When it comes to towing cars, there’s little room for error. That’s why it’s important to know every detail because even attempting to tow because one mistake can lead to unwanted consequences. So whether you’re going to be towing a truck or a small vehicle, here are some things that you should know to successfully tow a car.
Know What You’re Dealing With
Knowledge is power and in this case it definitely is. Even before making your way to where the designated car is, what you need to do is to find out exactly what kind of car you’ll be towing. When you’ve got that detail, you’ll want to make sure you bring the right kind of vehicle that is properly equipped (finding the right hitch to attach) and fully capable of doing the job. To find out it’s capable of doing the job, read the manual of your vehicle and learn how much it is rated to tow. Common practice is that you shouldn’t be towing more than 75% of what’s listed in the manual for the maximum safety of your car. We don’t want to end up towing two cars, right?
Weight
To properly tow your vehicle, you’ll also need to take its weight into consideration. For example, if you’re towing a trailer that has a boat in it you’ll need to calculate or estimate the weight of the trailer and the boat. This will help you determine the tongue weight which is the amount of weight that presses down on your hitch. This is an important factor to consider because too little tongue weight means what you’re towing will easily sway and too much tongue weight can cause complications such as not enough weight on the front wheels of the vehicle you’re using to tow (this causes difficulty in steering).To fix this you can use weight-distributing hitch which brings us to what you should know next.
Hitches
Hitches are one of the most important things you should familiarize yourself with when attempting to tow. There are three main hitch classifications: weight-carrying hitch, weight-distributing hitch, and fifth-wheel hitch. Weight-carrying hitches carry all of the vehicle’s tongue weight, weight-distributing hitches distribute the weight of the vehicle, and fifth-wheel hitches carry a much heavier load compared to others. Know which hitch you need by checking the weight of your vehicle.
Brakes
Depending on what kind of vehicle you use to tow and what you’re towing, you’ll need a specific kind of braking system. If you’re towing a huge vehicle, some states may require you by law to have a separate braking system and breakaway switch for safety. Make sure that your vehicle is equipped with the proper braking systems to ensure proper road safety.
Spare Tires
Last but not least, always bring a spare tire/s with you. The least thing you want to be when towing a car is not prepared. There have been numerous occasions when the vehicle that’s supposed to tow another vehicle ends up getting towed as well because of, you guessed it, a flat tire.
So that’s the basics information you need when you plan on towing a car! If there’s one key takeaway from all of this, it’s that you should always be prepared even before you attempt to tow a car. If you’re not confident in towing a car you can always seek professional help and at most times it’s an even better solution than doing it yourself. For that, Orlando Park Tow truck Services is what we recommend for any of your towing needs.
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