Top Factors to Consider Before Using a Tow Dolly

Tow dollies may have an innocent-enough moniker, but do not make the mistake of underestimating their level of complexity. Although using a tow dolly is an efficient and convenient method of towing another motorized vehicle, they may come with a few possible drawbacks or limitations. In some cases, they are not always a compatible option for all load types. These factors are just the start of the important considerations you need to keep in mind before moving forward with a tow dolly haul.

Continue below to learn what you need to know before buying and using a tow dolly, plus your best option for long-distance towing in Central Indiana.

Long Distance Towing Indianapolis Indiana 317-247-8484
Long Distance Towing Indianapolis Indiana 317-247-8484

Common Tow Dolly Problems

There are many possible drawbacks and limitations when it comes to tow dollies. But the most common tow dolly problems involve backing up, RV’s, hanging parts, routine maintenance, and warranty coverage. These are factors that should be considered before deciding to use a tow dolly for your long-distance car tow.

Going in Reverse

When you are using a tow dolly to haul another vehicle, you will not be able to back up. This is one of the most common complaints with tow dollies. Going in reverse with a tow dolly attached can cause serious damage to both the dolly and the towing vehicle. If you need to back up, you must first park, unhook the towed vehicle, unhook the dolly, and move both out of the way. Then you have to reconnect everything to continue on your journey.

Undercarriage Parts

Before setting off on your long-distance road trip with your tow dolly set up behind you, you’ll want to check if there are any hanging parts underneath the vehicle in tow. Things like spoilers, air dams, and ground effects can come into contact with the road surface and become severely damaged.

Recreational Vehicles (RV’s)

Recreational vehicles (RVs) are known to have problems with tow dollies. Most often, drivers complain that the tow dolly setup is too vulnerable to road damages like potholes and bumps. Driving an RV with a tow dolly in these road conditions can cause the tow dolly to jump out of alignment, which poses several other towing and road hazards.

Maintenance and Storage

It is not a very well-known fact that tow dollies require a good amount of upkeep and routine maintenance. So, before committing to using one for your upcoming haul, be sure you understand the maintenance required to keep your investment in good condition for as long as possible. After all, tow dollies are not cheap pieces of towing equipment. You will also need to consider a storage and transportation plan, as they are very heavy and take up a lot of space.

Vehicle Warranties

Some vehicle warranties are voided if certain towing methods are used, such as using a tow dolly. Dollies can also add a significant amount of weight to your trailer, which can change capacity ratings. This too may affect warranty coverage. Always check with your warranty terms before using a tow dolly to haul a vehicle.

Are you looking for a professional company to tow your vehicle a long distance? Contact Zore’s Towing at 317-247-8484 for long distance towing and heavy equipment transport in Indianapolis and its surrounding counties. We serve all of Central Indiana and tow across state borders.

Related Posts:

How to Prepare a Car for a Long Distance Tow
3 Simple Steps to Using a Trailer Hitch Adapter
How to Do a Pre-Trip Check Before Pulling a Trailer

Zore’s Towing Towing Wrecker Service Indianapolis
Zore’s Towing Towing Wrecker Service Indianapolis

What a Driver Must Do to Tow another Car Safely

There are many reasons why you might have to tow another vehicle with your own vehicle. Whether taking a cross-country road trip with your RV and primary vehicle in tow, moving to another state for work, or helping a friend transport their broken-down vehicle to their auto repair shop, the most important factor is safety. There are certain protocols that you, as the driver of the vehicle towing the other vehicle, must take in order to protect both people and cargo on the road.

Continue reading to learn some vital driving safety tips for towing another vehicle with your own.

24 Hour Towing and Roadside Assistance
24 Hour Towing and Roadside Assistance 317-247-8484

Safety Tips for the Driver of the Towing Vehicle

✅ Use Extreme Caution

Always drive with superior care and caution. Never exceed 16 miles per hour on the road, and be sure to stay alert of all surroundings, both in front of you, beside you, and behind you. Driving too fast with another vehicle in tow can create too much inertia, or force, that can easily turn into uncontrollable momentum. As a result, your vehicle might have trouble coming to a stop on demand.

