Car Broke Down With a Trailer Attached? Plan Both Pickups

Car broke down with a trailer attached? Call Rick’s to discuss the disabled vehicle and a separate plan for the trailer.

Tell us about the trailer before dispatch

A trailer changes the pickup even when the problem is with your car, SUV or light-duty pickup. When you call, say that a trailer is attached before describing the no-start, flat tire or other breakdown. A quote for transporting the vehicle should not be treated as a quote for transporting both.

Rick’s provides compatible light-duty wheel-lift towing, with dollies when appropriate. We need to assess the vehicle and access first. Trailer hauling is not a service promised by this guide; you may need a separate provider or arrangements through the trailer owner.

Keep the combination secure while arranging assistance

If there are injuries, fire or immediate traffic danger, call 911 first. Do not start uncoupling a loaded trailer in traffic simply to prepare for a tow. Tell the operator whether the combination is on a slope, blocking a lane or resting on damaged wheels. Leave handling and separation decisions to an appropriate professional.

Follow the instructions for your exact trailer and vehicle. For example, U-Haul’s trailer instructions warn against unhooking the trailer or loosening its coupler before loading or unloading, and direct customers to roadside assistance for major mechanical problems. These are instructions for that equipment, not a universal procedure for every trailer.

Have these details ready

Vehicle: year, make, model, drivetrain, keys, symptoms and whether the wheels can roll and steer.
Trailer: owner or rental company, type, dimensions, loaded or empty status, and known weight. Say when weight is unknown rather than guessing.
Condition: damaged tires, hitch or coupler problems, leaning cargo, leaks or collision damage. Describe only what you can observe safely.
Pickup access: exact address, nearest cross street and the entrance with enough room to reach the combination.
Destinations: where the disabled vehicle will go and who will take responsibility for the trailer and its contents.

Coordinate the rental company and repair shop

If the trailer is rented, contact its owner’s roadside team using the rental agreement or official app. Confirm who can authorize assistance, what happens to the load and who pays for each part of the job. U-Haul’s roadside assistance information distinguishes problems with its equipment from a customer’s personal vehicle breakdown. Do not assume a trailer rental covers towing your own car.

Call the vehicle’s repair shop before dispatch. Ask whether it can accept the car and whether it has any arrangement for the trailer; do not arrive expecting space for both. Our tow preparation checklist covers receiving hours, keys and authorized drop-off details.

Arrange a pickup on Chicago’s North Side

For a pickup in Lake View East, give the actual alley or lot entrance, not only the building’s mailing address. Report the combined length and whether parked vehicles block the approach. Garage access requires confirmation of height, ramps, turns and loading room.

Call Rick’s 24/7 with those details. We’ll discuss whether the disabled vehicle fits our equipment and what must be arranged before pickup. Confirm availability, the arrival estimate and the quote for the agreed work. A trailer plan should be settled before the vehicle leaves.

Car Broke Down With a Trailer Attached? Plan Both Pickups

Tell us about the trailer before dispatch

Keep the combination secure while arranging assistance

Have these details ready

Coordinate the rental company and repair shop

Arrange a pickup on Chicago’s North Side

What to expect when you call Rick’s

About Rick’s Emergency Roadside Assistance — 24/7 Lakeview & North Side Roadside Assistance

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