Vehicle & Trailer
COMBINATION TOWING
One of the more unique jobs an operator may be dispatched for is a vehicle that is towing a trailer. This can be a difficult tow for both new and experienced operators. While the easiest solution is to send two wreckers or make two trips to tow the vehicle and the trailer separately, it is not always possible. Luckily there are solutions for this whether you are using a car carrier or a wrecker.
LOADING A CARRIER
Aside from using two vehicles to tow or transport the casualty and trailer, a car carrier is the most straightforward solution for this job. Similar to transporting two vehicles with the carrier, the solution is to put the heavier of the loads on the bed of the carrier and tow the lighter load. Typically, the vehicle will be the heavier of the two loads, however it also makes the most sense to transport on the carrier as it is easier to secure to the flatbed. This means the trailer must be towed behind the carrier. If possible, a trailer hitch can be attached to the carrier to make hook up simpler.
NOTE
Towing a trailer will affect the turning radius of the carrier. Be sure to take turns and lane changes slowly whenever towing a load.
Regardless of how it is being towed, remember to properly set up the trailers brake lights and turn signals. If they can not be hooked up to the carrier, portable towing lights can be used. It is never acceptable to tow a load without proper brake and turn signal lights.
LOADING A VEHICLE STEP-BY-STEP
Click the arrow on the right of the image to go through the step-by-step process of loading a vehicle with a trailer.
