Throwback Thursday: Towing Insights We All Can Use

With our editors on vacation, we're re-posting a few of our favorite stories from the previous year. This story was published this past November.

One of the primary features of diesel engines--besides the fact that they last longer--is the power they generate for towing. Open your eyes and look around. What kinds of engines are doing all the work? It's diesel. 

So, whether you're towing horses to the county fair or hauling a bulldozer to a job site, your truck is likely a diesel powered machine.  

Having the right engine isn't the only thing you need to know about towing. While checking out the Diesel Power Products website yesterday I found this article on towing that was chock full of useful information for people who tow. Having written about towing in the past, I found it to be a fairly thorough discussion of issues you need to concern yourself with. These include:

Attaching the Load

Stopping the Load

Supporting the Load

Securing the Load

Balancing the Load

and Moving the Load

Years ago I heard a story about a bulldozer that slid off the back of a flatbed and killed two people because it wasn't properly secured. This is not an experience you want to have. When I was young I saw an inexperienced driver flip her car while towing a small house trailer. I was with my uncle who was a volunteer fireman and rescue squad worker. We were first on the scene and helped avert a bigger tragedy. 

If you ever do any towing, or plan to, this helpful article on The Basics of Towing with Your Diesel is informative and worth bookmarking.  

Related Links
A Quick Guide to Diesel Power Products 
Pickups That Can Tow More Than 30,000 Pounds