How to Tow a Car

If you find yourself in the unfortunate position of a broken down vehicle, your ability to tow a car with safety will prove invaluable. With a few simple steps and a healthy dose of common sense, you should be able to tow your car from point A to point B with minimal difficulties.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Ensure that the car you are going to tow is put in neutral. If this step is not taken the wheels will remain locked which can cause serious damage to the vehicle and pose a safety risk.

2. Fasten a tow chain or other sturdy cable from the trailer hitch of the towing vehicle to the car being towed. Make sure the fastening is double looped and made to a sturdy part of the vehicle's undercarriage.

3. Make sure no one is sitting in the car that is going to be towed. Having a passenger ride in a towed vehicle is not only a violation of safety; it is also illegal.

4. Place a sign that is clearly visible to cars riding behind you that the vehicle is in tow. This will convey to other drivers the need to give you an extra wide berth.

5. Drive no faster than 45 miles per hour. High speeds greatly increase the amount of strain put on your tow cable and can result in a serious risk to safety, possibly resulting in an accident.

6. Remember to limit the distance you take any car in tow. A tow should not be pushed beyond what it takes to get your vehicle to the nearest service station.

[drivesmartbc]

on 1/31/2009 Doing this is illegal in British Columbia. You may wish to add "check local regulations before doing this."

[ddog800]

on 8/26/2008 Um, if you're using a chain, and there is no one riding in the towed car, then how are you supposed to stop the car being towed. As soon as you hit the brakes on the vehicle in front, the car being towed is going to slam the back of the towing vehicle.