Traveling long distances is never easy. Questions of doubt and fear can be overwhelming 

like if you would take my car and when engine failure happens, how can you tow my car? 

If hiring a towing company, can they provide a professional towing service for your precious 

car investment?     

 

Whether you are a professional or a greenhorn driver, learning to know about the 

fundamentals of towing is important and essential for any person who drives behind the 

wheel. We share below some basics of towing and steps on how to make sure you have 

a safe emergency towing method to use while traveling.

 

What is towing?

Towing is a process of hauling or pulling behind a line, chain, or other forms of connection. 

Commonly seen and performed on cars, trailers, tractors, waterborne vessels, and all 

sorts of transport vehicles.      

 

What are the three different types of towing methods and how to 

use them?

There are three methods used in towing a transport vehicle namely the tow dolly method, 

trailer method, and tow bar method:

FLATBED TOWING

 

1. Tow Dolly Method

This method is performed by lifting the front wheels of the vehicle and allowing the rear 

wheels on the road while being towed. It is one of the budget-friendly and safest towing 

options for your vehicle.  

What are the steps in using the tow dolly?

 

Step No. 1:

Manually connect the tow dolly by attaching the coupler to the hitch ball on the towing 

vehicle. To ensure the coupler is tightly secured, slowly move the vehicle and the dolly 

in the opposite direction. Next anchor the chains from the dolly to the towing vehicle. 

This is to ensure the dolly will not detach from the car if the coupler comes off the 

hitch ball.

 

Step No. 2:

Load the towed vehicle by driving the car onto the dolly ramp facing forward. Remember, 

first make sure that the width fits the ramp, and do not forget to check the other parts 

while loading.

 

Step No. 3:

Secure the towed vehicle by driving into the dolly with both front tires against the wheel 

stops. Tire straps should be used by locking them with front tires. Stay safe by keeping 

the chains away from the fuel and brake lines.

 

Step No. 4:

Lastly, disconnect the driveshaft by going underneath the towed vehicle. Look for the 

U-joint, holding the driveshaft to the differential component. Use a strap cord to lock 

the driveshaft into the undercarriage and secure it to a frame, not the exhaust pipes. 

Next, exit the four bolts at U-joint and push the driveshaft in an upward motion. Then 

get the bolts back(yoke) on the differential component. Do again the same steps with 

another axle. If you find yourself having difficulty in doing it, better call in the 

professionals.

2.Trailer Method

A trailer method is a towing process where a towed vehicle hauls or moves a trailer, 

sometimes the trailer is a massive transport vehicle while the towed vehicle is much 

smaller in size. It is recommendable to know beforehand the tow rating of the towing 

vehicle, rated enough to haul the weight of the car and trailer as well.

 

What are the steps in using the trailer method?

Step No. 1: First, connect the trailer. Make sure to attach the trailer to the hitch ball 

of the towing vehicle and move the vehicle slightly forward (same as the tow dolly). 

The trailer coupler should be connected to the hitch. Next, the safety chains should 

be connected from the trailer to the towing vehicle, and make sure to attach the 

trailer wiring to the towing vehicle’s socket.

 

Step No. 2: Ramp the transport vehicle. The trailer ramps should be extended by 

then you can drive the towed vehicle onto the trailer. Remember to maintain the 

center point while driving slowly upwards. Next, set the vehicle in parking gear 

and place it with brakes.

 

Step No. 3: Secure the vehicle to the trailer. By using the nets or straps, placed 

them over the center of the front tires. Then ratchet the strap down to make 

sure they are secured, tight, and safe.

 

3.Tow Bar Method

A tow bar method is a towing method where all the wheels of the towed vehicle 

are on the ground while moving. A safety warning in using this method is that 

beforehand you need to detach the driveshaft to avoid damaging the transmission 

and always connect the brackets to the front frame of the towed vehicle.

 

What are the steps in using the tow bar method?

Step No. 1: Position firmly the bracket frame. By using the tow bar as a guide, 

check the hardest part of the vehicle frame in order to join the bracket on each 

side of the front of the towed vehicle (requiring you to drill into the frame component 

of your vehicle).

 

Step No. 2: Next, examine the brake lights if it is in good condition. Do not touch 

them during the towing process.

 

Step No. 3: Connect the tow bar to the towing vehicle by joining the tow bar

 bracket to the towed vehicle. This can be done by sliding the bolts through both 

ends of the tow bar (connecting to the brackets).

