Stranded on the side of the road and wondering how to tow a car with a truck? You’re not alone. Many drivers attempt DIY towing with their trucks but don’t realize the risks involved.
Whether you’re dealing with a breakdown, a stuck vehicle, or simply need to transport your car to another location, understanding proper towing techniques is essential for safety and preventing costly damage.
As Maryland’s trusted towing experts for over two decades, Geyers Towing provides professional towing services when DIY isn’t the safest option. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk through everything you need to know about how to tow a car with a truck properly, from equipment selection to step-by-step procedures.
Key Takeaways:
- Towing Capacity Matters: Understanding your truck’s specific towing limitations prevents dangerous overloading situations.
- Proper Equipment is Essential: Using the right towing tools and attachment methods significantly reduces damage risks.
- Safety Protocols Save Lives: Following established safety procedures protects both your vehicles and other road users.
- Legal Compliance is Mandatory: Knowing and following state-specific towing regulations prevents tickets and liability issues.
- Professional Assistance is Available: Geyers Towing offers expert towing services when DIY methods aren’t appropriate.
Should You Attempt to Tow a Car with Your Truck?
Before jumping into the how-to aspects of towing a car with a truck, it’s worth asking whether this is the right approach for your specific situation. DIY towing makes sense in certain scenarios but carries significant risks in others.
When DIY Car Towing Makes Sense
- You have a properly equipped truck with sufficient towing capacity
- The distance is relatively short and on well-maintained roads
- Weather and traffic conditions are favorable
- You have previous towing experience
- Time isn’t a critical factor
When Professional Car Towing is Better
- The vehicle is severely damaged or in a difficult position
- You’re unfamiliar with proper towing techniques
- The tow route involves highways, heavy traffic, or challenging terrain
- Weather conditions are poor (rain, snow, fog)
- The disabled vehicle is particularly valuable or has special towing requirements
Understanding Your Truck’s Towing Capacity for Car Transport
One of the most critical factors in how to tow a car with a truck safely is knowing your vehicle’s towing limits. Exceeding these specifications puts tremendous strain on your truck’s engine, transmission, brakes, and frame, potentially leading to dangerous failures.
How to Find Your Truck’s Towing Capacity
Your truck’s towing capacity can typically be found in:
- The owner’s manual
- The driver’s side door jamb sticker
- The manufacturer’s website (using your VIN)
- A call to your local dealership
Important Weight Ratings When Towing a Car
- Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR): The maximum allowable weight of your truck, including passengers, cargo, and the tongue weight of your trailer.
- Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR): The maximum allowable weight of your fully loaded truck and the fully loaded trailer combined.
- Towing Capacity: The maximum weight your truck can safely tow.
Remember that the actual weight of the car you’re towing, plus any additional items inside it, must remain well below your truck’s maximum towing capacity for safety.
Essential Equipment Checklist for Towing a Car with a Truck
When learning how to tow a car with a truck, having the right equipment is non-negotiable. Each towing method requires specific tools designed for the purpose.
Towing Equipment Options
- Tow Dolly: Elevates the front wheels of the towed vehicle while the rear wheels remain on the road.
- Flatbed Trailer: Supports the entire towed vehicle off the ground (safest option).
- Tow Bar: Connects the towed vehicle directly to the towing truck, keeping all four wheels on the ground.
- Tow Straps/Chains: For emergency, short-distance towing only (not recommended for highway use).
Safety and Legal Requirements
- Safety chains (required by law in most states)
- Working brake lights and turn signals on the towed vehicle
- Towing mirrors for improved visibility
- Wheel chocks to prevent rolling during setup
- Proper hitch rated for your towing weight
- Reflective triangles or emergency markers
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Tow a Car with a Truck
Following the correct procedure when learning how to tow a car with a truck is crucial for safety and preventing vehicle damage. This step-by-step approach works for most towing scenarios.
1. Assess the Towing Situation
Before attaching any equipment, evaluate:
- The condition of both vehicles
- Any fluid leaks or visible damage
- The terrain and path you’ll need to navigate
- Weather and traffic conditions
2. Position Your Truck for Towing
- Park on flat, stable ground if possible
- Align your truck with the disabled vehicle
- Apply the parking brake and use wheel chocks
- Leave enough space between vehicles to work safely
3. Prepare the Car Being Towed
- Place the transmission in neutral
- Release the parking brake
- For flat towing, ensure the steering is unlocked but secured to prevent excessive movement
- For dolly towing, turn off the car and secure the steering wheel straight
4. Attach Your Towing Equipment
For a tow dolly:
- Center the dolly behind your truck
- Secure it to your truck’s hitch
- Drive or winch the front wheels of the car onto the dolly
- Secure the wheels with straps according to the dolly manufacturer’s instructions
For a tow bar:
- Connect the tow bar to your truck’s hitch receiver
- Attach the other end to the designated connection points on the car
- Secure with pins and clips as directed
- Cross-safety chains underneath the tow bar
5. Connect Safety Features and Lighting
- Attach safety chains in a crossed pattern under the connection
- Hook up auxiliary lighting if the towed vehicle’s lights won’t be visible
- Test all lights and signals before departing
- Double-check all connections for security
6. Drive Carefully While Towing
- Accelerate and brake gently
- Maintain lower speeds (45 mph or less is recommended)
- Allow significantly more stopping distance
- Make wide turns to accommodate the extra length
- Check connections during breaks on longer trips
Safety Tips When Towing a Car with Your Truck
Safety should be your primary concern when towing a car with a truck. These essential tips can help prevent accidents and damage during the towing process.
