How To Use A Car Dolly Properly

It is a device that’s used to tow on vehicle behind another. Rather than having the towed vehicle completely off the ground as it would be on a flat bed, a car dolly elevates on the front part of the car, with the back wheels still on the ground. They’re pretty straightforward as far as the basics of how they work, but there are some things you’ll need to know if you’ve never used one before and you plan to tow a vehicle using a car dolly. We’ll cover the basics in this post.

Connecting the Dolly to the Towing Vehicle

A car dolly connects to the towing vehicle with a simple ball hitch, just like any other type of towing trailer. When attaching the dolly, make sure both the dolly and the towing vehicle on a flat, even surface so that you can easily connect the hitch and adjust the dolly as needed without the possibly of it moving during the process. It is critical to consider that it should only be used for front wheel drive vehicles since the back wheels remain on the ground and roll along just like they would when driving. You should not load a car backwards on It under any circumstances! If a vehicle is a rear wheel drive, you will need to disconnect the rear axle and load it in the prescribed manner.

Check the Tires

All tires should be checked for appropriate inflation and tire pressure. This includes the towing vehicle, the dolly itself, and the vehicle being towed. Any sort of unevenness can be a problem when you’re driving with an attached car dolly due to the extra weight and length involved. In the towing vehicle, make sure there is no unnecessary weight inside it so that the entire rig remains balanced while driving. The same goes for the vehicle being towed—if there is anything in the vehicle, thought not recommended, make sure the weight is evenly distributed.

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Load Carefully

When you load the vehicle onto the towing dolly, you’ll again want to make sure you’re doing so on a flat surface. Keep the car evenly aligned as you slowly drive it up onto the dolly, being cautious not to go too fast, or you’ll risk overshooting the well where the wheels will be secured. Put the towed vehicle into park if it’s an automatic, or apply the emergency brake if it’s a manual transmission. Once the vehicle is secured into the wells on the dolly, lock it into place using the straps, nets, or chains that came with the dolly.

Double-check Lights & Straps

Before hitting the road, double-check to make sure that the mounting straps are firmly secured to the wheels. You should also do a safety check on the braking lights and turn signals to ensure that the lights of the towing vehicle match up with those on the car dolly.

Drive Cautiously

Once on the road, keep in mind that you’re driving a longer, heavier load than normal so you’ll need to be cautious. Don’t drive at excessive speeds or may risk losing control of the dolly and cause an accident. Take turns slowly and do the same with braking, giving yourself plenty of time and room to slow down gradually. You should also not drive in reverse with a car dolly attached. If you’re in a situation where you need to do so, you should first unhook the dolly and reposition as necessary.