For extra security, place wheel chocks in front of and behind each tire.
If your trailer doesn’t have built-in ramps, you can purchase a metal ramp from an auto supply store and connect it yourself by following the manufacturer’s included instructions. Do not try to create a makeshift ramp. Doing so is extremely dangerous and can result in major damage to you or your vehicles.
Do not back your car up to the trailer as towing your car with the tail end first can cause problems like whipping or swaying.
Keep the steering wheel straight so you don’t drive on crooked. If you’re unsure whether or not you’re driving straight, ask a friend to help direct you.
If you’d like, ask a friend to stand off to the side of the vehicle so they can check the alignment while you’re driving it. If you have a manual car, put it in first gear, turn off the motor, and set the handbrake.
Tire straps may not fit on vehicles with extremely large tires.
Make sure the strap covers your tire’s hubcap.
If your ratchet strap has 2 metal clips, hook 1 of them onto the looped end of the lasso strap.
D-rings are small, inset rings bolted onto each corner of your trailer.
While tightening your straps, make sure they don’t come into contact with your car’s body. If they do, loosen the straps, reposition them, and repeat the tightening process.
You can fasten the remaining wheels in any order you’d like.
Axle straps can cause unwanted damage to small or modern vehicles.
Your car’s rear housing holds its rear axle, which is the long horizontal bar that connects the back wheels.
D-rings are the inset rings bolted onto the trailer. They’re generally located on each corner of the vehicle.
If your ratchet strap has a second metal clip, hook it onto the axle strap’s metal ring (the part you tied to the rear axle housing).
Overtightening the straps can lead to axle damage. If your straps feel like they’re starting to strain, loosen them slightly. If you’re left with any loose strap ends, tie them up using bungee cords or cable ties.
Just like with the previous side, make sure the straps are tight enough to secure the car but not so tight that they strain the axle.
If you’d prefer, you can wrap the front axle straps around your car’s A-arms or chassis rail. Be careful not to secure any straps around the car’s sway bars, steering arms, or steering racks. These are located on the bottom of the car and look like small axle rods.
This chain helps hold your car in place if any of the straps break.
You’ll find brake and oil lines on the bottom of your car. They typically look like thin, flexible cords.
Make sure to stow the ramps before you drive away!
If you’ve never towed a trailer before, you should also test drive it before loading the car.
Ratchet straps tend to stretch out a bit when you first start using them.
Taking just 10 minutes to check at each stop will help keep you, your car, and your trailer safe.
