Towing Risks to Keep in Mind

Jul 31

You never know when you might need to call a tow truck. Maybe your car breaks down on the side of the road, or maybe you get stuck in some deep snow. Whatever the reason, it's important to be aware of the risks involved in towing. Here are a few things to keep in mind the next time you need to call for a tow.

Accelerating and Speeding

Your vehicle's mass increases when you tow a load. This means that you must handle a vehicle with more momentum and inertia. Momentum simply means mass in motion. A greater speed or mass equals more momentum. Inertia refers to the ability of anything with mass to resist changes to its motion. The greater the object's resistance to change, the more massive it is. It takes more energy for a large object to stop or start moving than one with less mass.

This means that your vehicle will need to work harder when towing. It will take longer to get your vehicle up to speed if you use the same amount as normal. This is important to know if you have to merge onto the highway or pass another vehicle.

Towing a heavy load or vehicle requires focus and a steady hand. Your vehicle's length and possibly width are likely to be greater than usual. Signal your intentions to another vehicle much sooner than usual before passing it. It will let other drivers know that you are intending to pass. Before pulling into the lane, be sure to consider the length of the trailer or towed vehicle before passing it.

Towing your vehicle or trailer can be dangerous by speeding. Avoid driving down hills. Your vehicle may be more difficult to control at the bottom. If something goes wrong, it's harder to control your vehicle at higher speeds. Avoid driving on bumpy roads at high speeds. You could end up in serious trouble if you drive too fast on bumpy roads. Your trailer could flip, skid, or become detached, and you may lose control of your vehicle.

Turning

Towing a load with a longer wheelbase than your vehicles will require you to take wider turns around corners and curves. This is because your vehicle's wheels will be closer to the outside of the turn than the trailer's. If the trailer isn't watched, it could hit signs, curbs, or other objects on the road. This could cause damage to the trailer, trailer's tires, and axle.

Also, you should take faster turns. Towing equipment can be damaged if you take too fast turns. You also run the risk of the trailer tipping over or swaying. These risks can be reduced by slowing down and turning carefully.

The technique of turning depends on your skill. How well you can turn will depend on your equipment. It will be harder to turn if your trailer tongue, which connects to your vehicle's trailer hitch, is too long. You won't be able to turn if the safety chains attaching your trailer to your car don't allow enough slack.

Tire Pressure and Blowouts

It's a good idea to check your tires before you go on any trip. This is especially important if you're towing a trailer or any other vehicle. Check your owner's manuals or rental information if renting a trailer to ensure that your tires are properly inflated. It can be dangerous to have your tires under-inflated. It's like thinking about every tire on the road as a potential blowout. Preventative maintenance could make the difference between a pleasant ride and a major accident.

Blowouts can be dangerous and are more common when towing a load. Unstable tow loads can cause the vehicle to lose control, roll, or flip.

It is the same process as changing a car tire, but changing a trailer's tires is easier. A jack that is strong enough to lift the trailer will be needed. You will need a wedge to chock the wheel on either side of your trailer. Before you lift the trailer, it's a good idea also to loosen the bolts. After the trailer is jacked up, remove the tire that has been damaged and replace it with a new one. Replace the damaged tire and tighten it by hand. Lower the trailer to the ground and use a wrench or a screwdriver to tighten them.

Vehicle not rated for towing

It should not surprise that not all vehicles can safely tow a load behind them. There are many trailer hitches that fit cars, trucks, and SUVs, but relying too much on them is not recommended. Towing anything behind a vehicle that isn't designed for towing might result in serious damage. The strain might be too much for your vehicle's suspension and brake system, engine, transmission, and engine.

Even vehicles that are tow-rated have limits. Every manufacturer lists the maximum load that their vehicles can safely tow. Load limits are also set for towing gear like trailers, couplers, and hitches. Exceeding these limits can lead to equipment damage and increase accident risk. The towing vehicle will be more difficult to control the heavier loads.

Renting a larger vehicle that can tow more than your vehicle's maximum load limit is a good option. You may need to make several trips if you are transporting equipment in a trailer. Although this may reduce the convenience of towing, safety should still be

Towed Cars Can Be Damaged

You might want to tow your car behind an RV or another vehicle for many reasons. You have three options for towing your car behind another vehicle. There are three options:

To pull the car "four wheels-down" or a flat-tow, use a towbar
Tow dolls are used to ensure that only the rear wheels of the car touch the road.
Tow your car with a trailer. It can carry the whole car "four-wheels up."

Towing a trailer means that you won't have to worry about damaging your car's transmission. The trailers reduce the tire wear on the tow car's tires. Trailers can take up space and may not be as convenient as a trailer if you want to just hop in your car and go sightseeing.

Before using a towbar, ensure that the vehicle being towable can safely travel on four wheels. Transmission damage can occur in some cars. Remco tow company says any front-wheel drive vehicle equipped with a manual transmission can be towable four-wheels down. Remco suggests that owners contact the manufacturer to find out if it is safe to tow a vehicle with four wheels down. An automatic transmission car may need a lube pump to be safely towable. Before flat-towing a rear-wheel-drive vehicle, you might need to disconnect its driveshaft.

If you aren't careful, tow dollies can cause damage to your car. Before you use a tow dolly, make sure your car is equipped with a rear-wheel, four-wheel, or all-wheel drive. Towing a tow vehicle with a tow doll attached to it is not advisable. The risk of jackknifing could be too high.

Towing is not without risks. You can tow confidently if you have the right approach and preparation.