Equipment You Absolutely Need For Towing A Car That You May Have Missed
Some equipment may be more obvious when it comes to towing your car, such as the hitch. But others you may not know about if this is one of your first times trying it. Here are some examples of essential equipment.
Extended Side-view Mirrors
Not all vehicles are perfectly well suited for towing, and you can't just assume that they'll have all the equipment that you need. You may need to do something about this yourself if the equipment isn't there. For example, you have to have side-view mirrors that are far enough away from the car to let you see what's going on with the car you're towing behind you.
Most cars are going to have regular side-view mirrors. But, in order to properly see, you need the extended kind. The regular mirrors let you see the other lanes on the highway. The extended side-view mirrors let you see traffic coming on all sides. Not only are they further away from the cabin, they are also often both wider and taller than the regular kind. If you're towing a vehicle that blocks your line of sight, they are essential.
Legally Required Lights
Obviously you need your headlights when driving at night, but if you're going to be towing a car through a period where it will be dark, you're going to need more than just your headlights and brake lights. You also need operating lights in the towed vehicle, especially if it's a trailer.
You also need these lights to sync up with your main vehicle. The exact law is going to vary based on the state, but many states are specific about how many lights you need and where the lights need to be mounted. It helps to make sure you look up the law in your state in order to make sure everything is on the up and up before you take off with a towed vehicle.
Connected Brakes
You really need to make sure that the brakes of your towing vehicle and the brakes of your towed vehicle are connected together properly or you'll end up with the towed vehicle running away from you. This is usually done through something called a brake controller.
On the other hand, if you get someone else to help you with the tow, you won't have to worry about it so much since professionals will have done this many times. This list isn't exhaustive so it helps to at least get some professional advice depending on your specific situation. Talk with a towing business, such as Michael's Towing & Recovery Service, if you have additional questions.
Share