Ah, the signs of summertime. Wobbly trailers with bass boats, the family mini-van piled high with luggage, the homemade hauler overloaded with lawn equipment and the brand new camper, swaying in the breeze.

With the Memorial Day weekend comes the onslaught of the Tow and Cargo Season, the four months each year when more Americans trailer up, tie-down and set out for adventure. And when these vehicles hit America's highways on the way to lakes, campgrounds, bike trails and other outdoor locations, they can create significant problems, both for the vehicle's occupants and the motorists around them.

Each year there are nearly 59,000 crashes involving passenger vehicles towing trailers, resulting in injury to more than 28,000 people, according to 2002 estimates from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

According to Master Lock, many of these crashes can be avoided. By following three key steps motorists can prevent towing and cargo problems - inspect, maintain and improve. A little prevention can eliminate load shifts, accidents, tow vehicle damage and trailer theft.

   Inspect to Prevent Wrecks

   -- Check for rusted, worn or missing parts such as locking pins, hitch
      balls or receivers. Consider replacing worn out parts with new locking
      ball mounts or interchangeable hitch balls that reduce hitching time
      and perform under harsh weather conditions.

   -- Inspect the tires for wear and tear and check the tire pressure on the
      tow vehicle and trailer - 40 percent of trailer accidents are due to
      faulty or under-inflated tires.

   -- Make sure the wheel lug nuts and bolts on the tow vehicle and trailer
      are tightened to the correct torque. Check the wheel bearings for
      proper lubrication.

   -- Be sure the hitch, coupler, draw bar, and all of the towing system
      components that connect the trailer and the tow vehicle are properly
      secured and adjusted. New locking ball mounts and adjustable ball
      mounts make it easier and faster to level and secure your trailer.

   -- Check the wiring system to make sure everything is not damaged and is
      properly connected - not touching the road, but loose enough to make
      turns without disconnecting or damaging the wires.

   -- Make sure all running lights, brake lights, turn signals, and hazard
      lights are working. Test all of the lights with someone standing
      behind the vehicle to make sure all of the lights properly work.

   -- Verify that the brakes on the tow vehicle and trailer are operating
      correctly. The time to find out differently is not when you begin your
      first descent.

   -- Be sure the trailer jack, tongue support and any attached stabilizers
      are raised and locked in place.

   -- Check the side- and rear-view mirrors to make sure you have good
      visibility.

   -- Check your travel route for any restrictions on bridges and tunnels.

   -- Make sure you have wheel chocks and jack stands for when you park and
      unhitch your trailer.

   -- Check load distribution to make sure the tow vehicle and trailer are
      properly balanced front to back and side to side. This will make a
      tremendous difference in how the trailer handles.

   -- Check that all items are securely fastened on and in the trailer, and
      check them periodically as loads do settle. Each year, lost cargo
      costs owners between $20 and $60 billion. New tie-down systems such as
      Steelcor bungee cords or Ratchet Tie-Downs make it easy to secure
      cargo.

   -- Make sure that the area of attachment of the tie down to the vehicle or
      trailer is of sufficient strength to hold your load.

   -- Check to see if tie down hardware is defective, webbing is cut, frayed,
      burned, melted or abraded. Replace if necessary.

   Maintain

Tow vehicles often have more frequent maintenance requirements, including changes of engine and transmission oils and filters, lubrication of components, and cooling system checks. Check your owner's manual for information on scheduled maintenance of your tow vehicle and trailer. Here are some additional maintenance suggestions.

   -- Periodic inspection and maintenance of the tow vehicle and trailer
      tires and wheels are essential to towing safety, including spare tires.
      Proper tire pressure affects the vehicle's handling and the safety of
      you and your passengers. You can find the correct tire pressure for
      your tow vehicle in the owner's manual or on the tire information
      placard.

       -- Under-inflation reduces the load-carrying capacity of your tow
          vehicle or trailer, may cause sway and control problems, and may
          result in overheating, causing blowouts or other tire failure.

       -- Over-inflation causes premature tire wear and affects the handling
          characteristics of the tow vehicle or trailer.

