How to Tow a Car with a Moving Truck
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Knowing how to properly tow a car behind a moving truck will make your move smoother and safer. Driving a big moving truck can be intimidating, especially if you’re towing a vehicle behind it.
After helping hundreds of millions of do-it-yourself movers for more than 80 years, we know the tips and tricks that can help people like you safely tow your vehicles.
Key Takeaways
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How to Tow a Car Long Distance Behind a Moving Truck
Driving a truck with a trailer or towing equipment requires patience and awareness. Moving trucks are bigger than your average car, and the addition of a towing device only adds to the total size. As you are preparing to rent your truck and vehicle towing equipment for your move, here are some pointers to keep in mind:
- Limited Maneuverability: Trucks with towing devices need more space for turns and parking. Use your mirrors often, take turns slowly, and avoid sharp movements that can cause fishtailing or the towing equipment to jackknife.
- Parking: Look for two open spaces to pull through; backing up is more difficult when towing a vehicle.
- Taking It Slow: Speeding is risky, especially in a moving truck with towing equipment attached. Enjoy the road trip and take it slow; this may mean going slower than the posted speed limit.
- Frequent Checks: Inspect the hitch, coupler, safety chains/cables, straps, and the tires (including air pressure) of both the truck and trailer at every stop to ensure you can safely continue on the road.
Being cautious and following these tips reduces the chance of accidents and keeps your move on track.
Tow Dolly, Auto Transport, or Toy Hauler?
Before you tow a car behind a moving truck, you need to determine the best towing equipment choice for your needs. U-Haul provides three choices for vehicle towing: a tow dolly, auto transport, and toy hauler. All are designed specifically to tow your vehicle behind a U-Haul truck.
Tow Dolly
When using a tow dolly, only the front wheels of the towed vehicle are on the device. The vehicle’s rear wheels stay on the road as you pull it behind the moving truck, which takes part of the pressure and weight off the moving truck. The tow dolly is our most economical choice for front-wheel drive vehicles. Rear-wheel drive vehicles require the drive shaft to be removed to avoid transmission damage.
Auto Transport
By contrast, all four wheels of the towed vehicle are off the road when using an auto transport. You’ll need to ensure that the parking brake on your towed vehicle is engaged, the side fenders on the auto transport are raised, and the ramps are slid back into the latched position before hitting the road.
Toy Hauler
The toy hauler is our newest option, and it’s perfect for towing off-road vehicles, motorcycles, and even trucks. This flatbed trailer offers multiple tie-down points and rails, so your cargo will be secure during transit.
How Much Does It Cost to Tow a Car with a Moving Truck?
Towing your car with a moving truck is far more affordable than shipping your car across the country, which often comes with restrictions and limitations that can cost thousands of dollars.
Car shipping services often charge rates per mile and, if you’re moving to a rural area, additional fees may apply for shipping your car to a “hard-to-reach” location. With U-Haul, however, you pay a flat rate for the tow dolly, auto transport, or toy hauler.. Towing also gives you peace of mind: Your vehicle travels with you, so you can inspect it along the way.
While moving costs are dependent on things like when you are planning to move, how far you’re moving, and what size moving truck you need - you can add towing equipment onto your one-way reservation and save money with a combo reservation for a U-Haul truck and tow dolly, auto transport, or toy hauler!
Towing a Vehicle With U-Haul
Don’t leave your car behind — bring it along! Reserve your U-Haul truck and the towing equipment that fits your needs, and hit the road with peace of mind.