The Do’s and Don’ts of Towing a Car

When towing a car, it’s important to be aware of the potential dangers and take the necessary precautions to avoid them. Continue below to review some of the most vital Do’s and Don’t of car towing, plus where to turn if you require professional tow truck assistance or long distance towing service in Central Indiana.

Call 317-247-8484 if You Need Help Towing a Car in Indianapolis Indiana!
Call 317-247-8484 if You Need a Tow Truck in Indianapolis Indiana!

Car Towing: What You Should and Should Not Do

If you’re towing a car, there are some things you should and shouldn’t do. Here are the most important Do’s and Don’ts to remember when towing a car.

1. DO make sure your appointed tow vehicle is up to the task. If it’s not, you could end up damaging both vehicles.

2. DON’T exceed the towing capacity of either vehicle. You could end up causing serious damage to both cars.

3. DO use a tow strap or chain to connect the two cars together. This will help distribute the weight evenly and reduce the risk of damage to either car.

4. DON’T forget to apply the parking brake on both cars before disconnecting them from each other. This will help keep them in place while you’re disconnecting them.

5. DO ensure that the towing vehicle is firmly attached to the car being towed before you start to drive. This will help to avoid any nasty surprises!

6. DON’T attempt to tow a car without proper towing equipment and instruction. Improper towing could lead to personal injury or damage to both vehicles. 

7. DO check to make sure that the towing vehicle’s brakes, steering, and lights are working properly before towing a vehicle.

8. DON’T forget to double-check the tow bar and straps to make sure they’re secure before you start to drive.

9. DO keep an eye out for road hazards and other drivers to make sure that you’re towing safely.

10. DON’T forget to read the owner’s manual of your tow vehicle to make sure you understand any specific towing instructions.

Practice Safe Towing and Car Care

Following these dos and don’ts will help to ensure that you tow your car safely and securely, and can avoid any potential damages to either vehicle. You may need to consider long distance towing service for extended trips if you do not have much experience with towing a vehicle.

Do you think a professional tow truck operator might be the better option for your towing needs? Contact Zore’s Towing at 317-247-8484 for 24 hour tow truck and roadside assistance services you can afford. We serve all of Central Indiana, including Lebanon, Greenwood, and Avon areas.

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Last Minute Reminders When Towing a Car

Indianapolis Towing Company 317-247-8484

Indianapolis Towing Company 317-247-8484

Towing a car is a responsibility that should not be taken lightly. It is crucial to learn all there is to know about towing if you plan to tow a car on your own. Get familiar with the terminology and equipment that is used during a tow. Learn how to use this equipment properly and constructively for safety purposes. After you are familiar with towing, be sure to practice hulling, hitching, and unhitching a tow from your vehicle. Having all this training will allow you to be safer and more prepared on the road.

This is also important because incorrect towing methods can cause extensive damages to both your vehicle, and the one in tow. In order to tow a vehicle safely, be sure to read up on how to tow a car correctly. Once you have done this, review these quick and simple reminders that are commonly overlooked by many amateur towers across the country. By keeping these simple steps and key points in mind, you can avoid complications on the road.

Car Must Be in Neutral

Anytime you are towing, pushing, or moving a car with the engine off, the gear must be in neutral. When the car is in neutral the wheels are not locked, which allows the tires to turn while being pulled on the road. Attempting to tow a car in the improper gear cab break or damage your gear shifts and transmission.

No Passengers Allowed

In many states, and probably yours too, it is illegal to have a passenger in a vehicle that is being towed. Often times, a person is allowed to sit in the drivers’ seat to steer the car tires properly while being towed by the other vehicle, but there is no purpose for a passenger. It can be dangerous for a passenger to be on board a car in tow. It can offset the tow, making the vehicle swerve and sway on the road and into the other lanes.

Signal Your Tow

Always be sure to use a clear and easy to see sign, warning other cars on the road that you are towing a vehicle. In most cases, people use their flashers. This is a suitable method to inform other drivers to keep a safe distance from your load.