Essential Towing Safety Protocols
No passengers in towed vehicles: This is extremely dangerous and illegal in most states, as passengers in a towed vehicle have no protection in case of an accident or if the towing connection fails.
Maintain extended following distance: Keep at least twice the normal following distance when towing a car with your truck. The added weight significantly increases your stopping distance, and you’ll need extra space to maneuver safely in traffic.
Use hazard lights for visibility: Activate your hazard lights during slow-speed towing to alert other drivers of your reduced speed. This is particularly important on roads with higher speed limits where other drivers might not expect a vehicle moving below the normal flow of traffic.
Avoid abrupt driving maneuvers: Skip sudden lane changes or sharp turns when towing a car with a truck. Abrupt movements can cause the towed vehicle to sway or even break free from its connections, creating extremely dangerous situations.
Regular connection checks: Inspect your connections at intervals during longer trips. Vibrations from the road can loosen even properly secured attachments, so examine all connection points whenever you stop for fuel or breaks.
Stay in slower lanes: Remain in the right lane when possible and avoid passing unnecessarily while towing. This reduces risk by minimizing lane changes and keeps you at a more consistent speed throughout your journey.
Common DIY Car Towing Mistakes to Avoid
When learning how to tow a car with a truck, being aware of common mistakes can save you from costly damage and dangerous situations.
Exceeding towing capacity: Overloading your truck beyond its rated towing capacity puts excessive strain on your engine, transmission, brakes, and frame. This not only risks mechanical failure but creates hazardous driving conditions that could lead to accidents.
Incorrect attachment points: Using improper attachment points on either vehicle can cause serious structural damage and create unsafe towing conditions. Always consult your vehicle’s manual for the manufacturer-recommended towing points.
Improper transmission handling: Towing an automatic transmission vehicle with drive wheels on the ground without proper preparation can destroy the transmission. Always use a dolly for front-wheel drive vehicles or disconnect the driveshaft for rear-wheel drive vehicles if flat-towing.
Unsecured steering: Neglecting to secure the steering wheel of the towed vehicle can result in unpredictable movement and potential loss of control. The steering wheel should be secured in a straight position when towing.
Compromised equipment: Using damaged or worn towing equipment significantly increases the risk of catastrophic failure during transit. Inspect all straps, chains, hooks, and connection points for signs of wear before each use.
Unsafe speed: Towing at excessive speeds reduces stability and control while increasing stopping distance dramatically. Maintain speeds below 55 mph, with 45 mph or less being optimal for most towing setups.
Legal Considerations When Towing a Car with a Truck
Each state has specific regulations governing private vehicle towing. Understanding these requirements is essential to avoid tickets and potential liability issues.
Maryland Towing Regulations
In Maryland and surrounding areas, legal requirements typically include:
- Safety chains
- Proper lighting and signals
- Maximum towing speed limits
- Width and length restrictions
- Proper license endorsements for certain towing weights
Always check with your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles for the most current regulations before towing a car with your truck.
When to Call Geyers Towing Instead of Towing a Car Yourself
While understanding how to tow a car with a truck is valuable knowledge, certain situations call for professional assistance. Geyers Towing provides reliable, safe towing services across Maryland when DIY methods aren’t appropriate.
Why Maryland Drivers Trust Geyers Towing
With over two decades of service to the Maryland community, Geyers Towing has built a reputation for reliability and professional expertise in all towing situations. Our WRECKMASTER-certified technicians don’t just tow your vehicle; they ensure it’s done safely and without causing additional damage.
We offer comprehensive towing services, including:
- Light, medium, and heavy-duty towing
- 24/7 emergency response
- Flatbed towing for damage-free transport
- Long-distance towing services
- Accident recovery
- Competitive rates and transparent pricing
FAQs About How to Tow a Car with a Truck
What’s the safest method for towing a car with a truck?
A flatbed trailer provides the safest option as it keeps all four wheels off the ground. This eliminates risks of transmission damage and steering issues while keeping the towed vehicle securely fastened throughout the journey.
Can I tow an automatic transmission car with the drive wheels on the ground?
No, this can cause severe transmission damage. For automatic vehicles, either use a tow dolly to lift the drive wheels off the ground or transport the vehicle on a flatbed trailer. If absolutely necessary, disconnect the driveshaft according to manufacturer specifications.
How fast can I drive when towing a car with my truck?
Maintain speeds under 55 mph, with 45 mph or less being optimal for most towing setups. Higher speeds significantly increase sway risks, extend stopping distances, and stress your equipment. Always reduce speed further in adverse weather or road conditions.
What’s the difference between tow straps and tow chains?
Tow straps are made of nylon or polyester webbing with some elasticity to reduce shock loads during towing. Tow chains offer more durability but less flexibility. For emergency short-distance towing, properly rated straps are generally safer, while chains with protective sleeves work better for securing vehicles to trailers.
The Smart Choice for Car Towing in Maryland
Understanding how to tow a car with a truck is valuable knowledge for any driver. However, for many situations, professional towing services provide the safest, most efficient solution.
With potential risks to both vehicles, personal safety concerns, and legal considerations, DIY towing isn’t always the most economical choice when all factors are considered.
Contact Geyers Towing today for all your towing needs! Our professional technicians provide prompt, 24/7 emergency response throughout Baltimore, Montgomery County, and all surrounding areas. Save our number now to ensure immediate assistance when you need it most!
