Looking to start a towing service business? You’re in the right place. A towing vehicle and a chain aren’t enough; there are basic factors to consider before hauling a vehicle, no matter the size.

Overlooking the smallest details could cause severe damage to your towing mechanism or the vehicle you’re towing. Ranging from the weight balance, tires, and gears to driving techniques, there are crucial factors to note before towing a vehicle.

We’ve identified five essential things to know about towing. Read on to discover them.

Reason for Towing

Sounds cliché? We thought so too. But it would interest you to learn that the reason for towing a vehicle affects how much towing efforts to put into hauling it. Common reasons for towing services include a flat or damaged tire, dead battery, overheating, and vehicle collision. You can also need towing services if you lock your keys in your vehicle, get your vehicle stuck in the mud, or run out of gas.

Determining why a car needs towing helps you understand its mobility and the right approach to use. As a tow vehicle expert, never ignore the reasons why a vehicle is undrivable.

Balance the Weights

Now, there are different types of towing vehicles with their respective towing capacities. Wheel lifts, integrated tow trucks, hydraulic flatbeds, rotator tow trucks, and hook and chain tow trucks, among others, have specific uses.

Several factors affect the choice of a towing vehicle, one of which is the weight of the vehicle to be towed. First off, identify the load capacity of your tow vehicle. Most hydraulic flatbeds, for example, can haul vehicles of about 7000 lbs. and a maximum load of 54,000 lbs. to 80,000 lbs. depending on the size.

You’ll always find the towing capacity of a vehicle on the side door jam, manufacturer’s manual, or the company website. Similarly, manufacturers provide details of the weight of empty vehicles on the manual.

With such information, you can calculate the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) in relation to the Tongue Weight (TW) to get the Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) to be sure you’re on the safe side.

Failure to balance the eights properly or entirely ignoring the recommended towing capacity could cause long-term damage to your towing vehicle, expose the cargo to damage or result in accidents during haulage.

Align the Brakes

Aligning the brakes is necessary to avoid collisions between the cargo and the towing vehicle. In most states, both the towing vehicle and the towed vehicle are required by law to operate on two different brake systems. This is to prevent the towing vehicles from doing all the braking during motion.

As a rule of thumb, do a thorough check on both the towed and towing vehicles to ensure that the brakes and brake lights are in good condition. During motion, avoid speeding to prevent wear and tear. Also, do not apply the brakes on the towing vehicle too suddenly to avoid collisions.

Select the Perfect Hitch and Ball

Towing vehicles often come with factory-fitted hitches. Notwithstanding, you need to select the right hitch for your towing vehicle, depending on the cargo in question. If you’re transporting a cargo causing your tow vehicle to weigh over 4000 lbs., it is advisable to use the weight distribution hitch.

Weight distribution hitches are designed to distribute the tongue weight across the axles of the towing vehicle, especially when the tongue weight is too high on the hitch ball. On the other hand, the weight-carrying hitch is sufficient for setup weighing less than 4000 lbs.

Check Your Tires

Tire pressure is a significant factor to consider while loading your tow vehicle. Every towing vehicle comes with recommended tire pressure for minimum and maximum towing weight and payload, respectively. Keeping the figures right keeps you safe while towing.

Ensure to respect the maximum payload recommended by the tire manufacturer. It is advisable to keep the cargo size way below the maximum recommended tire pressure as your tires grow old.

More so, check your tires for possible wear and tear before loading your tow vehicle and watch out for minor signals before setting off. A damaged tire while towing could be fatal.

Final Routine Checks

Before moving, it is essential to conduct routine checks on all the components involved in the towing setup. Depending on the type of towing vehicle in use, check the status of the hitch and ball, tires, stability of the cargo, weight distribution, cross chains, lights on both vehicles, etc.

Now That You’re in Motion

You’ve checked all the towing requirements, and your setup is in good condition, with the right safety precautions in place. But that’s just half the job! It is important to keep your driving as safe as possible. To enjoy a bump-free, keep these tips in mind while hauling:

• Drive slowly
• Avoid congested roads
• Keep your turns wide at sharp curves
• Brake gently always
• Use mirrors and spotters expertly.

Conclusion

Towing a vehicle isn’t as difficult as feared. So if you’re a vehicle owner in need of towing services, it is important to leave the job to experts. Contact the nearest towing company around and provide all the data required. With the right combination of the right equipment, strategies, and towing techniques, towing can be extremely stress-free.