Car towing. How to do it right?

A car, like any car, may not obey for various reasons. A breakdown that immobilizes us on the route ends up calling a tow truck or being towed by another vehicle. However, properly towing a car is more difficult than it might seem. What do you need to remember to do it safely and legally?

If the aforementioned roadside assistance does not come for us, the car can be towed using a tow rope. For cars with a permitted gross weight of up to 3.5 tons, a few meters are enough, which we can buy at almost every gas station and in a car shop. Another necessary piece of equipment is a warning triangle, which should be placed on the left side of the towed vehicle.

It can be helpful to have connection cables that will allow you to recharge the battery in an emergency. Without a running engine, which usually precludes power steering or brakes, it is very dangerous to tow a vehicle on a flex, although it is legal. Therefore, it is worth considering whether it would not be the best solution then to call technical assistance on the road.

“Towing something is a responsible job, so there are a few rules to keep in mind. First, we can only use hooks and towing eyes. The former allow you to tow, for example, a trailer, while the latter allow you to tow another vehicle in an emergency. If it is necessary to use a towing eye, it is very important that the cable is always taut. A loose tow cable can cause a jerk, which can cause the towed vehicle to disengage or even damage its bumper. You must drive in the right lane, and both vehicles must signal a possible change in direction. It is good practice to have constant communication between drivers, which is useful, for example, in an emergency braking situation.“, says Franciszek Nemec, Head of Steinhof Car Service.

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According to the traffic rules, the speed of a towing vehicle in populated areas cannot exceed 30 km/h, and outside the city - 60 km/h. During the period of poor visibility on the towed vehicle, the parking lights must be turned on. Do not tow a vehicle with faulty steering or suspension. The question of brakes looks interesting. With a rigid connection, at least one brake system (one axle) of the towed vehicle must be operational, and with a loose connection, both. Distance between cars also matters. With a hard connection, this is a maximum of 3 meters, and with a free connection, from 4 to 6 meters.

The Rules of the Road clearly state how we must tow the vehicle. Failure to follow these rules may result in a mandate. If we are towing someone on the motorway, remember that we can only do this until the next exit or the so-called "SS", or a place where travelers are served. The question remains, can every car be towed?

“Unfortunately, not every car is suitable for this. The problem of towing a car equipped with an automatic transmission is problematic. Some manufacturers allow such processing over short distances at a minimum speed. The problem is that the lubrication of the elements inside the box is a pressure system. When towing with a drive from the wheels of a car, the absence of oil in the box can damage the bushings and planetary gears. It is also very likely to damage the oil pump, which then runs dry. In the case of a car equipped with this type of transmission, it would be wiser to call technical assistance on the road.” sums up Francis of Germany.

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