How to Tow a Front Wheel Drive Car

by Alibaster Smith

It happens to the best of us: you're driving along and you get a flat tire or your engine begins to sputter. There are many reasons your car might need to be towed. Fortunately, a practical device exists that makes it possible for you to tow a front wheel drive car. You'll need to make sure the front wheels are secured off the ground and that you are not putting undue strain on the drive train. Your car's front wheels were meant to be driven under load (or under power), so the most common device used to tow it is a tow dolly.

Step 1

Align the hitch on the tow dolly with the hitch on the towing vehicle. The hitch on the tow dolly needs to be centered directly over the hitch on the towing vehicle. Lower the tow dolly hitch onto the hitch of the towing vehicle. Most tow dollies will automatically lock into place. However, there may be a manual locking mechanism on your tow dolly.

Step 2

Lift up on the release lever of the tow dolly's ramp and pull the ramps of the tow dolly straight out. Lower the ramps onto the ground. The ramps for the tow dolly may be stowed underneath the bed of the tow dolly. Some tow dollies have removable ramps that do not stow under the dolly.

Step 3

Align the front wheels of the vehicle to be towed with the ramp of the tow dolly. You may need to put the vehicle being towed into neutral and have several people help you push it into place if you are unable to drive it.

Step 4

Drive or push the vehicle onto the tow dolly. The front wheels need to rest in the tire cradles of the tow dolly. The rear tires will rest on the ground.

Step 5

Wrap the tire webbing secured to the tow dolly around the front tires of the vehicle being towed. The tire webbing will have a locking or tightening mechanism that will lock the wrapped tires to the tow dolly or will wrap around the tire. Tighten the webbing through a ratcheting mechanism so the wheels and the vehicle will not move or roll off the dolly.