Use Slow Speeds

The highway and interstate speed limits should be around 30-40 miles per hour, depending on the size and weight of your tow. The larger and heavier the load, the slower you should drive when pulling it. Never exceed more than 45 MPH when towing a car.

Zore’s Towing

Indianapolis Towing

Indianapolis Towing 317-247-8484

For more information on towing safety and guidance, contact Zore’s Towing in Indianapolis, Indiana today. They are industry experts and have been the leading choice for towing service in Indiana for more than 85 years! Their expert towing technicians are happy to provide free estimates, guidance, and information on DIY towing. Visit their website at https://www.zorestowing.com for details about our services and company background. Call Zore’s Inc. today at 317-247-8484 for accurate and friendly advice about towing a car in
Indianapolis, Indiana
.

Essential Safety Guidelines for Towing a Car

Indianapolis Towing 317-247-8484

Indianapolis Towing 317-247-8484

Hauling a vehicle can be a risky task if the appropriate safety guidelines are not reviewed and facilitated properly. Towing a car or truck can be hazardous to the driver and other drivers on the road, if certain rules and guidelines are ignored. Be sure to learn all the vital safety rules and instructions for towing cars, boats, trucks, campers, and more on the road. Knowing the accurate techniques and advices for hauling vehicles puts a driver at a better advantage and secures the safety of their passengers and their freights as well.

Continue reading to review some important safety rules for towing and hauling large cargoes on the road.

Never Exceed Tow Capacity

If a person attempts to haul a load that weighs more than the maximum weight capacity of a vehicle, potential problems are likely to occur. For example, hauling a load that is too heavy can damage the vehicle’s drive train. An impaired drive train can be a dangerous threat on the road to other drivers; especially if driving up-hill. Losing a load can cause life-threatening car accidents and more. Towing capacities are important to abide by in order to avoid hazardous scenarios such as the ones just mentioned.

Always Use Safety Chains

One way to ensure cargo cannot get separated from the towing vehicle is to double-check the security of the safety chains. It is important to always secure the safety chains properly; not only is this the safest way to tow, it is also the law to use safety chains. It is vital that the chains cross under the tongue of the trailer; this way if the hitch comes undone, the trailer doesn’t detach or hit the ground rolling. Never attach chains to the bumper of a vehicle. Also, leave enough slack in the chains to makes turns, but not enough that they are dragging on the ground. To understand the best way to use and secure safety chains is to follow the manufacturer’s instructions meticulously.

Synchronize All Lights and Signals

When a person is towing anything on a public road, it is important that other drivers can detect turn signals and brake lights at all times. Be sure that the wiring harnesses are functioning properly so that all signals and lights are coordinated with the towing vehicle. Brake lights, turn signals, flashers, hazard lights, headlights, and fog lights should all operate effectively and in sync with each other. This is also the law.

Drive Responsibly

Towing is a serious duty that should not be taken lightly. There are several more driving rules to follow, on top of the standard road regulations mandated by local law. For example, it is important to driver slower than the assigned speed limits. This is because a heavier load takes more time to come to a complete stop; and defensive driving protects the person behind the wheel as well as the other drivers on the road. It is also important to practice steering a hauled vehicle, remembering that a trailer will turn the opposite direction when backing up, and so forth. Preparation and practice are both crucial when it comes to towing cargo safely.

Indianapolis Towing

Indianapolis Towing

Indianapolis Towing 317-247-8484

For more information and advice on towing a car or other vehicle in Indianapolis, call Zore’s Towing at 317-247-8484 today! We are experts in the towing industry and can answer any questions you have about how to tow a car, or other vehicle, safely. Visit our website at https://www.zorestowing.com/towing-services-indianapolis.php for details about our towing services and company background. Our operators are licensed and experienced to tow anything you need, to anywhere! Call 317-247-8484 for a free estimate or information about towing a car or other vehicle in Indianapolis, Indiana.