 

Next, make sure the bolts are tight by using washers and nuts of the same bolt 

size. Tighten it by using a ratchet. Then, use the bolt, nut, and washers 

(together with the tow bar) in attaching the two tow bars coming from the 

bracket end on the towed vehicle to the pivot brackets.

 

Lastly, attach the chains from the towed vehicle to the pivot bracket from the 

base plate to the towed vehicle.

 

Additional Important Towing Tips:

Below are some extra driving safety suggestions to avoid accidents from 

happening during your towing operation:

• use the right and proper equipment

• correctly hitch up your trailer

• when driving always allow plenty of stopping distance

• preemptively anticipate problems

• when passing, be patient

• always watch out for trailer sways

• when changing lanes be extra careful

 

What to do if in need of assistance?  

If you find towing complicated and dangerous that would risk your safety and 

of your family, better call the professional towing company near you. Cape 

Coral Towing and Recovery Services Inc., Southwest Florida’s towing 

expert company has the resources, experience, and equipment with highly 

trained Cape Coral emergency towing experts in Florida. 

 

Contact us at 239-458-3333/ 239-656-4030, or you can make a Service 

Request at https://www.capetowing.net/request-service/, for all your 

towing needs, whenever and wherever near Cape Coral, Florida.  

   

Why Choose Cape Coral Towing and Recovery Services

• Fast and Reliable Towing Services

• More than 25 years of experience 

• Emergency Towing Services 

• Family-owned and operated towing company

• Available 24 hours in a day, 7 days in a week, and 365 days in a
  year towing services

 

Learn to know why we are Southwest Florida’s Towing Expert Company, 

by checking us out at https://www.capetowing.net/.

Can Towing Damage Your Car and How to Prevent It

 

Though towing is not exactly difficult, it does involve a little bit of a learning curve and can, 

in certain scenarios, be quite an intricate procedure, which is why we recommend opting 

for calling a professional towing contractor.

However, even with road assistance, your car, its transmission, and its engine can go 

through a lot. Therefore, it’s wise to be aware of the possible risks, and know what 

measures you as a driver can take to prevent any unfavorable scenarios.

What Damage Can Happen from Towing a Car?

This is a common question from vehicle owners before they decide on towing. The short 

answer is: it could. We are mainly talking about the drive wheels of your vehicle and its 

transmission. If the towing happens with your drive wheels on the road and your 

transmission isn’t in neutral, you may end up damaging the following:

• Transmission

• Tires

• Linkages

• Engine

This goes for both manual and automatic transmissions.

Naturally, any certified road assistance company in Cape Coral should have 

experienced and fully-trained technicians who will know what to do in almost any 

scenario, but we still recommend learning what these procedures involve, just 

to be safe.

So, the next question would probably be: How do I prevent damage while towing 

a car?

Tips on How to Prevent Damage While Towing a Car

A fully-certified and insured car towing service in Cape Coral handles most 

towed vehicles. This means that not only are the tow truck operators fully trained 

in their vehicle but more than likely, they’re comfortable assessing your vehicle

 and its proper towing needs.

Flatbed towing is the norm these days. However, this isn’t always the case. 

Engaging the wheels and rolling a vehicle from its stalled location to its next 

destination was far more common, and is still a regular practice today. If the 

damage is going to happen, it will most likely happen with this type of towing. 

With this being said, here are some tips on how to prevent damage while 

towing a car. 

• Put your Transmission in Neutral

Engaging the neutral gear is crucial, which is why, once the towing service 

arrives, they are likely to ask you to do this first.

When the vehicle that is being towed is in drive or park (for automatic 

transmissions), and if the drive wheels are the ones that remain on the road, 

your vehicle will most certainly experience damage on its transmission, 

linkage, and tires. This happens because the wheels aren’t able to turn when 

they are not in neutral during the towing process, and your car will end up 

being dragged along the road. We wouldn’t want that.

• Check the Parking Brake

As crucial it is to put your car in neutral, you should make sure your parking 

brake isn’t on as well. This will ensure that your vehicle won’t be dragged 

along. A reliable towing contractor will always remind you of this before 

the tow.

• All-Wheel Drive Vehicles can be Extra Tricky

The wheel drive and the transmission also have implications for the safety 

of your vehicle during towing. Generally, two-wheel drive vehicles with a 

manual transmission are less prone to damage regardless of the towing 

method and the distance.

