How to Tow a Car With A Truck: Step-by-step Guide

One can never predict what will happen when on the roads; unfortunately, the unexpected sometimes happens. A car may need to be towed for several reasons, and whatever the reason, there are some strict rules and steps that you need to follow.

Safety should be your top priority when towing a car, so ensure that you follow the proper steps and consider various factors to avoid running into any other problems when towing a car with a truck.

Can Your Truck Tow a Car?

A number of factors can influence a truck's ability to tow a car adequately, and you need to consider each element to avoid any problems.

You will first need to consider your truck's maximum towing capacity; the vehicle you plan to tow should not exceed this capacity. You should also factor in the weight of the equipment you will use and the tow vehicle.

Double-check your tow hitch specification sticker located on your vehicle and ensure that it can support the weight of the dolly or trailer and the towed vehicle. Don't use tow straps; they are unreliable and break quite easily, and remember, you cannot have a person in the towed car.

You should also consider the towing regulations. They differ in each state, but the basics are pretty much the same. Your pickup truck does need to meet specific criteria.

For example, your truck's braking system must be able to stop the towed and towing cars. Your truck should also be about 750 lbs heavier than the vehicle it is towing.

All of this is very important, and you cannot play around when towing a vehicle. There are various risks involved when towing a car, and you need to be sure that you are doing it safely, not just for yourself but for the many other people also driving on the roads.

How To Tow a Car with a Truck

Below are some great methods you can use to tow a car with a pickup truck safely. Follow the steps accordingly to ensure that you do everything correctly. Please do not skip any steps or half-heartedly complete any of them. Closely following each step is imperative!

Using a trailer

If you're wondering how to pull a car with a truck safely, this is it. Trailers are flexible and can handle different vehicle configurations, like front-wheel drive cars, four-wheel drive cars, and rear-wheel drive cars.

Step 1

You start by backing the truck up so that the hitch ball is above the trailer's tongue. Then, you can use the handle to lower it into the hitch ball. Once you have connected the trailer to the hitch, cross the safety chains and connect their hooks to your truck.

Lastly, connect your truck's sockets and the trailer's electrical harness.

Step 2

You must ensure that the trailer and your truck are perfectly in line with the towed car. If the car can run, then drive it up the trailer. Alternatively, you can back your truck and the trailer up to the vehicle.

Step 3

You can load the car once everything is aligned. Then, either push or slowly drive the car up the ramps of the trailer. Make sure that all four of the tires are entirely on the trailer, and the ramps should be able to fold up without touching the back of the car.

Step 4

Now it is time to secure the car to the trailer. Ensure the vehicle is in park and the parking brake is engaged. Use the safety chains and ratchet straps to wrap around each wheel. Hook all of the straps onto the trailer and make sure they are tight.

Lastly, connect the chains to the back and front of the towed car.

Using a dolly

A tow dolly is a good and standard tool used for towing cars. It works well with a front-wheel drive vehicle since you don't need to remove the drive shaft.

Step 1

First, you need to connect the tow dolly coupler to your truck's hitch ball. Next, tighten the coupler using your hands and make sure that it is tightly fastened. Test it first by slowly accelerating your truck forward to see if the dolly is tightly and steadily connected.

Connect the safety chains of the dolly to the towing car or truck for extra protection. This way, if the coupler loses grip, the safety chains will keep the truck and tow dolly attached.

Step 2

To make it easier for yourself, line your truck up with the car and the dolly before you start loading. Then, drive the car up the ramp when it is aligned with the dolly and truck. If the car cannot run, you can back the dolly and truck up to the car.

The car needs to be facing forward when you load it. It can sway and whip if it is rear-facing, which is very dangerous!

Step 3

Now it is time to load the car. Once the vehicle is lined up, you can drive it onto your dolly ramp. If the car cannot drive, then you will likely need a couple of people to push the car onto the dolly ramp.

Step 4

Now that the car is on the dolly, you will need to secure it. Place the front tires against the wheel stops and use the tire straps to strap the car to the dolly. Use the ratchet mechanism to make the straps as tight as possible.

You will also need to hook security chains around the car for added support. Once this is done, you need to disengage the towed car's parking brake so that the rear wheels can spin freely.

Alternative Towing Equipment

There are some other towing options other than a trailer or tow dolly. You can use a tow chain or tow strap if you are desperate. However, this can be very dangerous and should only be a last resort.

If you do not have all of the appropriate tools on you, you could also call a towing service to come to help you out, but with the right tools, you should not have any trouble at all.

Final Thoughts

It's essential to follow the steps above carefully and correctly to ensure you can safely tow your car. With a little patience, it's not difficult to learn how to properly tow, so you should have no trouble towing a car for short distances or long hauls!

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