What Is Car Towing Equipment?

Do you need to tow your car for other reasons than repair? Perhaps you are going on a trip with a recreational vehicle or moving with more than one car. Whatever the case, you will need to have the correct towing equipment to maximize safety. Below, find additional information that will help you drive safely.

Considerations

Before you buy or rent any car towing equipment, look at your options. As with most decisions, pros and cons must be considered. The final answer depends on your type of automobile and purpose for towing. The first type of towing equipment is called a flatbed, which requires a truck with a flatbed attached. Vehicles may have to be towed on a flatbed for a number of different reasons. Depending on how the vehicle is made, it may be best to raise the car. Some manufacturers state that their cars can only be safely towed on a flatbed truck. With two-wheel car towing, the vehicle's two front wheels are off the ground.­ Two-wheel towing often is the best option for front-wheel drive, where the power from the engine is sent just to the front wheels.
With flat towing, which is also called four-wheels-down towing, the car's four wheels are all touching the ground. Recreational vehicle drivers often use this method, because they frequently unhitch their towed cars during trips. It is also difficult to store a flatbed or tow dolly.

More About Flatbed Towing

A flatbed trailer is the safest way of travel and the easiest on the car. All of the wheels are off the ground and the engine is turned off. On the other hand, flatbed trailers may use more gasoline than normal, because they are towing a heavy load. Also, you will either have to call up a reputable company to tow your car or, if used on a regular basis, purchase one for thousands of dollars. Once you rent or purchase a flatbed truck, you will not need any other equipment other than a hitch on the towing vehicle and chassis or suspension with axle straps and ratchet straps to tie the car down.

More About Two-wheeled Towing

For two-wheeled towing, you use a tow dolly. This is a two-wheeled trailer that has ramps and deep grooves for your front tires and that connects to a trailer hitch. Although this offers a less expensive way to tow a car than a flatbed, it has several disadvantages. If the car is towed frequently, the tires on the ground will have much more wear than those on the dolly. This can lead to driving problems. Also, many drivers who tow cars do not feel as comfortable with the safety factors of the dolly. When using a tow dolly, the towing vehicle has to be 750 lbs. or more heavy than the car being towed. The maximum weight for towing is 3,450 lbs. for front-wheel drive cars and 3,900 lbs. for rear-wheel drive cars. Hitches, which are attached to the back of the towing vehicle, have to tow the total weight of the tow dolly and your car. You also need a hitch ball, which comes in different sizes and safety chains to keep the dolly connected to the towing vehicle in case the towing coupler slips off the ball or the ball disengages from the hitch. A light bar with a brake and tail light has to be mounted on the car as well.

Four-wheels Down Towing

The most-often used form of towing is four-wheels down, which is common with recreational vehicles (RV) towing cars. Once again, weight is an essential factor. You need to find out the RV's gross combination weight rating. Have at least 10 horsepower for each 1,000 lbs. of weight being towed. The car and the RV are attached by a tow bar. There are three basic types: the self-aligning receiver mount, the self-aligning vehicle mount and the basic rigid, or A frame. Self-aligning tow bars are used most, because they are the easiest to hook up by one person. Depending on the weight of the car being towed, you will use one of four different classes of towing equipment. Class I is up to 2,000 lbs., Class II is from 2,001 to 3,500 lbs., Class III is from 3,501 to 5,000 lbs., and Class IV is from 5,001 to 10,000 lbs. in weight. Add the weight of the vehicle being towed and any items inside. You'll also require a receiver hitch, a tow bar, safety cables, a tail light wiring kit and a base plate kit, as well as towing accessories.

Braking Safety Equipment

The auxiliary braking system supplements the towing vehicle brakes. It is used to help the towing vehicle slow down or stop suddenly in case of an emergency. You can find a number of different kinds of braking systems. Some rely on self-generated air pressure and cylinders that apply pressure to the brake pedal. Others use hydraulic or air pressure from the RV or use a surge brake system that senses tow bar pressure. These braking systems are a very important aspect of towing safety.