Often overlooked on the way to your adventure is the condition and legal requirement of your snowmobile trailer.

Hook it up safely

• Trailers able to carry two sleds usually weigh less than 907 kg (2,000 lbs.) and require a Class I hitch and a 1-7/8” or 2” ball.
• Trailers capable of carrying four sleds are typically more than 907 kg (2,000 lbs.) and require a Class II or III hitch with a 2” ball.
• Ensure your tire pressure is correct.
• Place your spare tire, tire iron and jack where they are easily accessible.
• Load the sled onto the trailer properly — it is not advisable to load sleds across the width of a trailer as they will exceed your maximum allowable width (2.6m) and will be unsafe for fellow road users. 
• Use caution when loading and unloading snowmobiles from trailers to prevent strains or crush injuries.
• Use tie-down straps, rods or clamps to secure the sled.
• To deter theft secure your snowmobile with padlocks on the hitch and alarms and locks on the sleds. Record the engine serial number of your sled and keep in a safe place.
• Ensure that you have not exceeded the maximum weight of your trailer, or tires can carry.

Make sure you're secure

• All ball hitch trailers must have a secondary means of attachment (chains or cables) attached to the tow vehicle with sufficient strength to pull all the weight and prevent the drawbar from touching the road surface in case the primary ball hitch fails.

Let them see you

• Every trailer requires tail lamps, brake lamps, turn signal lamps, side markers lamps (amber in front, red at rear) and license plate light. Identification lights (three red lamps in the centre-rear of the trailer) are required if the trailer width is 2.032 m (80”) or more.
• All trailers must have the following reflectors permanently mounted
  1. one amber yellow reflector on each side and as close to the front, excluding the trailer tongue, as is practicable;
  2. one red reflector on each side and as close to the rear as is practicable;
  3. if it is more than 9.1 m (30’) long, one yellow reflector on each side near centre and one yellow lamp on each side near centre.

Brake safe

• Trailers plus load, weighing less than 910 kg (2,006 lbs.) or are less than half the weight of the towing vehicle do not require brakes.

Register for the road

• Every trailer must be registered and have a license plate attached to the rear.

Hook it up. Hitch it on.
Check your snowmobile trailer for safe travel before you head out.

If you have any suggestions on traffic safety issues that are of interest to you and your community, or for more information, please contact:

Updated January 2008