✅ Utilize the Clutch Properly

When pulling away for the first time with the other vehicle in tow behind you, it is vital that you operate your clutch properly. Being gentle with the clutch, pull out delicately, and at a very slow pace. If you are not using a vehicle with a manual clutch, just be sure to pull out slowly and carefully. If you pull out abruptly, you can snap the towrope or towing pole that connects your car to the towed one. As a result, the towed vehicle can whip forward and smash into the back of yours, or worse, come off on the road and smash into another person or vehicle.

✅ Be Slow and Gentle When Braking

Never slam on the brakes, or brake suddenly, when towing another vehicle with your own. This can cause the same type of problems with pulling out too fast, as mentioned above, but it can also cause massive damage to both vehicles. Give yourself several hundred feet to brake slowly, before coming to a stop, turning, or yielding. Apply the brakes gradually and gently to avoid sudden braking. Likewise, use your turn signals far ahead of time to warn drivers around you.

If the Driver is Sitting in the Car Being Towed…

In the case that you are utilizing a towing method that allows the driver to sit inside their own car while your car tows it, there are certain precautions they must take as well. They should remain fully alert, watching all braking and turn signaling. This allows them to actively steer and brake in coordination with the other vehicle, as needed. Also, they should keep constant tension in the towrope or towing pole to reduce jerking and similar abrupt movements.

Indianapolis Indiana Towing and Recovery Services You Can Trust

Call Zore’s Towing at 317-247-8484 for 24 hour towing and recovery services, or roadside assistance 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.

Indianapolis Towing & Recovery 317-247-8484

FAQS About Tow Dollies

There are various ways to transport a vehicle using another vehicle. From flatbed tows and trailer hitches, to crane towing, dingy towing, and more, the option you choose primarily depends on the vehicle you are using to tow and the equipment available to you. Continue reading to review some of the most frequently asked questions about tow dollies, and learn what you need to know before getting started on your towing job.

Indiana Roadside Assistance & Towing 317-247-8484
Indiana Roadside Assistance & Towing 317-247-8484

Which Tow Dolly Do I Use?

Not only is it vital that your hitch and towing vehicle meet the particular weight rating of your tow dolly, it is equally important that you have all the other necessary components to go along with them. In order to choose the right tow dolly for your towing needs, you must refer to the towing vehicle’s owners’ manual for its specifications.

How Do I Install a Tow Dolly?

Tow dollies are installed in a very similar way to most hitch systems. In order to set one up on your towing vehicle, you will need to refer to the instructions laid out in your owners’ manual, as well as, the manufacturer’s instructions that come with the tow dolly. You will basically check the hitch ball height then connect the couple on it, and then attach safety chains and other necessary components, such as lights and brakes, to finish.

Do I Need Brake Lights on a Tow Dolly?

State laws regarding tow dollies vary, but most require vehicles in rear-end tow to be equipped with functioning lights for all operations, including stopping, turning, and running. Tow dollies are not required to have weight distributing, sway control devices

Can I Put a Car Backwards on a Tow Dolly?

The short answer to this question is no. Vehicles in tow should always be loaded facing forward. Not only can you be cited for an expensive traffic offense for loading a car on a tow dolly backwards, you can also cause serious accidents and injuries to other people and property.

Can a Car Tow an SUV or Truck on a Dolly?

So long as the tow vehicle is at least 750 pounds heavier than the vehicle-in-tow, you are in good shape. But before you hit the road, be sure to refer to the towing vehicle’s owners’ manual for accurate maximum weight specifications for the vehicle-in-tow.

How Do I Drive Safely With a Tow Dolly?

The basic rules of safety for using a tow dolly, besides ensuring that your dolly is suited for your towing vehicle and applications, is to ensure all connects are secure and operational, reduce your driving speed, ensure all lights are working, ensure that the hitch, hitch-ball, and coupler handwheel are tight, ensure all mirrors are in place, ensure tires are inflated properly, ensure all ramps securely stored and latched, wear your seat belt, anticipate stops and brake early, and use your turn signals.

Need Some Towing Assistance in Central Indiana?

Call Zore’s Towing at 317-247-8484 for 24 hour roadside assistance and towing services in Indianapolis and throughout Central Indiana. We are fully-equipped with the right fleets to assist cars, trucks, motorcycles, boats, construction equipment, trailers, vans, semi-trucks, airplanes, and much more. 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.

Indianapolis Towing & Recovery 317-247-8484