If you’ve ever been in a situation where your car breaks down or doesn’t work right while driving, you know how stressful and inconvenient it can be. It is important for drivers to know how to safely and effectively pull a car behind them. Whether you’ve been driving for a long time or have never done it before, these tips will help you in towing a car well.
It’s important to know that many car insurance companies offer their customers repair services. Also, if you are stuck on the side of the road in the UAE and need help, you can call 999 or find an independent car towing service provider.
Understanding the Basics of Towing
Towing is when another vehicle, usually a tow truck or another car, is used to pull a disabled car. It’s important to know the weight and size limits of both vehicles.
Important Equipment for Towing
Gather important items like
- Tow straps
- Chains
- A tow bar
- Safety lights and
- Communication devices before going on a towing trip.
Rules for Towing
When you’re pulling a car behind you, there are some things you need to do to stay safe.
- The “on tow” sign needs to be out so that other drivers can see it.
- Both vehicles must stay no more than 4.5 meters apart.
- The receptacle must be a rope or chain.
- If there is more than 1.5 meters between the ropes, the ropes or chains must be marked with a bright tag.
- The person who needs to be moved must be a licensed driver.
- For the car to be taken, all of its lights must be on.
Tips For Drivers Towing a Car
- Before you put the keys in the engine, choose a driving signal. When you need to stop on the road, you can use the parking lights, honk the horn twice, or just wave your hand.
- Make sure you accelerate very slowly to avoid shocks. The most important thing to know is that these jolts can break the tow rope, so you have to be careful. You can speed up until you feel the rope getting tighter, which is about 5 mph. Once it does, keep going until you’re going about 15 mph.
- Use the brakes or the turn signals to give plenty of warnings.
- Give yourself more room than usual when you turn corners. Get a wide-angle shot so that the car being towed doesn’t cut across the streets.
Driver Being Towed Must
- Keep a close eye on the brake lights and signal lights of the car that is pulling yours so you can plan ahead for any moves.
- Steer and stop in sync with the car that is pulling you.
- Use a small amount of pressure on the brakes to keep the towrope taut and reduce jolting. This will also help the rope last longer because it won’t be in touch with the road.
How to Avoid Damaging While Towing
Getting your car towed is a risk in today’s busy world because it takes time, costs money, and could cause damage to your car. Your car breaking down in the middle of a busy street is not a good thing to happen. Also, things can get worse if you hire a vehicle rescue company that hasn’t dealt with tough situations on the side of the road before. There’s a good chance that your broken-down car will get worse after it’s towed. Here’s what you can do to make sure your car can be towed safely:
- Release emergency brake
- Wind up all windows
- Always hire an experienced company
Towing with a Dolly
Using a dolly to pull a car means moving the front or back wheels off the ground. This method works for both cars with front-wheel drive and cars with rear-wheel drive. It’s important to know the benefits and limitations of using a dolly to pull vehicles.
Benefits of Using a Dolly
- Simple Movement: Towing with a dolly makes turning and moving around easier, especially in narrow areas.
- Less wear on the tires: When pulling, the wheels that are raised won’t get worn down.
- Cost-effective: It is often cheaper to rent or buy a dolly than to use a flatbed tow truck.
Conclusion
Towing a car is a skill that all drivers should know. By using these tips and rules, you’ll be able to get through the process safely and effectively, helping yourself and others when things break down.
