From a Parking Spot

When removing a vehicle from a parking spot with a tow truck, dollies are an essential tool, particularly when the casualty’s drive wheels are on the opposite end of the tow truck or if the vehicle is locked and the parking brakes are engaged.

Here are the steps to remove a vehicle from a parking spot with dollies:

USING DOLLIES IN A TIGHT SPOT STEP-BY-STEP

Once the wrecker has used the wheel lift on the casualty from by the non-drive axle, prepare the dollies for set up.

When the dollies are in position, lift the end closest to the tow truck with the load bar, being sure to engage the safety latch or primary engagement.

STEP 1

Engage the safety latch or pirmary engagement on the casualty side of the dolly and use the load bar to ratchet the dolly towards the truck, raising the back end slowly.

STEP 2

Repeat the previous two steps for the dolly on the opposite side of the casualty.

STEP 3

The use the wrecker to pull the casualty far enough out of the parking spot so that the dolly loading sequence can be completed.

HYDRAULIC DOLLIES

When a vehicle is parked on a street between two vehicles, hydraulic dollies or “Go-Jaks” can be used when removing a vehicle in this position. The hydraulic dollies allow the vehicle to move side-to-side. Hydraulic dollies are not to be used while towing, the vehicle must be loaded on regular dollies for that. Care needs to be taken if the vehicle is pushed out of the parking space as dents to the body of the vehicle can happen easily.