Top Things to Know About Transporting a Truck
Moving a vehicle can be a difficult prospect, but it does not have to be. Armed with the right information, transporting a truck yourself can be a cost-effective measure when either moving across town or across the nation. Read on to find out the top things to know about transporting a truck.
When you are faced with transporting a truck, you are faced with several options:
You have the option to hire a professional truck transport company.
You have the option to drive it yourself, or have it driven by someone else.
You have the option to use a tow dolly or a trailer to tow it yourself.
No matter which option you choose, there are costs involved to consider.
To drive a truck or have it driven by someone else as a means to transport it, means you will have to consider the costs involved. There will be the cost of gasoline, as well as hotel stays, food, and of course your time to consider. If someone else is driving the truck for you, you will want to consider fair compensation for their time as well.
To hire a professional truck transport company to transport the truck for you will also incur costs. These companies often charge by the hour, or the day, and their services are offered often as either a-la-cart or a flat rate. The best thing to do when considering a professional truck transport company is to ask for references of customers who have used the company in the past. Find out what kind of insurance package is included, or available for extra purchase, and what, exactly, it will cover if or when an accident occurs. Additionally, consider the overall cost against your time, energy and monetary concerns and decide if having someone, like a professional company, to deal with the transport is worth the extra cost. Sometimes, peace of mind is worth more than any dollar amount.
Finally, you have the option to use a tow dolly or a trailer. This option is different than driving the truck yourself, in that you would be driving another vehicle and towing the truck behind. While you have to consider the cost of gasoline, hotel stays, and food, you must also consider the extra weight being towed. This extra weight often translates into additional gasoline costs as your miles per gallon will decrease due to the additional weight. For many, this option is the most effective, as it ensures that both of your vehicles arrive to their destination at the same time. (The one you are driving and the one that you are towing.)
If you do decide to transport your truck using a tow dolly or trailer, here are some other things to consider:
Do you have a vehicle that can properly tow the additional weight of your truck? If you don't then you might want to consider another option. It is extremely dangerous, and not recommended that you attempt to tow a truck with a vehicle that can not handle the extra weight.
Assuming that you do have a vehicle that can properly transport a truck, using the right hitch is imperative. A class III hitch is the most common. This hitch is a bolt type of hitch, and can handle 5,000 pounds. A class IV hitch is also available and can handle up to 7,500 pounds. You will need to attach the tow dolly or trailer to the vehicle using the hitch.
Choose a tow dolly or trailer to transport your truck wisely. Use dual axles to provide a better distribution of the load. In terms of safety, dual axles have two wheels on either side, and if you should encounter a tire failure, there will still be one good tire on the axle providing the ability to better handle the tire loss.
Consider the addition of tow dolly or trailer brakes. These are available in either surge or electric models. For any transport of over 2,000, they are highly recommended. Surge brakes work on a hydraulic system. When the trailer decelerates, force against the cylinders apply the brakes. Electric brakes provide a controller in the tow vehicles, and it uses the pressure of the brake system to apply itself to the trailer. Either choice is a good one, and again recommended for a heavy towing load.
When driving with a tow dolly or trailer, you must compensate for the extra weight. This means that you should take turns much wider than usual, and doing so you have to become even more acutely aware of how much room you have in order to do so. Additionally, you need to consider how these turns will be articulated in traffic. The extra weight will also mean that slowing or coming to a complete stop must be done in such a way that you allow extra room in front of your vehicle than you might otherwise leave. Acceleration must be done slowly and consistently. Merging into traffic or changing lanes must be done so with consideration of both the length of the vehicle you are driving and the trailer or tow.
Taking the above into consideration can help you to determine if transporting a truck yourself is the right thing for you.