How to Use a Car Dolly? | Safe Towing Steps

Learning how to use a car dolly comes down to a handful of steps that never change: level ground, the right axle loaded, tires centered, and straps verified. Miss any one of them and you risk damage to the towed vehicle, the dolly, or worse. This guide walks through the full process in the order you’ll actually do it, with the common mistakes to avoid.

Prepare the Dolly and Tow Vehicle

Before anything touches the dolly, park both vehicles on firm, level ground. Soft surfaces like gravel or grass let the dolly sink and shift during loading, which makes the whole job harder and less safe. Set the tow vehicle’s parking brake and turn the engine off.

Position the dolly in a straight line behind the hitch. Attach the coupler over the hitch ball and secure it fully, then cross the safety chains in an “X” pattern beneath the coupler. This keeps the dolly attached to the tow vehicle even if the coupler fails. Lower the ramps and release any retaining pins or collars that lock them in place for travel.

Load the Correct Axle and Secure the Vehicle

The single most important decision is which axle goes on the dolly. Instructions vary by dolly design and drivetrain, so check both the dolly manual and your vehicle’s owner’s manual. Many tow dollies are built for front-wheel loading, keeping the rear wheels on the ground. Other guides and dolly types call for placing the drive wheels on the dolly. When in doubt, the dolly’s own manual wins, and the dolly must be rated for your vehicle’s weight.

Drive the vehicle slowly up the ramps, keeping the tires centered in the wheel cradles. Continue until each tire butts firmly against the wheel stops at the front of the cradle. A tire that stops short can shift during travel, so take the extra moment to get it fully seated.

Once positioned, secure each tire with the straps or chains from the dolly’s manual. Straps should be tight, flat, and free of twists, routed over or around the tires exactly as the manufacturer shows. Some dolly guides also call for safety chains from the vehicle’s frame as a backup. If your dolly’s instructions require them, use them.

Set the Towed Vehicle and Check Everything

What you do inside the towed vehicle depends on the dolly and the drivetrain. Many instructions call for shifting the towed vehicle into Neutral with the parking brake released, since the wheels on the dolly will roll. But some setups specify Park or a gear, so confirm what your dolly manual says before you move. Steering also varies: on a dolly with a swivel pan, the steering wheel can stay locked with the wheels pointed straight because the dolly handles the turning. Other designs require the steering unlocked. Your dolly’s manual is the authority here.

When everything looks right, do a final walk-around before you drive. Confirm the coupler is still secure, the safety chains are attached, the ramps are locked in the travel position, and the lights and wiring are connected and working. Looseness anywhere is a reason to stop and fix it, not a thing to check on later.

Common Mistakes When Towing With a Dolly

• Loading on uneven or soft ground. The dolly needs a flat, firm, level surface to load safely.
• Putting the wrong axle on the dolly. The dolly manual and vehicle manual together decide this, not a guess.
• Stopping short of the wheel stops. Tires must sit fully against the stops, centered in their cradles.
• Leaving straps twisted or loose. Twisted straps lose strength, and loose ones let the vehicle shift.
• Using the wrong gear or steering setting. Neutral vs. Park and locked vs. unlocked steering vary by dolly type and drivetrain.
• Skipping the final check. Coupler, chains, ramps, and lights all need one last look before you pull away.

If you’re shopping for a dolly and want to compare tested options side by side, our roundup of the best vehicle wheel dollies breaks down capacities and build quality to help you pick.