Have Shari Teach You About Cars

If your vehicle ever breaks down due to a mechanical issue and cannot be driven any further, you should use a tow service to get the vehicle either back to your house or to your mechanic's shop. Here are three reasons why using your own vehicle to tow your other broken down vehicle is not always the best idea.

#1: You Need to Have the Right Tools

Just because you have a hitch on the back of your truck or SUV does not mean that you have everything you need to pull another vehicle. You need to have the right equipment in order to tow another vehicle. You also need to know how to use that equipment.

If you don't have the appropriate chains to hook up your broken down vehicle to your towing vehicle, you should skip the self tow job and call in a professional.

#2: You Could Damage Your Vehicles

In order to keep your broken vehicle and your towing vehicle safe, you need to know how to properly hook up both vehicles. You also need to know how to drive with a broken down vehicle. You are going to have to drive at a very steady speed  in order to prevent the vehicle being towed from disconnected and damaging your other vehicle.

Additionally, depending on how damaged your vehicle is, you may not be able to safely tow it. You need the brake lights and the tail lights to work in your broken vehicle; if these parts are no longer working, it's not safe to pull your vehicle. You need to have it put up on a trailer that has the appropriate working lights and brakes.

#3: It Could Be Illegal

In some states, it is actually illegal for a non-licensed vehicle to tow a vehicle that has broken down due to the risk that it posses. So before you pull up your truck and hitch your broken vehicle to it, check your local laws and make sure that you are not required to call a licensed tow service to move your broken down vehicle.

If your vehicle has broken down, the quickest and safety way to get it off the side of the road and to a safe location without any additional instances is by calling a tow truck company like Ski Country Shell & Towing. That way you don't risk damage to any other vehicles you own or put other drivers on the road at risk.