But if you own a four-wheel drive, it is suggested that the rear driveshaft is 

temporarily removed from your vehicle and that the rear wheels are those 

that are on the ground. Serious damage will be avoided.

• Keep your Vehicle’s Owner Manual Close

You might think, “who reads the manual these days?” Well, we hate to 

break it to you but we MUST have it and read it. Since it is always better 

to be safe than sorry, and since new and improved versions of modern 

cars are cropping up daily, there may come a situation in which the towing 

technician doesn’t know how your car should be towed. This is why 

keeping the owner’s manual in the glove compartment of your vehicle is 

always a good idea.

Also, don’t be afraid to speak up should you notice that someone from the 

 road assistance team is making an obvious mistake. To avoid this, you 

can count on a trusted car towing service.

• Keep Calm 

One of the most important things you can do if you end up in need of towing 

is to stay calm and wait for help to arrive. Don’t try to drive your vehicle away 

from the road if it is not physically and safely possible, as this can result in 

more damage and is potentially very unsafe for you as well.

If you are looking for a Cape Coral towing contractor, Cape Coral Towing 

& Recovery Inc. would be your best option! We are your trusted towing 

contractor in Southwest Florida.

 

Our car towing services are offered 24 hours of the day! Cape Coral Towing
& Recovery Inc. offers emergency towing services including emergency
roadside assistance and roadside assistance service in Southwest Florida.
You can count on us by reaching us on 239-458-3333 today!

Why Are Electric Cars Not Ideal For Towing

 

Are you planning to replace your car with an electric or hybrid one? An increasing number 

of motorists are these days considering either a hybrid, plug-in hybrid or electric model 

for their next car, replacing diesel or gasoline. While this can be a huge help in cutting 

pollution and ensuring you have an affordable car to run, what if you often tow a caravan, 

horsebox, or heavy trailer?

But while many see electric cars as the future of transportation, there are still some 

obstacles and question marks about whether they’re actually practical for ordinary 

drivers, particularly if you’re a family looking to tow a trailer or caravan for a holiday.

While it’s technically possible to tow using an electric car, there are a lot of gray areas 

you should be aware of before hitching up a trailer or caravan.

Can Electric Cars Be Used to Tow?

There are several reasons why electric cars aren't approved to tow. There are some very 

good reasons for this. We will discuss them one by one.

• Weight - The first is to do with the weight of an electric car. They already weigh
  more than equivalent gasoline or diesel-powered cars because of their heavy
  batteries. Added weight from the caravan or trailer would affect things like the
  brakes – they wouldn’t be as effective and might struggle to cope with the even
  heavier load.

• Range - Most often, towing can take long trips, which can be difficult in an
  electric car. Not only would drivers have to recharge regularly, but they'd also
  face significantly shorter real-world range than the car's published figure due
  to the added weight of the other vehicle. The extra weight could also strain
  the electric motors.

• Regenerative Braking Systems -  There is the issue of regenerative braking
  systems that slow electric cars quickly to recapture kinetic energy as electricity
  and charge the battery. The more extreme settings of these systems might
  cause the towed vehicle to behave in an unexpected way when the car slows
  as a result of the driver lifting off the throttle.

Towing Capacity in Electric Cars

Electric car towing can be a confusing topic. Motorists have been told time and 

time again that one of the great things about electric cars (also called as EVs) is 

that all of the power from their electric motors is available instantly. This differs 

from gasoline and diesel cars, where you need to get the engine spinning 

relatively fast to produce maximum power.

Smaller EVs and hybrids don’t offer a towing capacity, but several other 

electrified vehicles on the market can reliably carry a load. Towing something 

requires a lot of energy and using more energy in an electric car means you 

reduce the distance you can travel per charge - something that is already a 

concern for many potential electric car drivers, even those who don't even 

plan to tow.

With this being said, you can just count on reliable towing services in Cape 

Coral. There are plenty of car towing services, but the most reliable one is 

 Cape Coral Towing and Recovery, Inc. 

Call a towing service as soon as you need help. Wherever in Southwest 

Florida, we will come to you and respond to your towing needs! Contact 

Cape Coral Towing and Recovery, Inc. at 239-458-3333 / 239-656-4030 as 

your towing contractor in Florida!