Media post: Tow Like a Pro: Essential Tips for Safe and Easy Car Towing

Towing a vehicle needs skill, attention, and a commitment to safety. You should note that improper towing procedures can lead to accidents, car damage, and catastrophic injuries.

You should adhere to proper towing practices to guarantee your own and others’ safety on the road. To help you out, here’s a guide to towing safely and confidently.

Know your towing options

When your car breaks down and you contact the nearby towing service, you have two options. You can use a flatbed, which takes up most of the street and provides no protection for your vehicle or cargo.

You can also use a rollback truck that has an angled bed that tilts away from your vehicle, protecting it from damage and keeping the contents safe. It is up to you to choose which option you prefer.

Because a flatbed truck has a more basic and fixed towing platform, it is best suited for cars with minor difficulties or extensive construction equipment that cannot be driven on public roads. 

On the other hand, a rollback tow truck is better suited for a critically damaged car, especially if the wheels are broken. This is because the tilted bed makes loading the vehicle onto the car easier. 

A rollback truck is also preferable for emergencies since the bed angle may be adjusted to help maneuver the vehicle through different environments and areas.

Properly prepare your car for towing

For an easier time, you should properly prepare your car for towing. If you have a flat tire, repair it before calling for help. This way you will have an easier time loading the car. 

If you don’t know how to change a tire, your towing service can assist you. You only need to make sure that you notify them ahead of time. 

Another thing to think about is if you have gas in your automobile. If so, turn off your car; otherwise, it may catch fire during transfer. You don’t want this, do you?

If you have a manual transmission vehicle, ensure it is in park or neutral. Some automobiles must be pushed back, so find someone else to assist you before the tow truck arrives. 

If you have an automatic transmission, use the emergency brake and ensure the tires are firmly pressed on the curb. You should switch off your headlights unless you don’t mind spending more on battery power.

To avoid theft, remove your valuables while your automobile is moved. If you can’t take these items, try to keep them hidden from sight. 

You can keep anything of value locked in the trunk before moving it since criminals will take advantage of any opportunity. You shouldn’t be a victim. 

Remember to take photos or videos of your vehicle’s exterior before having it towed. You can then offer these images or videos to your insurance provider to assist you in the event of theft or vandalism while in transit, which is regrettably very common.

Ensure you use a vehicle of the right towing capacity

Before towing your vehicle, you need to know the weight of your vehicle so that you can inform the towing company so that they can send a towing vehicle with the right towing capacity. 

You should know that every vehicle has the highest weight it can safely tow. Exceeding the towing capability increases the chance of an accident.

To ensure this doesn’t happen, you should let the towing company know your vehicle’s weight so they can send the right truck. Even when the car arrives, double-check to confirm that it’s at a suitable capacity. If not, don’t tow your vehicle as it increases the chances of accidents, and you don’t want this. 

Ensure the weight is evenly distributed

Proper weight distribution is critical when towing. You should note that uneven or overloaded trailers may cause your vehicle to become unstable or lose control. The basic rule is to place roughly 60% of the load’s weight in the trailer’s front half and 40% in the back. Distribute the weight equally from side to side.

Even when you hire a towing company, remember that you still have a responsibility to double-check and confirm that there is even weight distribution, which will give you peace of mind that your vehicle will be safe. 

Use the right towing service

Before you reach out to a tow truck, you should know a few details about it. As a rule of thumb, you should know how much you should expect to pay for the towing service.

Most organizations provide free quotes, so if they ask for payment upfront, they are likely not credible, and you should stay away from them. 

If you don’t have a towing service provider in mind, you can also ask friends, relatives, or coworkers for personal recommendations for any company that has previously towed their cars and provided excellent service. 

When asking around for pricing, phone at least three different providers to get a sense of the price range you’re working with.

As mentioned above, you should let the towing company know about the weight of your vehicle. Before you ask the towing company for your location, you should ask them whether they have a car of suitable capacity that will safely tow your vehicle. 

Remember that you have a great responsibility to ensure that your vehicle is safe when towing, so you should be highly observant when the towing truck arrives. What is the condition of the car? How does the towing truck driver conduct themselves?

If you have doubts about how they do their work, you should avoid working with them and instead find a better provider. 

Parting shot

These are the tips you should consider for properly towing your vehicle. As mentioned, you should take your time and find a reputable towing service provider with the right size of towing trucks that will safely tow your car without putting it at the risk of getting damaged. 

As mentioned, even when you hire a towing company, you have a responsibility to ensure your car is towed safely, so do all the due diligence before you start the towing.