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Moving Your Vehicle Using a Car Carrier
- Only a Penske car carrier should be used with a Penske rental truck.
- Never raise or lower the jack with a vehicle loaded on the car carrier.
Simple Instructions for Connecting, Loading and Unloading
- Connecting Your Car Carrier to Your Truck
Your Penske representative will demonstrate how to hook up the car carrier to your truck at the time of rental. 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 applicable. The tongue jack must be fully cranked to the up position before you move the car carrier.
3. The 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 of 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 your rental truck and car carrier are lined up straight on level ground.
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 provide 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.
1. Be sure your rental truck and car carrier are lined up straight on level ground.
2.Park your truck and car carrier straight and on level ground.
3.Fully apply the parking brakes on both the Penske rental truck and your vehicle.
4.Remove the tire straps from your vehicle, placing the ratchet handle in the down position.
5.Push down on the ramp release latch and pull the ramps out completely using the ramp handle. Lower the ramps to the ground.
6.Release the parking brake on your vehicle and prepare for unloading.
7.With someone guiding you, slowly back your vehicle off the car carrier to prevent the bottom of your vehicle from contacting the ramps.
8.Return the car carrier ramps to the storage position and make sure the ramps are locked in place.
9.Take up excess slack of the tire straps in the ratchet assembly and replace the safety chains in the proper storage position.
Though many people think auto repair shops' rates are very high, most are actually close to industry averages. To help you better understand auto repair labor rates, and so that you feel more comfortable handing over your hard-earned money, here are some of the factors auto shops use to establish car repair labor rates:
- Local labor and benefit costs (rural vs. urban location)
- Vehicle makes and models serviced (mainstream vs. luxury/exotic)
- Repair shop type (dealership, independent, etc.)
- Facility overhead (mortgage or rent, upkeep, utilities, etc.)
- Business overhead (tools, auto repair technician training, equipment, advertising, taxes, etc.)
- Skill levels and certifications of auto repair technicians
It should be noted right off the bat that a mechanic does not receive the hourly labor rate you are quoted. That rate reflects his/her pay plus a portion of the facility’s business expenses. Running an auto repair shop today is a costly undertaking. In addition to the cost of the physical facility, high-tech diagnostic tools and equipment needed to service modern vehicles can easily require a six-figure investment.
Most auto repair shops quote labor charges using a “flat rate” manual or computer program that provides the average time it takes an experienced technician to perform a given car repair. That flat-rate time is then multiplied by the shop’s hourly labor rate to reach the total labor charge for the service.
Some people think flat-rate pricing is a scheme to overcharge customers. Actually, it is a system that allows shops to give fair and consistent auto repair estimates while paying their technicians based on ability. For example, let’s say the flat-rate time to replace a starter is two hours. The shop quotes this rate to customers and pays its technicians two times their hourly wage for doing the work. If an experienced technician completes the job in less time, he or she effectively earns a higher hourly rate. If an apprentice takes longer, he or she effectively earns less. Either way, you pay the same amount.
Not all services can be estimated using the flat-rate system. Diagnostic work is a good example because every troubleshooting process is unique. Many auto repair shops quote a basic diagnostic charge that includes certain procedures and a maximum time limit. If the problem cannot be identified within that time, they will contact you, describe what has been done to that point, and ask for more time (and money) to do further diagnosis. This can be frustrating for both you and the shop, but there is no practical alternative, especially when it comes to complex or intermittent troubles.
For some problems, electrical issues in particular, it is not unusual for the diagnosis cost to exceed that of the actual repair. For example, a shop may spend two hours tracking down an open circuit in a wire under the dash, and then fix the problem in five minutes with some solder and electrical tape. In these situations, you are mainly paying for the expertise required to locate the problem, not the repair itself.
Some auto repair shops advertise certain jobs using “package” or “menu” pricing. You have probably seen coupons for $24.95 oil changes that include the parts and labor required to do the job on most cars. Or maybe you have read ads that offer a “brake job” for $99.95 per axle – additional work extra. An amount for labor is included in the menu price you are quoted. Menu pricing is a legitimate marketing tool, but be sure to note any limitations and exclusions.
For example, if your car requires synthetic motor oil, more than five quarts of oil, or an uncommon filter, an oil change will cost more than $24.95. Similarly, most brake jobs will require more work than can be included in a $99.95 special. When you purchase menu-priced services, don’t be surprised if the auto repair shop calls you and requests approval to perform additional work. Before giving an okay, ask for a written estimate that details the parts and labor costs to help prevent any misunderstandings. If you have any questions, make sure they are answered to your satisfaction prior to approving the work.
AAA recommends that you plan ahead for vehicle service by finding an auto repair shop and technician you can trust before you need them. AAA.com/AutoRepair provides information on nearly 7,000 Approved Auto Repair facilities that have met AAA’s high standards for appearance, technician training and certification, insurance coverage and customer satisfaction. AAA regularly inspects every Approved Auto Repair facility and surveys their customers to ensure ongoing performance. In addition, AAA members receive special benefits that include auto repair discounts, an extended 24-month/24,000-mile parts and labor warranty, and AAA assistance in resolving repair-related issues.
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