If you are towing a vehicle in the United States, it is important to know the laws and regulations that apply. There are specific rules for each state, so it is important to be familiar with them. Thankfully, we have an overview of the Golden Rules for towing a vehicle in Australia.
Rule 1 – Follow the National and Regional Guidelines
Recently, the towing guidelines in Australia changed, so it’s important to understand them before taking risks. For example, this includes ensuring that your vehicle isn’t pulling above a certain weight and that you aren’t travelling above certain speeds. If you’re in any doubt, check the regulations in your location.
Rule 2 – Do a Safety Check
Before you start towing, it is important to do a safety check of both your vehicle and the one you are about to tow. Make sure that all the lights are working on both vehicles and that the towing vehicle has the proper hitches and connections. After all, you don’t want the towed vehicle to detach itself after a couple of miles (this would cause some problems!).
Don’t worry, you’ll find all the towing equipment you’ll need for your vehicles at Bossco Auto. This includes tow bars, suspension load assist, rear step, and more.
Rule 3 – Drive Carefully
Of course, you need to be extra careful when driving with a vehicle in tow. Remember to take turns slowly and smoothly, give yourself extra space to brake, and avoid sudden stops if possible. Before hitting the roads, it’s always a good idea to practice driving with an unloaded trailer so you can get used to the feel of it. If you don’t have a chance, drive around the local area for a few minutes until you grow accustomed to the size and shape of everything.
Rule 4 – Never Sit in the Towed Vehicle
This one should be pretty obvious, but you should never sit in the vehicle that’s being towed. Not only is it illegal in most states, but it’s also incredibly dangerous. If something were to go wrong and the vehicle came loose, you could be seriously injured or killed. If the vehicle is being towed, this suggests that something has broken or gone wrong. If this is the case, the person sitting in the vehicle doesn’t have the normal safety features on offer – if the engine isn’t running, they can’t even steer or move out of the way if the vehicle were to detach from the lead vehicle.
Reasons to Tow a Vehicle
Why would you tow a vehicle in the first place? The first, and most common, is that the vehicle has broken down and can’t be driven. This might be because the engine has failed, there is no oil in the car, or the battery has died. If this is the case, then towing the vehicle is the only way to get it off the road and to a safe place.
Another reason you might tow a vehicle is if it has been in an accident and is blocking the road. In this case, you would need to call a tow truck to remove the vehicle so that traffic can flow freely again.
Lastly, you might choose to tow a vehicle behind your own if you are going on a long journey and don’t want to put all the miles on your own car. This is a common practice for people who are moving house or going on a road trip.
Whatever the reason for towing a vehicle, it is important to do it safely and correctly. Be sure to use the proper equipment and follow all the golden rules in this guide!