How to Install a Trailer Hitch Adapter

Our February blogs, seen to the right, “How to Transport a Car Across the Country”, and, “How to Test Tire Tread Using a Penny”, have certainly turned this month into the month of “How To’s!” So we why not end the month with one more “How To” blog?

After some thought, we realized that many novice towers are always asking questions about setting up hitch receivers and adapters. If you have a trailer and towing vehicle, you might want to review the steps for doing both. Continue reading to learn a quick guide to installing a trailer hitch adapter, as well as, some helpful tips for hitch receivers.

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Indianapolis Towing & Recovery 317-247-8484

Trailer Hitch Adapters

Trailer hitch adapters are great because they do just that: adapt. You can use them with a 2 inch hitch accessory with a 1 ¼ inch receiver. Even better, trailer hitch adapters can also be used with hitch-mounted bike racks and cargo carriers that are designed for a 2 inch receiver hitch. Keep in mind, you still must use cargo support straps to prevent your cargo from moving around or creating strain on your trailer hitch.

Before getting started, it is critical to DOUBLE CHECK the receiver hitch tongue weight rating. The tongue weight needs to be higher than the combined weight of the cargo and the apparatuses used to secure everything. See our article, “The 5 Hitch Classes and Their Maximum Load Capacities” to learn more about tongue weight (TW) and gross trailer weight (GTW).

Trailer Hitch Adapter Installation Guide:

Step ❶ – Insert the adapter into your vehicle’s receiver hitch. Then secure it with the pin and clip.

Step ❷ – Install the 2” hitch accessory, then secure it using the pin and clip.

Step ❸ – Secure the hitch accessory with cargo support straps.

Step ❹ – Periodically inspect the hitch accessory as you use it to ensure the trailer hitch adapter and cargo straps are still secure and in place.

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Zore's Towing Indianapolis 317-247-8484
Indianapolis Towing & Roadside Assistance 317-247-8484

Call Zore’s Towing at 317-247-8484 for prompt, 24 hour towing and roadside assistance in Indianapolis and its surrounding counties. Our licensed towing and recovery division retains an extensive fleet of over 35 tow trucks and wrecker equipment, allowing us to assist drivers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year, rain, snow, or ice. Request a free estimate, anytime.

How to Transport a Car Across the Country

Whether you are relocating for work, loaning a car to a loved one, or just moving far away because an opportunity presented itself, you are likely in need of vehicle shipping if you are taking a plane to your final destination. In order to do this, you will need to follow a particular set of steps. Continue reading to learn the easiest way to transport a car across state lines.

Long Distance Towing 317-247-8484
Long Distance Towing 317-247-8484

Hire a Long-Distance Towing Service

The first step to shipping your vehicle across city or state limits is to find a reputable towing company to transport it for you. Be sure you hire a licensed and insured tow truck company that has decades of experience with all kinds of towing. They should retain the proper fleet of trucks and the latest technologies in transport equipment, as well as, adhere to all industry best practices for long-distance towing. This will give you confidence that your car or truck is being transported, safely and professionally. It also means you can expect a timely delivery.

Prepare Your Car for Shipment

The next step you want to take is prepping your vehicle for its journey. Start by cleaning out the interior of the vehicle, and removing any personal possessions. Make sure you deactivate any car alarm systems too. Once you have finished the interior, schedule your car for a routine maintenance appointment at your trusted auto repair shop.

They will check all the fluid levels, adjust tire inflation, inspect all the brakes (parking, emergency, etc.), charge the battery, and more; overall, they will make sure that your vehicle is in good condition. This way, you will know it will be ready to drive once it arrives at its new home. After your vehicle is serviced, take it to a car wash to have the exterior cleaned and waxed. This is important for the next step.

NOTE: You do not need to remove the license plate, but be sure the screws are tight and intact.

Gather Records for Liability Reasons

To protect yourself and the transportation company from liability, be sure to take a lot of pictures and even a few video recordings to confirm your vehicle’s condition before the journey. This can be used as evidence if a scratch or ding come into questions by either party. Take pictures of all minor and major defects along the surface, including existing scratches, nicks, paint chips, dings, dents, rust, and more. You should even write down the numbers on your car odometer.

When you are done making records, contact your auto insurance carrier to discuss your policy limits. You need to know if your vehicle is covered during its transport, and after it arrives at the new location.

NOTE: You won’t need to worry about documenting fluid leaks or internal damage since you’ve recently had the vehicle serviced, professionally.

Disclose Vital Information to the Driver

When the towing company arrives to pick up your vehicle, be sure you disclose all the necessary information they need to transport the car safely. This includes telling them of any mechanical problems or defects, regardless of how minor. It is especially important to tell them if your car has problems with its parking or emergency brakes. If your vehicle is in a risky condition, or very fragile, you can even provide the driver with written car handling instructions.

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Towing Indianapolis, IN
Towing Services in Indianapolis, IN

Call Zore’s Towing at 317-247-8484 for safe and affordable flat bed long distance towing service you can trust. Our towing services are comprehensive, ranging from light, medium, and heavy duty tows, to heavy equipment transport, long distance towing, property management, and more. As a family owned and operated company that has been in business for over 90 years, you can trust us for safe and efficient towing any time of day or night. In fact, we are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year!

How to Test Tire Tread Using a Penny

In last month’s blog, we discuss several methods of tire maintenance and care. You learned that colder temperatures cause tires to lose more air, thus requiring them to be inflated more frequently in the winter season. It is important to regularly check tire pressure to ensure that your vehicle is operating as safely and efficiently as possible. Furthermore, it is important that your tires have sufficient tread in order to maintain proper traction and maneuverability on the road. Not sure what good tire tread looks like? Just implement the age-old tire treat penny test!

Continue reading to learn how to use a penny to determine the condition of your tire’s tread.

24 HR Roadside Assistance 317-247-8484
24 HR Roadside Assistance 317-247-8484

Tire Tread Inspections

You can surely find a penny anywhere. If not in your home, certainly in your cup holder, glove box, pocket or purse, or even on the street! What we mean to convey is, pennies are not hard to come by, making them the perfect and most convenient automotive tool you can have on hand. So how can a penny give you vital information about the quality and condition of your tires? The answer has to do with the size of a penny. But before you can understand this, you must first learn how to implement the tire tread penny test.

Tire Tread Penny Test:

Vertically insert a penny in between two grooves of your tire so that the penny’s face is looking straight ahead.

Inspect Lincoln’s head position. If you can see Lincoln’s face, your tread is low, and you likely need new tires. If you cannot see the President’s head, your tire tread is still in good condition.

Consequences of Low Tire Tread

If you discover that your tire tread is low, it is wise to start thinking about tire replacement. Otherwise, you can be putting yourself and the mechanical operations of your vehicle, at risk. Not only do low tread tires have little traction on the road, they also cause slow or unpredictable braking operations. In wet conditions, low tire tread can cause your vehicle to spin out of control, or veer off the road. Furthermore, low tread causes reduced fuel efficiency, costing you more money in gasoline.

Need Emergency Tire Assistance?

Zore's Towing Indianapolis 317-247-8484
Indianapolis Towing & Roadside Assistance 317-247-8484

Call Zore’s Towing at 317-247-8484 for 24 hour roadside assistance and towing services in Indianapolis and throughout Central Indiana. Our friendly staff is waiting by the phones, ready to help you get back on the road, safe and sound. We operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year, so you can always count on us. Request a free estimate, today.