Car Haulers

Well we all know that next to Buses and Motor homes the next worse thing to tow is car haulers or portable parking lots as they are often called. Problems dealing with them include low ground clearances, long overhangs, low fifth wheel plates, and even issues with the overall height of the unit. Vehicles mounted over the cab can be real problems to deal with due to both height and even front overhang. But towing such vehicles can be done safely and profitably if care is taken during the job.

Basic Information about Car Shipping Companies and their Car Haulers

First, here is some basic information. There are mainly 2 kinds of units out there. First is the high mount trailer system. That is just like a normal tractor trailer attachment at the fifth wheel. But the trailer sits low to the ground and its long overhang allows for more vehicles to be transported. Just like us, the car haulers try to max out the space on the trailer for maximum revenue for better auto transport. This is generally an easy system to tow with not many problems. Length of overhang and total unit heights are the concerns here.

Then there is the low mount system, which has a fifth wheel place off the back of the unit which sits anywhere from 5 to 10 inches off the ground. This is really the nightmare unit which most drivers hate dealing with.

Clearance of the fifth wheel plate is the major problem when trying to ship cars. Some drivers when towing them attempt to raise the air ride adjustment bar for the air suspension system to help get clearance. But, by doing this, you can also change the angle on the rear driveshaft and possibly cause it to hit the bolts and damage them or worse cause it fall out, or you cause the vehicle to become over height. I do not think you want to make all the top vehicles into convertibles. Not a good car move.

Obtaining Height on a Car Shipping Car Haulers

Now there are ways to get some height, but the best method is to let the air suspension do its job. Like normal vehicles you will have several air tanks. But one thing I have found is that you will have the main tank and then one will control the air suspension. The trick is to find the air suspension tank. I will run one airline to the main air tank and then one to keep the air suspension system filled up. Of course if you can get to the air compressor main line you can air the system there.

Now, there are other issues to deal with when towing car carriers. Front vehicle overhang is one. Watch your boom height with the vehicle located on the upper deck. Integrated boom units will have the boom swivels real close or touching the bottom of the top unit even before you get the lift under the unit.

Second is the fact that most all car haulers love those deep Texas bumpers with all the lights on them. Hard to get wheel lifts under them and not cause damage towing or even lifting it. At times it’s back to removing bumpers to gain access to towing points. But then lifting or winching onto blocks can do the job and let you get under the bumper.

Third issue deals with the overall height issue. People love to put low profile tires on the units. 20 inch low profile tires mean you got about 3 inches from the axle to the ground. There is also the issue of how close the vehicles are where the pivot point is. Lift too high and they might rub. Turn to sharp they might hit.