler clamp securing the ball in the coupler.

6. 6

   Step 6: Lock the coupler on the ball using a hitch pin or hitch coupler lock.

7. 7

   Step 7: Run the safety chains under the tongue so they cross one another.

8. 8

   Step 8: Plug in the electrical connections for the trailer lights and

9. 9

   Step 9: if applicable

10. 10

    Step 10: plug in the electrical brake on the trailer to the tow vehicle.

11. 11

    Step 11: You should check to make sure the hitch ball and coupler are firmly attached.

12. 12

    Step 12: Retract the tongue jack extension and swinging it up and out of the way

13. 13

    Step 13: securing or removing it so it will not fall down while moving.

14. 14

    Step 14: Pull your tow vehicle forward a few feet.

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    Step 15: Stop the vehicle

16. 16

    Step 16: put it in park

17. 17

    Step 17: set the emergency brake

18. 18

    Step 18: and turn on the vehicle lights

19. 19

    Step 19: Check and make sure the lights and the stoplights are working on the trailer and nothing has worked loose at the hitch.

Detailed Guide

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