Do-It-Yourself Towing – If You HAVE To
Or Don’t.
There are a variety of ways you can tow a vehicle yourself. Perhaps you’ve seen some of these jerry-rigged masterpieces on social media or even out on the road. A car strapped into the bed of a pick-up truck or on top of a minivan. It’s comical, but it’s also very unsafe. If you do choose to do it yourself, we suggest you follow the guidelines below. And if, after reading and thinking it over some more, you decide to call on the pros, reach out to Silver Lake Auto & Tire Center’s towing services. You’ll not only experience safety and ease, but you also won’t have to call around for an auto repair shop. You’ll be taken straight to one!
Towing, Taking the Cable Route
If you or a friend have another sturdy vehicle and a tow cable on hand, you can hook the broken-down jalopy up and get it where you need it to go.
The first step in conducting a self-tow is to make sure the towing cable you plan to use is a professional, heavy-duty cable from an auto-parts store. It needs to be sturdy and capable of handling the weight of your vehicle. You’ll leave yourself and others in a very unsafe situation if you try to compromise and use any old rope or chain.
The next step in this process is to attach the hook at one end of the cable to a secure metal loop at the rear of the towing vehicle. Then, attach the hook at the other end to a mounting loop or hook under the front of the disabled vehicle. Do NOT wrap the cable around the bumpers! Next, make sure there are no more than 12 feet between vehicles, and that the cable has very little give.
Driving in Tow
Most likely, both vehicles involved will need a person behind the wheel. Someone in the disabled vehicle will need to control the steering, as well as the slowing and stopping.
Check the vehicle over one more time to ensure everything is hooked up safely and that there aren’t any loose parts. Put the hazard lights on, and use hand signals when pulling out onto the road. You’ll be maxing out your speed at about 25 miles per hour, so stay in the right lane, and don’t plan on traveling too far.
Just Call a Professional
Self-towing is not an easy task. Now, if you’ve had a change of heart and want to call a tow truck, we suggest you call Silver Lake Auto & Tire Center in North Lake, Wisconsin. You won’t regret it!