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There are many ways to tow a vehicle. Most times, the issue with the vehicle will potentially determine the manner you will tow the vehicle. Also, towing of vehicles is still regulated by law. This implies that you are not free to do anything when you want to tow a vehicle.
This is one of the reasons why people are apprehensive about whether it is possible to flat-tow a jeep without brakes.
Yes, you can flat tow a jeep without brakes. You should, however, remember that towing a vehicle is illegal in most states. Therefore, if you want to do this, you should make use of a supplemental brake.
Moreover, you should know the law of the state when you want to do this. For instance, in Texas, it is illegal to flat-tow a vehicle if the weight exceeds 1200 lbs. Check out this article for more information.
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Things you should consider when you want to flat-tow a jeep without brakes
The truth is that it is illegal to drive or tow a vehicle without brakes. Nevertheless, in a situation where there is no option and you want to tow your jeep with the wheels rolling on the floor, there are some things that you can do.
The following are some of the things you should consider when you want to flat-tow a jeep without brakes.
Know the weight of the jeep
There are different models of vehicles and in the same way, they are also of different weights. Before you tow your jeep, you must know the weight of the jeep. This will help you in getting the right towing capacity for your jeep and will be needed for other useful information.
Know the law
The traffic law of each state differs. While it is illegal in most states to tow a vehicle without brakes, the weight of what is to be towed differs. You should check online for the maximum weight of what can be towed in your location.
The state of Texas has been cited as an example earlier. If you do not know the law, you can visit the traffic department or ask a towing company for guidance.
Install supplemental brakes
It has been said earlier that it is illegal to tow a vehicle without a functioning brake. You have an alternative if your jeep doesn’t have a brake.
You can go to a mechanic workshop or brake experts for professional guidance. You can install a supplemental brake on your jeep, this will serve as an emergency brake when you are towing the jeep.
Procedures for towing a jeep without brakes
Doing this is not advisable, especially if you have not followed some of the conditions highlighted earlier. While it might cost more, you can bring a mechanic to where the jeep is and you will fix the issue, if possible. Nevertheless, if you want to go ahead, below are some of the procedures you should follow.
Towing capacity
You cannot use any type of vehicle to tow your jeep, except if you want to have issues on the road. If you are doing this, it is recommended that you hire a towing company. The company will provide a vehicle with a towing capacity that can easily move your jeep.
Towing mode
This is one of the things you should do before the towing truck moves your jeep from its location. You should put the gear in towing mode since the wheels will be rolling on the road.
If you don’t know how to do this, you should consult the manual of the jeep or call a professional mechanic for guidance. Doing this will potentially protect your jeep from having issues when you get to your destination.
Inspect the jeep again
Before the towing truck begins to tow the jeep, you should inspect that everything is in the right order. You should inspect the towing rope, the wheel, the gear, and other necessary things.
If possible, you should ask the towing company to also inspect what has been done. You need to do this to avoid any negligible error that could make the towing go wrong.
How can I hire a towing company?
If you need a towing company, you will likely get more than enough companies when you search online. Selecting the right one from the available companies is a difficult process.
If you are not careful, you could hire the wrong company and you will not like the experience. Below are some of the steps you can follow when you need the service of a towing company.
Join an organization
Instead of trying different companies anytime, you want to tow your vehicle, you can join any of the organizations that render roadside assistance to their members. All you need to do is to register with the organization, fulfill some obligations, and get your membership card.
However, before you join any of these organizations, you should know the policies of the organization and ask questions when you do not understand any of the policies. Doing this will help you know what to do and avoid being denied assistance whenever you need it.
Get a recommended company
If you have any trusted close associates that have hired a towing company before, you can ask the person for a recommendation. Hiring a recommended company will be less stressful as you don’t have to go through the hassles of verifying information again.
Online search
In a situation where none of your associates can recommend a company for you or you want to hire one yourself, you can search online. Doing this will give you many options and you will have to be diligent if you want to hire the best from them.
Reviews
This might not be reliable but it is one of the things you should do if you want to hire the best from the available companies. You should take your time to read comments and testimonies from previous clients of the company. Do not consider any company with many negative reviews.
Proper search
The list of companies will likely be reduced once you have read the reviews about the company. You can now begin the search for the one you will hire by calling them one after the other. You might want to start the conversation with the fee of the company but there are other things you should consider.
You should ask about the company’s license, legal paperwork, how long they have been in business, additional services, and other related questions. You should not consider any company that doesn’t give a precise answer or the information given is different from what you have gotten online.
Prepare to answer questions
A good towing company will ask you some questions before it agrees to tow your vehicle. For instance, the company will ask you for the model of the car, year of production, the insurance, and other legal papers you have about the car.
Moreover, you will answer questions about the location where you are taking the car, the physical condition, insurance, and many more.
Your need is important
Your present need will also determine the type of towing truck that you will hire. For instance, if you are towing the vehicle interstate, you should consider a company with the paperwork to do so.
You should consider the weight of your vehicle, its present condition, and how long it will take for the company to arrive.
Get prepared
To avoid wasting time, you should get prepared before the towing truck arrives. You can take pictures, record the account of eyewitnesses if it is important, remove some important personal items from the car, and make calls.
Doing this will prevent the last-minute rush and you might forget some important things in the car.
Confirm all details
Once the truck arrives, you should confirm all the details about the company with you. You should consider the name, a copy of the license, the ID of the driver, and other useful information. Doing this will protect you against fraudsters.
Reasons why you should hire a towing company
Your family or close associate could offer to tow your vehicle when there is a need for it. Though this will save you some money, you should consider the likely mishap that could happen if things should go wrong. Below are some of the reasons why you should hire a towing company.
It is safer
The truth is that not all vehicle has the capacity to tow your car. If you hire a towing company, you can be assured that the company will provide a towing truck with the capacity to move your car.
It saves time
How long will you wait before your friend arrives to tow your car? Have you considered if your friend has the capacity and experience to tow the car?
If you hire a towing company, the truck will arrive within the shortest possible duration and you can be assured that your car will be taken to the desired destination safely.
Conclusion – Can you flat tow a jeep without brakes?
Towing a car without brakes is illegal. Before you flat tow your jeep, you should first confirm the weight to avoid having issues on the road.