I know you've seen it. Some jury rigged towing setup where a truck -- or even worse, a station wagon -- is nearly dragging its rear bumper on the asphalt due to the excessively heavy load of a trailer or an incompetently assembled towing rig. The vehicle is at such an angle, you wonder if the front wheels are even touching the ground.

While this may seem humorous at first glance as you fly by such a scene on the freeway, wondering what level of intelligence the person who did the hitch job has, the reality is it's very dangerous when taken to that extreme. In truth, even minor safety precautions that get overlooked can cause not-so-minor problems.

Selecting the Right Vehicle for the Towing Job

When it comes to selecting a vehicle to be used for towing, bigger is better, right? Actually, I've seen Corvettes properly rigged for towing, hauling a small trailer down the road. The large amounts of horsepower and torque that a Corvette's engine can put out are actually perfect for a towing job. In addition, the high performance brakes and suspension also add to a sports car's towing acumen.

What I'm trying to say is that it's not just about the size of the vehicle. High performance brakes and heavy duty shocks that can handle the added weight of a tow load are perhaps two of the more important items a tow vehicle should have.

Heavier loads create more inertia barreling down the road. That means extra braking power will be required to stop all that extra energy that is created by the heavier load. Extra weight also requires extra support in the form of stronger springs for your suspension, which in turn will require stronger dampening of movement (i.e. heavy duty shock absorbers).

The Proper Hitch, the Proper Linkage

Ball weight, hitch weight, tongue weight. What's the difference, and how do you know how much is enough? This kind of calculation is best left to the experts. Guessing is not a good idea here.

Tongue weight is the amount of weight being applied on the hitch ball. As a general rule, the gross weight of the load to be towed (including the trailer) should not be more than 10x the rated tongue weight. However, just as important, is your vehicle's capacity to handle the tongue weight. Just because your hitch ball says it has a tongue weight of 500 lbs does necessarily mean your bumper won't get rip right off your vehicle if 500 lbs of downward weight is applied to it.

And don't forget about ball height. The ball needs to be at such a height that when you attach the trailer, the trailer remains parallel to the ground. To help alleviate this problem, an adjustable rapid hitch that allows you to quickly adjust the ball height should be considered.

With these precautions in mind, your cross-country tow should end safely.

These two videos are funny but at the same time show how not to tow.

In the top video notice that neither the truck or the car attached the tow strap to hitches. They fished around underneath until they found anything to hook to. When towing, always hook to a hitch. If a hitch isn't available then the next best thing is attach to the frame. WARNING: This video contains some swear words.

The second video is rather silly. This small car is towing way more than it should. Always keep in mind what you'll be towing and what you'll be towing with.

Whatever your reason for hauling items down the road, using proper tie down techniques and cargo buckles could make the difference between a safe arrival at your destination and having whatever you're towing getting scattered all over the road, potentially resulting in a few crashed cars and a few hefty lawsuits.

Here are a few tips to help you ensure you don't end up being sued by half your city.

Securing a Loose Load

Most states require that loose loads (dirt, hay, garbage, or anything that might have a tendency to fly out the back of your truck or trailer) be covered. The last thing you want happening is for loose items to come flying out of your trailer or truck bed as you cruise down the freeway at 65 mph. If part of your load gets away from you and causes damage to other vehicles or results in an accident as other drivers attempt to avoid garbage bags flying through the air, you can be held liable.

In addition to covering your load, make sure that everything is packed properly and tightly to prevent movement of any items to begin with. Simply throwing things in haphazardly can cause a lot of movement which can affect the handling of your vehicle.

Once you've loaded your truck or trailer, being careful to evenly distribute weight and keep things packed tightly to prevent movement, secure whatever it is you're using for a cover (typically a tarp of some sort) tightly to prevent it from catching too much air and being ripped from your trailer. Be sure the tie downs are secure as well, lest they jiggle loose and release your cover.

Securing Larger Loads

For large loads, such as an ATV, motorcycle, or even a backhoe or other large equipment, the best option is often heavy-duty straps connected to a ratcheting cargo buckle. Cargo buckles ought to connect directly from the trailer to the load (i.e. the ATV, backhoe, etc.) evenly and at several points. This will prevent any one area of the load from moving too much and shaking the cargo buckles loose.

Also, be sure that your cargo buckle straps can handle the weight. Hauling a one-ton load requires a minimum of four straps rated at 500 pounds each, though doubling the number of cargo buckles is recommended.

The one thing to not forget when securing your load is common sense. Think about what might happen before it actually does happen, secure your load as if it might happen otherwise, and hopefully you won't find your load from your rearview mirror bouncing down the freeway.