Why Self-Towing Could Cost You More Than Just Time
We’ve all seen it—someone using a rope or an old trailer hitch to drag a broken-down car across town. Maybe it seems like a quick solution. Maybe it’s tempting to save the money and just “handle it yourself.” But let’s be real: towing your own vehicle isn’t just risky—it’s a gamble with safety, legality, and your wallet. If there’s one thing we want to make clear, it’s this: any Portland emergency towing endeavor is something best left to trained professionals.
We’ve responded to plenty of calls that started with someone trying to DIY a tow and ending up needing more help than they started with. Here are the three biggest reasons we urge people to skip the self-tow and call a team that knows what they’re doing.
1. You’re Putting Yourself and Others at Risk
Trying to tow a vehicle using your own gear sounds simple—until you’re halfway down I-84 and your makeshift tow strap gives out. We’ve seen vehicles veer into other lanes, roll back into traffic, or worse, come completely unhooked. Most personal vehicles aren’t equipped to safely tow another car. That’s not an opinion—it’s basic mechanics and physics.
What usually goes wrong during a DIY tow?
- Weak or frayed straps snapping under pressure
- Rear cars ramming into the lead vehicle during braking
- Poor control when turning or navigating hills
- Zero visibility for the driver being towed
Even if you think you’ve done it before without trouble, conditions change fast. One bad turn, and now you’re not just dealing with a disabled car—you’re dealing with an accident scene.
2. You Might Be Breaking the Law
Towing regulations vary from state to state, and Oregon is no exception. There are strict rules about what vehicles can tow, what equipment is required, and how towing should be performed on public roads. If you don’t have the proper setup—like safety chains, brake lights for the towed car, and approved towing hardware—you could end up with a hefty ticket.
In the worst-case scenario, law enforcement might even impound both vehicles if they’re deemed unsafe. So while you might think you’re avoiding a bill by skipping Portland emergency towing, the legal consequences could end up costing far more than a professional tow would have.
3. You Could Wreck Your Car—or Both of Them
We’ve hauled in more than a few vehicles that were damaged during self-tows. Most people don’t realize how much stress towing puts on a car that wasn’t designed to do it. You can fry a transmission, blow out suspension components, or warp a frame just by towing the wrong way or using an improper hitch.
And if you’re towing an all-wheel drive or electric vehicle? One wrong move and you’re staring down a repair bill that could run into the thousands. These types of vehicles require specific towing methods—flatbeds or dollies in many cases—that you won’t find in your garage.
Newhouse Towing: Let the Professionals Handle All Your Portland Emergency Towing Needs
At Newhouse Towing, our Portland emergency towing team has built our team around helping drivers through their worst roadside moments. Every call we take, every truck we dispatch—it’s all done with one goal in mind: getting you out of a tough spot with the right tools and real experience. Our fleet is fully equipped for any situation that falls under Portland emergency towing, from simple breakdowns to major recoveries.
The next time you’re stuck in the middle of traffic or stranded on the shoulder and thinking about hitching a ride with a buddy and some bungee cords, remember this: towing isn’t a DIY project. It’s a job for a trained team that’s been handling Portland emergency towing situations for years.
We’re proud to be the ones Portland drivers rely on day or night. When you need Portland emergency towing, Newhouse Towing is just a call away.