When transporting a vehicle the simplest option is just to drive it to the destination. However, sometimes it’s not practical to do this, or it’s broken down in some way. When you’re in this situation you have multiple options to tow it. Here are three options, flatbed trucks, two wheel ‘dolly’ towing and flat towing.
Flatbed towing
The safest and most secure way to transport a car is via a flatbed van or lorry. These involve custom vans or trailers that the car is rolled up on to. These are the safest way to transport cars because all four wheels are off the ground and secured in place. On one of these beds the towing vehicle can drive normally without having to worry about the vehicle on the back.
The main issue with this method is cost. It requires a specialist vehicle that carries a lot of weight, which can mean higher operating costs. The other option of a lorry with multiple vehicles can save a little bit of money, but is more restrictive in where it can be delivered.
Two wheel dolly towing
This is a cheaper method than a flat-bed van. The dolly method involves hitching the car’s front wheels off of the ground and towing it. This is a simple way to get a car from A to B used by most roadside assistance vehicles. However it is more limited than flatbeds in what can be towed based on the size of the dolly, and motorbikes can’t use this method at all. The other main problem is that the rear wheels are still on the ground, meaning that they get wear while the fronts remain fresh and open them up for damage.
Flat tow bar towing
This is the cheapest out of all of the options as it just requires a tow bar attached to the car. Caravans are built to use this and cars can be easily made for it. There are multiple forms of tow bar. Self-aligning rigs allow the car to line up with the towing vehicle. Rigid A-frames however require precise driving and coupling.
While cheaper and easier, especially if you decide to do the job yourself, the biggest problem with this is the condition of the car. All four wheels get even wear unlike with a dolly, however they are also open to damage more than either other option. Plus the drive wheels on the floor can cause damage to the transmission with it in neutral, especially on automatics.
When choosing your method of transportation think of the cost of the method but also what level of service you need. An expensive sports car should probably go on a flatbed for its higher safety. A sturdier off-roader can take being flat towed in its stride. If you need a car transporting, there are many transporters in the UK that can do the job expertly. To find the one that’s best for you use DeliveryQuoteCompare.com to compare transporters quotes in seconds.
Christopher East