Car Carrier
 
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Car Carrier Instructions

WARNING: Read before using the car carrier.


The car carrier may only be used with a Penske truck. When used properly, the car carrier can provide a safe and effective means to transport a vehicle within the following limitations. Contact your local Penske representative if you have any questions.

Car Carrier Load Limitations
Car Carrier
Towed vehicle at widest point: 79"

Minimum width: 42" between inside of tires

Maximum weight: 4,055 lbs.

Maximum wheel base: 125"

Maximum size for tires:
  17" or larger tires Not Transportable  
  16" tires 265 70 R16  
  15" tires 265 60 R15  
  14" tires 265 60 R14  
Minimum size for tires:
  13" tires 165 70 R13  
  12" tires Not Transportable  

Refer to tire size chart.

  • Vehicle must be centered with front end on car carrier facing forward.
  • Vehicles with low front end or air dams may not have enough ground clearance to drive up the car carrier ramps.
  • Towed vehicles must not be loaded with possessions, people, pets, etc

IMPORTANT
Car carrier must be attached to truck before loading the transported vehicle. Do not back the truck with car carrier attached if you are not skilled in backing a trailer.

Hookup of the Car Carrier to Truck
Your Penske representative will hook up the car carrier to the truck at the time of rental. However, if it is necessary for you to disconnect the car carrier in order to load the truck, follow the instructions to reattach the car carrier.

  1. The coupler locking device must be in the full open position. If equipped with a lower locking plate, the plate must be in the down position. Place the coupler of the car carrier over the 2" hitch ball on the truck. Be sure the coupler is fully seated down over the ball.

    Lever-Type Coupler
    (with locking plate)
    		Handwheel-Type Coupler

  2. Completely lock the coupler. If equipped with a lever-type coupler, the lever must be in the down position and the locking pin inserted. If equipped with a lower locking plate, the plate must be in the up horizontal position. If equipped with a handwheel-type coupler, completely tighten the handwheel. The tongue jack must be fully cranked to the up position before moving the car carrier.

  3. Connect the color-coded wires from the car carrier to the corresponding color-coded posts on the truck's electrical box. Check for proper operation.

  4. Crisscross the safety chains from the tongue of the car carrier. Pass through eyelets on truck and attach hook to safety chain. Allow slack in the chains for movement during turns made by the truck and car carrier.
5. Secure the emergency brake actuator cable to the eyelet on the truck and allow enough slack for turning.

Hookup of the Transported Vehicle to Car Carrier
It is the customer's responsibility to hook up the transported vehicle to the car carrier. Consult your insurance carrier before towing as Penske is not responsible for any damage to a transported vehicle.
1. Be sure that the truck and car carrier are straight and on level ground.


2. Remove safety pin on ratchetassembly and unroll straps. Place ratchet handle in the down position.
3. Lay tire straps along fender side of car carrier, off of tire platform.
4. Push down on the ramp release latchand pull ramps out completely using the ramp handles. Lower ramps to the ground.

5. With someone safely guiding you, slowly drive the front end of the transported vehicle onto the car carrier until the tires on the transported vehicle are resting against the wheel stops. Make certain that the transported vehicle is centered on the car carrier platform. NEVER BACK UP A TRANSPORTED VEHICLE ONTO A CAR CARRIER.

6. Place transported vehicle in park or low gear and set parking brake.

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7. Center the tie-down ratchets in front of the transported vehicle's tires and pull the car carrier tire straps forward over the tires.
8. Tighten each tire strap securely by pulling up and down as many times as necessary on the car carrier ratchet assembly handle. Be sure the strap on the inside of the tire does not come in contact with any brake or suspension parts. Insert safety pins and attach safety clip with ratchet handle in down position.
9. Hook up safety chains from car carrier to the frame of transported vehicle directly above the area where chains are mounted on the car carrier. Safety chains must not attach or go over steering or brake parts of transported vehicle. Allow slight slack in chains to provide for suspension movement on the transported vehicle.
10. Using the ramp handles, return the ramps to the storage position. Be sure ramp latch lock snaps in place.

11. Check the towing system after hookup, tow about 100 feet, then stop, and perform a safety check. Check the bolts, chains, 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.

12. Towed vehicle is now safely connected and ready to be towed.

CHECK THE CAR CARRIER BOLTS, COUPLER , SAFETY CHAINS, ELECTRICAL HOOKUP, AND TIRE STRAPS AFTER THE FIRST FIVE MILES OF TRAVEL AND THEN EVERY 50 MILES THEREAFTER.

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Unload Transported Vehicle from Car Carrier

  1. Do not unhook car carrier from truck until transported vehicle is removed from car carrier.
  2. Park truck and car carrier straight and on level ground.
  3. Fully apply the parking brakes on the Penske truck and the transported vehicle.
  4. Remove tire straps from the towed vehicle, placing the ratchet handle in the down position.
  5. Push down on ramp release latch and pull ramps out completely using the ramp handle. Lower ramps to the ground.
  6. Release parking brake on transported vehicle.
  7. SLOWLY back transported vehicle off of car carrier to prevent bottom of vehicle from contacting ramps.
  8. Return car carrier ramps to the storage position and make sure they are locked in place.
  9. Take up excess slack of tire straps in ratchet assembly.
  10. Place safety chains in storage position.
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