- with a rigid coupling;
- with a flexible coupling;
- with partial loading (if the car is fully loaded, it is already considered transportation).
Partial loading is used when it is necessary to evacuate a car with faulty steering, as well as in the case of cars equipped with an automatic transmission — for them this method is more gentle.
According to traffic rules:
- the towing vehicle must have low beam headlights on;
- the towed vehicle must have its hazard warning lights on;
- when towing, you must move at a speed of no more than 50 km/h;
- the length of the rigid coupling must not exceed 4 m;
- the length of the flexible coupling must be between 4-6 m (in this case, every meter must have signal plates or flags measuring 200x200 mm with diagonal stripes of red and white color 50 mm wide, which alternate);
If towing is done with a flexible coupling, the towed vehicle must have working brakes and steering. When using a rigid coupling, a working steering wheel is sufficient. In both cases, a driver must be behind the wheel of the towed vehicle, and passengers can ride in the cabin (this rule applies only to passenger cars).
When partial loading is used, no one should be in the cabin of the towed vehicle: neither the driver nor passengers can be there.
Towing is not allowed:
- with a flexible coupling on ice or on mountain roads,
- on ice on mountain routes,
- if the mass of the towed vehicle with a faulty brake system exceeds half the mass of the towing vehicle,
- if the total length of the coupled vehicles is more than 22 m (for route vehicles — 30 m),
- you cannot tow two cars at once or a car with a trailer,
- buses are prohibited from towing.
Preparing for towing
Most often, passenger cars are towed with a flexible coupling, so it is worth considering this method in more detail.
Cable. The cable must be strong and without any defects. There should be no tears, cracks, or other damage. The weak points of the cable are the connection points with the hook (including welded metal rings), as well as attachment points, seams, and the hooks themselves.
You need to be especially careful with flat hooks made of sheet steel — they can bend at the most inopportune moment. It is better if the hook is equipped with a reliable latch.
Ribbon cables with solid hooks, without welded connecting rings, have proven themselves well.
Metal cables, if they break, can cause serious damage to the car (and if the attachment is very reliable, they can even tear out the towing eye).
In everyday conditions, you can only check the reliability of the cable in practice — that is, directly use it for its intended purpose. Therefore, the main indicator of quality remains the price: cables cheaper than 100 UAH may simply not cope with the task.
Attaching the cable. It is best to attach the cable diagonally: the right rear corner of the towing vehicle — the left front corner of the towed vehicle, or vice versa (left rear — right front). This will help smooth out jerks and make the coupling more reliable.
Before starting to move. Drivers need to agree in advance on the speed and how they will communicate with each other. For example:
- flashing headlights on the towed vehicle — a signal to stop;
- sound signal — attracting attention;
- turn signals — warning about maneuvers;
- several short presses on the brake in the towing vehicle — warning that braking is about to happen;
- and so on.
The towing process
We remind you: the towing vehicle must have low beam headlights on, and the towed vehicle must have its hazard lights on.
Starting to move. You need to start moving and tighten the cable as smoothly as possible. If you jerk sharply, you can break the cable, break the towing bracket, or even stall, as well as damage the suspension.
Moving. Speed — no more than 50 km/h. The cable must always be taut, even on turns — this is primarily monitored by the driver of the towed vehicle.
You need to accelerate and brake smoothly, and shift gears as quickly as possible. Before an incline, it is worth shifting to a lower gear in advance and not shifting while on the incline.
The driver of the towing vehicle must constantly monitor the situation behind.
It is better to take turns along a wide arc, and change lanes with a margin.
To make it easier for the driver of the towed vehicle to see the road, they should stay closer to the center of the road.
It is better to plan the route so that there are fewer left turns: they are more difficult than right turns, since you usually have to cross the oncoming lane.
Braking and stopping. The driver of the towed vehicle should start braking (when the brake lights of the towing vehicle come on).
Towing a car with an automatic transmission
Cars with an automatic transmission, especially with a CVT, are not recommended to be towed with a flexible or rigid coupling (if your car is an exception, this should be written in the service book). For towing a car with an automatic transmission, it is better to use at least partial loading of the drive axle.
If there is no other way out — to minimize damage to the gearbox — you need to move the selector to position N (neutral) and move at a speed of no more than 30 km/h, and no further than 40 km.
Cars with a CVT can only be towed with partial or full loading.
Tips
- Do not attach the cable to parts that are not intended for this purpose (bumper, suspension elements, etc.).
- If, when stopping, the cable ends up under the wheel of the towed vehicle, it is better to move the car manually, rather than trying to pull the cable out with a jerk.
- Let us remind you once again: the cable must be taut, move without sharp accelerations and braking, maintaining a constant distance between the cars.
- In most modern cars, when the engine is turned off, the power brakes and steering do not work. Therefore, it will be much harder to control the car. Be prepared for this!
