Towing is the act of pulling something behind a vehicle. This can be anything from a trailer to a boat or even another car.
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Towing is the act of coupling a load-carrying trailer to another vehicle. This vehicle, called a towing or tow truck, pulls the loaded trailer. Towing is commonly used to remove damaged vehicles from accident scenes, return drivable vehicles to their owners after they’ve been immobilized in a crash or by a weather event, and transport cars or other cargo between locations.
Tow trucks come in a wide range of sizes and styles. The most common is the flatbed tow truck. This truck has a special flatbed that can be extended and tilted to allow for the loading of vehicles and cargo onto it. Other types of tow trucks include recovery trucks that have specialized winches and gears for retrieving crashed or stuck vehicles, and service trucks that have mobile repair facilities on board.
A tow truck can also be equipped with a boom or wheel-lift to assist in recovery operations. In some cases, these tow trucks are based on medium- or heavy-duty pickup trucks. In other cases, they are based on dedicated recovery or flatbed trucks.
Some towing vehicles are specially equipped to haul multiple new or used cars on a trailer. This arrangement is used in dealer lots or for moving large numbers of new vehicles to different locations. Towing vehicles are also often equipped with a hydraulic lift to enable them to move cars and other heavy loads over difficult terrain or over long distances.
Regardless of the type of tow truck, it’s important for the driver to understand how towing affects their vehicle’s performance and capabilities. The towing capacity of a vehicle is a limited number that varies based on how the vehicle is configured and how much weight it’s carrying at any given time.
Towing can cause wear and tear on the vehicle’s suspension system, especially if the load is too heavy or is being hauled at high speeds. It’s important to have the suspension inspected regularly to make sure that it can handle the additional stress of towing. Adding a trailer to a car can also decrease fuel economy and increase the likelihood of an engine failure due to overwork.
How to Hook Up a Trailer
Whether you’re towing a travel trailer for camping, a utility trailer full of tools and equipment or a horse trailer to transport your livestock, knowing how to connect a trailer is an essential skill. Getting it right ensures not only your safety but also the safety of other drivers on the road. The process requires backing up to the trailer, connecting the coupler and securing the safety chains, and it’s important to take your time to get it all done properly so you don’t end up with an accident on the first drive.
Before you hook up your trailer, it’s a good idea to go over the owner’s manuals for both the vehicle and trailer. They contain crucial information about weight limits, towing capacity and specific hookup instructions. You’ll also want to check your trailer hitch, coupler and safety chains for wear and tear. If any are showing signs of wear, consider replacing them before attempting to hook up the trailer.
Next, start by locating the wiring socket in the back of your vehicle where you’ll plug the trailer wire. Be sure to use a quality trailer wiring harness that’s rated for the load you’re hauling. Once you’ve located the socket, plug in the cable then test the lights on your trailer to make sure they’re working. Be sure to check the brake, left turn and right turn signals, as well as the running lights.
Once you’ve completed all of these steps, it’s time to attach the trailer. With the vehicle in park and the emergency brake engaged, use the trailer jack to lower the coupler until it’s resting on the ball. Then, tighten the coupler latch to secure it. Finally, attach the safety chains in a crisscross pattern under the trailer tongue. The crisscrossed chains are designed to catch the trailer if the coupler becomes disconnected from the ball.
Depending on the type of trailer, you may need to apply grease to the hitch ball to ensure a smooth connection. Once everything’s hooked up, it’s a good idea to practice driving with the trailer attached in a large parking lot before you head out on the open road.
How to Avoid Accidents
When sharing the road with a tow truck, remember that the added weight and length of the trailer changes your vehicle’s handling characteristics. It also increases your risk for an accident, especially if you do not take precautions.
Driver distraction and fatigue are common causes of accidents while towing, as are speeding up and slowing down erratically. In many cases, this can be a sign of driver intoxication or drowsiness, which increases the risk of an accident significantly. You can help reduce the chance of an accident by allowing extra time to reach your destination and giving the tow truck driver plenty of room to maneuver.
Leaving sufficient space between your vehicle and the tow truck will help you avoid both side-swipe collisions while passing and rear-end crashes while following. In addition, make sure to check the hitch connections regularly and ensure that all lights on the tow truck and trailer are functioning properly. Loose hitch pins, lost clips, or worn tires on the tow vehicle or trailer can cause dangerous sway. When this occurs, do not attempt to control the sway by sharply turning your steering wheel, as this could cause an overcorrection and lead to an accident.
Another way to avoid accidents while towing is to practice changing lanes and backing into parking spots in an empty lot before your trip. Familiarizing yourself with the blind spots on large trucks, including directly in front and for a good distance behind and on both sides, is also key.
The majority of accidents that occur while towing are preventable. The only thing that can be completely prevented is an accident caused by a defective product. If you’ve been injured in an accident while towing, it is essential that you contact an experienced truck accident attorney right away.
In small cities and towns, tow truck drivers are often selfless first responders who put their lives on the line to help members of their community when they need it most. They may navigate knee-high water to rescue stranded motorists during a hurricane, or they might spend the night in their truck in order to assist someone stuck in snow drifts. They are truly dedicated to helping people, and it is a very dangerous job.
How to Avoid Damage to Your Vehicle
While we all hope that we never need roadside assistance or towing, it is important to be aware of how the process can damage your vehicle and what can be done to avoid it. Scratches, dents, and other cosmetic damage are common during towing and can often be prevented by making sure that your car is secure and by choosing alternative options for car transport like professional auto shipping.
Mechanical damage can be much more serious and can affect the performance of your vehicle, including brakes, engine, and transmission. These types of damages can be caused by a variety of factors, including putting your vehicle in gear while being towed, leaving the parking brake engaged, or failing to secure engine components during the towing process.
The condition of the road also plays a role in how well your vehicle will withstand being towed. If the road is uneven or rough, it could cause additional stress on your tires and suspension system. Another factor is the speed that the tow truck driver drives, which can also add stress to your vehicle.
In most cases, the tow truck driver is responsible for any damage that they cause to your vehicle during transportation. You can usually work with the tow company and your insurance to have any damage repaired. If you do not have insurance, it is always a good idea to get an estimate for the repair costs before having them do any work.
If you do notice any damage to your vehicle after having it towed, make sure to take photos and document everything. This will help you to prove that the damage occurred during the towing process and can be helpful when negotiating with the tow company or insurance. If you are unable to reach an agreement, you may want to consider hiring a personal injury lawyer to help you through the process. Just remember that no matter who is at fault for the damage, you will still be required to pay your insurance deductible.