We’ve all been there—your car breaks down or you get stuck in a parking lot and you need a tow truck. We know it can be stressful, but if done correctly (and safely!), tow truck services can help get your car back on the road quickly and easily. Today we are sharing our top Car Towing Safety Tips to ensure safe towing for your car that will give you peace of mind while keeping everyone involved out of harm’s way!
This is advice that you will only need if all the following problems occur.
1) Your vehicle cannot move on its own.
2) You have no access to or money for professional towing.
3) Your vehicle cannot be made mobile where it is.
If this is not the state of your vehicle right this minute, then do yourself a favor and get AAA towing coverage as it will save you from needing to tow one private vehicle with another.
Should you be in a situation where you need a friend / relative / whomever to tow their vehicle with theirs, then make safety a priority.
First of all, I suggest using high-strength tow straps (not chains or ropes) to connect the two vehicles. Pick appropriate connection points on the back of the towing vehicle and front of the inoperable vehicle.
Hint: Plastic bumpers are a bad choice. Find some durable metal in a centralized location. Have one person to drive the front vehicle and one to control the rear vehicle. Place the front vehicle in low gear for two reasons: the extra torque will ease the burden on the engine and speed should not exceed 25 miles per hour. Place the rear car in neutral.
Each driver will only be using one pedal. The front driver must use only the accelerator, and the rear driver must only use the brake pedal-obviously since that vehicle won’t run. The reason that the rear driver must be in charge of breaking is simple: inertia. An object in motion tends to stay in motion unless acted upon by an outside force. If the front driver hits his brakes the tow strap will go slack and the rear vehicle will slam into the bumper of the front vehicle.
The drive is bound to be stressful. The rear driver will need to pay very careful attention in order to brake for both vehicles effectively, and the front driver will need to be aware that any vehicle stuck behind your slow-moving duo is likely to make an aggressive move to pass you. Expect to be cut off and honked at often.
It will not be an enjoyable experience, but you can get through it by using your brains and nerves and a little help from your friends. If you haven’t taken my original advice to get towing coverage, you certainly will after going through one bout of do-it-yourself towing. Good luck.
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