       -- Tires on trailers and vehicles stored outdoors year-round may
          deteriorate more quickly, so look for signs of aging before you
          tow.

   -- On a regular basis, have the brakes on both vehicles inspected.  Be
      sure that necessary adjustments are made and any damaged or worn parts
      are replaced.

   -- Check the nuts, bolts, and other fasteners to ensure that the hitch
      remains secured to the tow vehicle and the coupler remains secured to
      the trailer. The connection point may require periodic lubrication to
      permit free movement of the coupler to the hitch ball.

   -- Make sure connector-plug prongs and receptacles, light bulb sockets,
      wire splices, and ground connections are clean and shielded from
      moisture. Lightly coat all electrical terminal connections with non-
      conducting (dielectric) light waterproof grease.

       -- Clean the prongs with very fine sandpaper, being careful not to
          damage the contact area.

       -- Clean the surface deposits in the connector holes (make sure the
          lights are off to prevent blowing a fuse).

   Improve

If your towing system is more than five years old, regularly pulls heavy loads or is exposed to salt air and harsh weather, you may want to consider upgrading your system before the tow and cargo season. Many improvements have been made in mounting devices, locks, hitches and cargo systems.

"Towing and cargo technology had changed very little in the past decade until we began applying our unique knowledge of locking systems to create innovative products to meet the needs of consumers," said Jim Recknagel, general manager, automotive group, for Master Lock. "We found that consumers didn't have confidence in their ability to hook up their trailers or tie down their cargo, they didn't trust that their systems were secure on the road, or they were afraid their belongings would be stolen. We created an innovative line of towing, cargo and security products to meet those needs."

   -- The Locking Ball Mount is the world's first locking ball mount system,
      which offers convenience and towing security. It has a locking device
      built into the ball mount, eliminating the need for separate pins,
      clips and receiver locks. The system eliminates damage to the finish of
      the hitch ball, the use of two wrenches to tighten (when used in
      conjunction with Master Lock One Tool Torque(TM) hitch balls), and
      hitch ball spinning while tightening. It is available in 2 inch drop
      or 3/4 inch rise and 4 inch drop or 23/4 inch rise

   -- Interchangeable E-Z Mount Hitch Balls allow hitch balls to be switched
      from one diameter to another in seconds, meaning you can tow more items
      twice as quickly. Hitch balls are available in 1 7/8 inch, 2 inch, and
      2-5/16" diameters. No tools needed to remove and replace the different
      hitch balls; simply flip the retaining clip, rotate the ball one
      quarter turn, and lift the ball from the shaft.

   -- The Cargo Security Set includes everything to keep cargo in place and
      to protect it from theft. It comes with an easy-to-carry storage case,
      which includes four 24-inch twin wire hook bungee cords, one Python(TM)
      adjustable locking cable and four 6-inch ratchet tie downs with 1,800
      lb. break strength.

   -- Steelcor Reverse Hook Bungee Cords have an innovative design making it
      easier and safer to attach the cords and secure payload. Flat, steel
      I-beam makes Steelcor the strongest hook in the market and the reverse
      hook design creates an easy and safe means of attaching bungee cords,
      eliminating finger pinching between the hook and the attachment point.
      It comes in an easy to store bungee organizer with a built-in handle to
      keep bungee cords in order and allow for easy transportation and
      hanging when not in use.

Master Lock products can be found nationwide at retailers such as AutoZone, Pep Boys, Wal-Mart and neighborhood home improvement stores. For more information on Master Lock and more safe towing and cargo tips, visit http://www.masterlock.com .

About Master Lock

Master Lock is the world's largest manufacturer of padlocks and related security products for automotive and outdoor needs, home and yard, contractors, campus, power sports and bike needs.

Master Lock Company is an operating unit of Fortune Brands, Inc., a leading consumer brands company with annual sales exceeding $5.8 billion. Headquartered in Lincolnshire, Ill., Fortune Brands (NYSE: FO - News), is included in the S&P 500 Index.

Source: Master Lock Company