Tips for Vehicle Towing Your Car (or Someone Else's) Safely

 When it comes to driving your car around Orlando, it's likely we all have several shared experiences. Many of us have undergone the stressful experience of being in a car accident, waiting for a tow truck, and so on. Car accidents are among the most stressful and dangerous of experiences, but once the shock has worn off you'll definitely remember how long it took to wait for a tow truck. 

Naturally, you might be thinking about just becoming your own part-time tow truck driver. This is always a great way to save money and time, but you need to be extra careful when doing this. Luckily, Toyota of Orlando is here with a quick guide on vehicle towing for your car or someone else's DIY style. Let's jump in!

Things to Know Before DIY Vehicle Towing

DIY towing is a great idea if you want to save time after a car accident or if you're moving. But, before you hitch up your Orlando Toyota vehicle to the tongue of another car, there are a few things you should take into consideration:

• Whichever vehicle you plan on using for the actual towing part needs to be larger and have more horsepower packing. Not only is it unsafe to tow large loads with a vehicle that isn't capable of doing that, but it can seriously damage the vehicle you're towing with. You should also use a vehicle equipped with 4WD or AWD. These drivetrain types are better suited for towing.
• Absolutely no one should be in the car that's being towed. This is highly dangerous and an accident waiting to happen. Make sure everyone who needs a ride has one or that the vehicle towing car is equipped to carry everyone you need it to. 
• The best methods for Orlando towing is to use a flat-bed trailer or a dolly trailer (one that keeps the front wheels off the road). A chain or a rope can be used, but this isn't wise to do when doing long distances. A lot can go wrong between here and there if you're not careful. 

Now for the Fun Part

Now that you've taken that advice into consideration, it's time to get down to the actual vehicle towing part. After you've hooked everything up, here are some additional things to consider: 

• Go Easy on Your Braking: Braking is an essential part of driving any Orlando Toyota car and is absolutely important when you start towing. Give yourself even more stopping distance as a wrong move could land you in hot water. Don't take sharp turns or brake quickly to avoid damage or a potential accident. 
• Drive Slowly: This is another key part to Orlando vehicle towing. Not only should you give yourself extra stopping distance, but make sure to slow down. This will ensure you have plenty of time to come to a stop and react and it will make for less energy and brake power when you need to come to a stop. 
• Make Sure the Lights Work: Your tail lights will be completely blocked when towing a large piece of cargo behind you. Luckily many trailers and vehicle towing equipment comes equipped with lighting for this purpose. Make sure it's working properly so you can alert drivers behind you that you're stopping, turning, and so on. 
• Watch Your Turns and Change Lanes Carefully: Turning can be tricky when DIY Orlando towing. Make sure to turn wider than normal and be mindful to watch your mirrors throughout your turn to avoid hitting something. Also change lanes very carefully. You should very thoroughly check your blind spot before switching to another lane. 

Need more tips on DIY vehicle towing? Toyota of Orlando is here to help at 3575 Vineland Road.