Emergency tow for trailer

[crampshaw]

I watched an flatbed tow truck operator load and unload a disabled 18' trailer. The trailer was too long for the steep angles of the tilt-bed truck and the trailer dragged at the back while being winched up. Not good.

So what's the right way to tow a disabled trailer (say a burned bearing) to a repair shop?

Aren't there dollies a wrecker can put under a bad wheel and tow the trailer via the hitch?

[wkerfoot]

If it is a tandem axle trailer with torsion axles, you can remove one wheel and tow on three wheels for some distance at a reduced speed.

Bill

Originally Posted by crampshaw

I watched an flatbed tow truck operator load and unload a disabled 18' trailer. The trailer was too long for the steep angles of the tilt-bed truck and the trailer dragged at the back while being winched up. Not good.

So what's the right way to tow a disabled trailer (say a burned bearing) to a repair shop?

Aren't there dollies a wrecker can put under a bad wheel and tow the trailer via the hitch?

[polarlyse]

They could have used a lower angle low boy trailer and winched it up or maybe gotten away with some wood blocks to raise the trailer as it's being winched. They certainly should have been prepared to avoid the tail end dragging. Some towing people have and use dollys but they are a pain to use and not so commonly available as they used to be. Can't say I've ever seen them used for a trailer but they might work.