Have You Used a Car Carrier Before?
Penske makes towing easy.
Car Carrier
We recommend a Penske car carrier for all-wheel and rear-wheel drive vehicles. The car carrier carries your entire car on a trailer that attaches to the rear of your Penske rental truck. For front-wheel drive vehicles, we recommend a Penske car tow dolly.
To see how Penske towing equipment can make your move easier, take a moment to view our instructional video.
Car Carrier Precautions
When used properly, the car carrier provides a safe and effective way to transport your vehicle. Review these precautions before you rent, and contact your local Penske representative if you have any questions.
- Use a Penske car carrier only with a Penske rental truck.
- Vehicles with a low front end or air dams may not have enough ground clearance to drive up the car carrier ramps.
- The car carrier must be attached to your Penske rental truck before you load your vehicle onto the car carrier.
- Your vehicle must be centered with its front end facing forward on the car carrier. Never back a vehicle onto a car carrier.
- Do not load possessions, people or pets in your towed vehicle.
- Do not attempt to back up your rental truck with the car carrier attached. Severe damage to your vehicle and the car carrier could result. If backing up is necessary, remove your vehicle from the car carrier, then unhitch the car carrier from the truck and move the truck separately.
- Never raise or lower the jack with a vehicle loaded on the car carrier.
Car Carrier Load Limitations
| Limitation Description | Limitation Value |
|---|---|
| Towed vehicle at widest point: | 79 in. |
| Minimum width: | 42 in. between inside of tires |
| Maximum weight: | 4,055 lbs. |
| Maximum wheel base: | 125 in. |
Your tire size is noted on the side of the tire. For more details, you can also refer to the tire size chart. Or just ask a Penske representative for assistance.
Hooking Up Your Car Carrier to Your Truck
Your Penske representative will hook up the car carrier to your truck at the time of rental. However, if it is necessary for you to disconnect the car carrier to load your truck, follow these instructions to reattach the car carrier.
- 1. The coupler-locking device must be in the full open position. Place the coupler of the car carrier over the hitch ball on your rental truck. Be sure the coupler is fully seated down over the hitch ball.
- 2. Completely lock the coupler. If the car carrier is equipped with a lever-type coupler, the lever must be in the down position and the locking pin inserted. If equipped with a handwheel-type coupler, completely tighten the handwheel. The tongue jack must be fully cranked to the up position before you move the car carrier.
- 3. Your car carrier is equipped with a single flat electrical plug. Insert the plug into the receptacle in the truck's electrical box. Check for proper operation.
- 4. Crisscross the safety chains or cables from the tongue of the car carrier. If you have safety chains, pass them through the eyelets on your rental truck and attach the hook back onto the safety chain. If you have safety cables, attach them directly to the eyelets on your truck. Allow slack in both chains and cables for movement during turns.
- 5. Secure the emergency brake actuator cable to the right-side eyelet marked on the truck bumper (A) and allow enough slack for turning. Ensure the emergency brake lever is in the OFF position (B), which is indicated with a green sticker.
Loading Your Vehicle Onto the Car Carrier
You are responsible for loading your vehicle onto the car carrier. Penske is not responsible for any damage to a transported vehicle. Consult your insurance carrier before towing a vehicle, or talk to your Penske representative about the Penske towing insurance protection plan.
- 1. Be sure your rental truck and car carrier are lined up straight on level ground.
- 2. Remove the safety pin from the ratchet assembly and unroll the straps. Place the ratchet handle in the down position.
- 3. Lay the tire straps along the fender side of the car carrier, off the tire platform.
- 4. Push down on the ramp release latch at the back end of the loading ramps and pull ramps out completely using the ramp handles. Lower the ramps to the ground.
- 5. With someone safely guiding you, slowly drive the front end of your vehicle onto the car carrier until the front tires are resting against the wheel stops. Make certain your vehicle is centered on the car carrier platform. NEVER BACK UP A TRANSPORTED VEHICLE ONTO A CAR CARRIER.
- 6. Once your vehicle is in the proper position on the platform, place it in park or low gear and engage the parking brake.
- 7. Center the tie-down ratchets in front of the transported vehicle's tires and pull the tire straps forward over the tires. Tighten each tire strap securely by pulling up and down on the car carrier ratchet handle as many times as necessary, creating a secure fit.
- 8. Be sure the strap on the inside of the tire does not come in contact with any brake or suspension parts. Insert the safety pin and attach the safety clip with the ratchet handle in the down position.
- 9. Hook up the safety chains from the car carrier to your vehicle's frame directly above the car carrier chain mounts. Safety chains must not attach to or go over the steering or brake parts of the transported vehicle. Allow slight slack in the chains to allow for movement of the transported vehicle's suspension while traveling.
- 10. Return the ramps to the storage position using the ramp handles. Be sure the ramp latch lock snaps in place.
- 11. Remove the keys from the ignition and lock your vehicle. Be sure to keep the emergency brake on and the vehicle in park or a low gear.
- 12. Check the towing system after hookup. Then tow about 100 feet and stop to perform a safety check. Check the bolts, safety chains or cables, coupler, ramps, tire straps and other items to make sure they are in the right position and secure. Repeat the safety check after the first five miles and then every 50 miles thereafter.
- 13. Your vehicle is now safely connected and ready for travel.
Important
CHECK THE CAR CARRIER, COUPLER, SAFETY CHAINS, ELECTRICAL HOOKUP, RAMPS AND TIRE STRAPS AFTER THE FIRST FIVE MILES OF TRAVEL AND THEN EVERY 50 MILES THEREAFTER.
Unloading Your Vehicle From the Car Carrier
- Do not unhook the car carrier from your rental truck until your vehicle is removed from the car carrier.
- Park your truck and car carrier straight and on level ground.
- Fully apply the parking brakes on both the Penske rental truck and your vehicle.
- Remove the tire straps from your vehicle, placing the ratchet handle in the down position.
- Push down on the ramp release latch and pull the ramps out completely using the ramp handle. Lower the ramps to the ground.
- Release the parking brake on your vehicle and prepare for unloading.
- With someone guiding you, slowly back your vehicle off the car carrier to prevent the bottom of your vehicle from contacting the ramps.
- Return the car carrier ramps to the storage position and make sure the ramps are locked in place.
- Take up excess slack of the tire straps in the ratchet assembly and replace the safety chains in the proper storage position.