Towing Safety: How to Avoid Accidents & Tow Like a Pro

Thousands of towing accidents happen every year on U.S. roads. Here's how to avoid becoming a statistic.

Every year, the Department of Transportation tracks thousands of accidents involving vehicles towing trailers, RVs, or other cars. The crazy part? Most of these crashes could've been prevented with some basic know-how and common sense.

Whether someone's hauling a boat to the lake or helping a buddy with a broken-down car, towing isn't rocket science – but it's not exactly like regular driving either. Here's what keeps people out of trouble.

The Big Mistakes Everyone Makes

Most towing disasters come down to a few stupid-simple errors that people keep making over and over:

• Loading trailers like they're playing Tetris instead of thinking about weight distribution
• Cramming way too much stuff onto a trailer that can't handle it
• Not putting enough weight on the trailer tongue (yeah, that's actually important)
• Hooking up massive loads to cars that have no business pulling them
• Driving like they're not dragging several thousand pounds behind them
• Ignoring weather conditions that make towing sketchy

How to Actually Tow a Trailer Without Screwing Up

Match Your Rig Properly

Don't be that person trying to pull a massive RV with a compact SUV. Check the towing capacity in the owner's manual and stay under it. Also, load the trailer so most of the weight sits slightly forward – not dead center, not way back.

Use Your Brain About Speed

Towing speed limits are usually lower than regular limits – often 55 mph on interstates instead of 70+. And going downhill or passing someone? That's when things get real sketchy real fast if you're going too quick.

Give Big Trucks Space

When an 18-wheeler passes or gets passed, the wind blast can shove a trailer around like a toy. Use the whole lane to get as much space as possible between the trailer and that big rig.

Don't Panic When Things Get Wobbly

If the trailer starts swaying, resist every instinct to hit the brakes or jerk the wheel. Just ease off the gas and let physics do its thing. Fighting it usually makes everything way worse.

Towing Another Car: The Stuff Nobody Tells You

Pulling a broken-down car is different from hauling a trailer, and there's some weird rules most people don't know about.

Get the Right Gear

Use a proper tow strap or tow bar rated for the car's weight. Those cheap ropes from the hardware store? Not gonna cut it. And slap an "On Tow" sign in the back window so other drivers know what's up.

Mind the Distance

Keep less than 15 feet between the cars – any more and you're breaking federal towing regulations. But don't get so close that you're gonna rear-end them every time you touch the brakes.

Fire Up That Dead Car

Even if the engine won't start, turn the key to "on" so the steering wheel unlocks. Without power steering, turning that wheel's gonna be a real workout for whoever's getting towed.

Keep Things Smooth

The person doing the towing needs to accelerate like they're carrying eggs, not drag racing. Sharp turns and sudden stops will either snap the tow strap or send the towed car sliding sideways.

Watch That Tow Strap

The person getting towed should keep light pressure on the brakes to keep tension on the strap. If it goes slack and then snaps tight, something's probably gonna break.

Special Cases That'll Bite You

Electric cars and some automatics can't be towed the normal way without trashing expensive parts. When in doubt, call a flatbed truck – it's cheaper than a new transmission.