As an expert supplier of Ifor Williams trailers, we have a lot to teach about the mechanics of towing almost anything that can be moved by a powerful enough car or sports utility vehicle, from work supplies to livestock to other cars.
The best way to transport a car using another car is to use a dedicated transporter trailer, of which we have several to recommend based on your particular needs.
From the versatile and lightweight CT177 and Beavertail to the comprehensive Transporta box, we have trailers for every type of towing situation, as well as servicing, repair and maintenance services that ensure it is as safe and comfortable to use as possible.
However, there are a lot of ways to tow a car with another car, some of which can be charitably described as suboptimal, whilst others can be outright dangerous or even illegal in the wrong circumstances.
With that in mind and to provide a public service in situations where a trailer is not available but towing is necessary, here is what you need to know about towing a car, the risks that can come from improper methods and the most common mistakes to avoid.
How Do You Tow A Car?
The best way to tow a car is the best way you should tow any heavy load; use an appropriate trailer, ensure that the load is adequately tied down and evenly distributed, check everything is ready before towing the trailer away and maintain safe driving speeds and a cautious driving style.
Outside of a trailer, there are three main ways to tow a car:
- Hook-and-chain towing, where a chain is wrapped around the front bumper and the car is towed forward on all four wheels.
- Wheel-lift towing, where a hook or other type of hoist is used to lift the stricken car onto two wheels for towing.
- Dolly towing, which uses a small trailer with a ramp to lift the stricken car onto two wheels.
All of these methods have their advantages and disadvantages, but if you are without a trailer, they can become necessary.
Can Towing A Car Damage It?
If you tow a car with an appropriate trailer that is secured properly, follow the rules of the road, warn other road users appropriately and tow your car gently and cautiously, it is very unlikely that using a flatbed trailer will cause any problems to your car beyond those that led to the breakdown.
However, towing a car with any of its wheels touching the road can lead to potential long-term damage, as the lubrication and drive management systems that many cars use today are not in operation while the car’s engine is not running.
The exact risk of this depends on the drive system of the car you are towing:
- All automatic cars may be at risk when towing them without a trailer. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions, try to keep the gearbox in neutral and check if you need to remove the driveshaft or use special settings.
- Manual cars that are front-wheel drive can generally be safely towed short distances without damaging the internal systems, but generally it should only be as far as the nearest garage.
- Manual cars that are rear-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive can cause damage to the transfer case and gearbox within just a few miles in the worst-case scenarios. Check the manual to see if you need to disconnect the driveshaft.
The EU has recently updated their best practices on the subject of towing, and it can be a useful resource when towing without a proper trailer.
As well as this, towing a car can fundamentally change its driving properties, so stay below 15 miles per hour and do not make any sudden moves.
Biggest Mistakes When Towing A Car
- Driving Too Quickly – Unless you have a flatbed trailer that has taken all four wheels off the road, avoid driving faster than 15 miles per hour. This is not only important for the car but for the driver who must sit in the towed car to pick up the slack and coordinate movements.
- Making Sudden Moves – Towing a car fundamentally changes how it drives, making it potentially twice as long, twice as heavy and significantly increasing its stopping distance. Do not attempt lane changes and turns as if you are driving your unladen car.
- Following Too Closely Or Too Far Away – A car being towed needs enough slack to avoid colliding into the back, but too much rope, and it can quickly get out of control.
- Not Using A Trailer – Ultimately, a flatbed trailer or car transporter is by far the safest way to transport a car using another car.