Towing With a Small Car

Small cars have the ability to tow, although their size necessarily limits their capabilities. Drivers of small cars need to know the limitations in using their vehicle to tow.

Things You'll Need

• Tow hitch

Instructions

1. Check your capacity. Many small cars are not rated to tow anything. You will have to check your car manual or call your manufacturer to find out its towing capacity. This will be rated in pounds. Most small cars cannot tow over 1,000 pounds, but some can tow up to 2,000 pounds.

2. Get the right hitch. Hitches come in different classes that can hold different amounts of weight. Class 1 can hold the smallest amount and hitches go as high as class 5. Hitch classes are usually listed in Roman numerals.

3. Understand your limits. Towing anything with a car is going to limit your mobility. When driving, you will need to come up to speed and slow down more gradually, and take turns and lane changing more slowly. And you will need more room to maneuver.

4. Make sure you have the right connection for your lights. Most states have laws about towing and require you to have lights on the trailer. You can check with your local police station or state Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) for the laws in your area. You will need to have a connection from your car that provides power to the lights so as to alert drivers behind you when you are stopping.

References

• How To Tow a Trailer