Driving with a trailer is not just a skill on its own, but there are many laws, rules, and regulations that you need to know about

There will come a time in your life when all your hard work will pay off and earn you the means to tour across the country with a trailer, camper, boat, or jet ski you've always wanted to have at your family getaways. When the time comes that you need to use your own vehicle to tow a vehicle or trailer from one place to another, you'll want to know how to tow safely, what the laws and regulations are to keep you out of trouble, and what the best way to tow is. Though you may want the best and biggest camper or caravan, boat or trailer, there are many safety requirements you'll have to consider and many different laws and regulations that vary from state to state to take into account before making a purchase.

In the USA, the laws and regulations around towing are complicated and vary depending on which state you're in. There are several rules that you can follow, however, that are standard in every state. So, if you are towing a trailer behind your vehicle, make sure the following is in place:

Some of the trailer laws that differ by state require that you have even more safety equipment and adhere to other limitations such as:

Now that you know some of the regulations for towing, here is an easy guide for learning to drive with a trailer in tow for the first time:

The general rule of thumb is that towing speed limits are usually around 10 mph lower than the speed limit that applies to motorists who aren't hauling anything. This applies to freeways too. Pay attention to the differences in various states, though, as these may differ across borders and depend on the type of trailer you've hitched.

This will depend on the vehicle you're renting and the vehicle rental company's policy. Some companies may even specialize in hiring out such vehicles to assist you with towing. In general, however, it is not advised to use a rental car for anything you have not discussed, clarified, and agreed upon with the rental agent themselves.

Towing with an electric vehicle or hybrid vehicle is possible, but due to weight, regenerative braking systems, and decreased range when towing, EVs aren't often given a tow rating in the US. EVs were not designed with this capability in mind, but you can read more about towing with an EV or hybrid here.

Once you're on the open road, driving with a trailer is relatively easy-going if you stick to the speed limits. Maneuvering through tighter roads, parking, and reversing with a trailer can be rather difficult, however. It is a skill you need to practice and should always be taken seriously - driving at high speeds and losing control will be disastrous.