There are no nationwide laws banning the use of tow straps. It’s recommended that you only use tow straps for short trips or in off-road settings.
This will help you position the tow vehicle properly. Do not use a tow rope with a knot or tangle in it.
This will not only leave you stranded, but it can also be very dangerous. You can purchase a new tow rope at your local auto parts store if the one you have is damaged.
If you still can’t find your vehicle’s recovery point, refer to an application specific service or repair manual. Recovery points are always located on the vehicle’s frame and are usually circular holes cut through thick steel.
Once you’re done, lay the strap flat on the ground extended out in front of the vehicle again.
Back the vehicle up over the strap by a few feet so there will be some slack to work with. By laying the strap out first, you can position the vehicle so there’s isn’t a lot of loose slack in the strap.
Some tow hitches have D-rings you can use to secure the tow strap directly to the tow hitch. Don’t hook a metal hook directly to the vehicle if you can help it. Instead, run the strap through the recovery point and hook the strap to itself.
Watch the strap for any signs of fraying or tearing as more tension is applied. Stop immediately if the strap shows signs of damage.
Stand clear of the strap once the blanket is in place.
If you have a long distance to cover, you should use either a dolly or a trailer. Disconnect the tow straps when you’re done. It is too dangerous to tow a vehicle home using this method.
You may need to move the dolly around a little bit to get it to line up properly with the hitch. If your dolly doesn’t have a handle to raise and lower the tongue, it’s likely light enough for you to lift it up by hand and lower it down onto the ball of the hitch.
There will either be an opening for the wiring harness on the hitch bumper, or a wiring pigtail having from the tow hitch that the dolly’s wires will plug into. There will be slack in the chains and that’s okay. They’re only there for emergencies.
If the vehicle you intend to tow runs, you can drive it up to the back of the dolly if that’s easier. The tow vehicle, broken down vehicle, and dolly should all be lined up before you try to load the dolly.
There is a lip at the very front of the tow dolly meant to stop your vehicle from rolling forward any further. Make sure not to accelerate anymore once the wheels are on the dolly, otherwise, the car could go over that lip.
With the straps over the tires, open and close the ratchet mechanism to tighten them down. Connect the safety chains to recovery points on the frame you identify through the owner’s manual.
Rear wheels are not connected to the driveline in Front Wheel Drive cars, so there’s no need to put the vehicle in neutral.
Start braking far sooner than you normally would to stop or turn while towing. Do not follow other vehicles closely as it will take you far longer to stop than usual.
Once the hitch it attached, cross the safety chains and hang their hooks on the spots for them on either side of the hitch. Connect the electrical plug from the trailer to its port or plug on the tow vehicle.
Ensure the trailer and both vehicles are on a flat, even surface.
Make sure all four wheels are all the way onto the trailer and that the ramps can slide back in or be folded up without hitting the vehicle. The front tires should be close to the front of the trailer, but don’t necessarily have to be touching the front lip.
If you are having trouble locating the recovery points to attach the chain to, locate them in the owner’s or service manual for the specific vehicle. All four wheels should be strapped down with two additional safety chains on the vehicle when you’re done.
Even if your vehicle is powerful enough to accelerate quickly when towing, it may still struggle to effectively brake.
