Starting is one of the most challenging moments when car towing. The first car driver should start moving smoothly so that there is no jerk at the start. If sell your scrap car for cash has a manual transmission, you need to depress the clutch pedal slightly when the cable is taut, which will soften the pull. Then you need to add gas to prevent the line from sagging immediately after starting the movement.
Role Of Tow Rope in Car Towing
It is necessary to carry a tow rope in the car, otherwise, it will need to be tinkered with strings and other things that end up in the trunk in the event of a breakdown. Then the so-called warning devices must be attached to the cable.
At least one must install two such flags on the cable. If they are not there, and a couple of two cars got into an accident – for example, the driver of a vehicle driving in an adjacent lane began to rebuild and hit the tow rope – then the tug driver is found guilty.
A warning or a fine is provided without warning devices. The main question is where to get these same plates – ordinary red rags will not work since they do not have a reflective effect. Many cable manufacturers do not make flag plates; this product is also rare quick cash for scrap car removals, so you have to search on the Internet.
Car towing your vehicle is never fun, but you can make things easier on yourself by doing some preparation beforehand. Here are six tips for preparing your vehicle before getting towed.
Tip 1: Gear Shifting
The most important thing is gear shifting. Manipulate the manual gearbox lever quickly and the pedals smoothly, especially when the clutch discs close. Otherwise, the cable jerks are inevitable, and there it is not far from the break.
Remember that the driver from behind sees the road worse than the first car’s driver and has very little room for maneuvering. Therefore, you need to move carefully in the hitch, avoiding braking and stopping as much as possible. But if a stop is necessary, blink the emergency light before braking.
This will make it clear to the second driver that you will stop. When driving through bends, if possible, lay a large turning radius because the towed vehicle passes it along a noticeably smaller radius.
It is important to remember that inaccurate car towing can lead to an accident and possibly fatalities, so you should not approach this process lightly. If you have no experience with car towing, you should not start practicing on busy city streets.
Better to entrust this to a more experienced driver, and when you get the chance, practice car towing somewhere outside the city limits. And yet I wish you never get into a situation where our advice could be helpful to you.
Tip 2: Traffic Signs & Regulations
A reasonable and prudent driver in a car, in addition to the obligatory first aid kit, fire extinguisher, spare wheel, and warning triangle, will also have a tow rope. This inventory becomes especially relevant in winter when road accidents often happen. However, car towing is not always possible and is even prohibited by traffic regulations in such cases:
- If the actual weight of the towed vehicle, which has a faulty braking system (or none at all), exceeds half of the actual weight of the towing vehicle;
- In the case of using a flexible clutch during icy conditions or on a slippery road (in this case, either a rigid grip must be used, or at least partially immerse the towed vehicle on a platform or a unique supporting device
- During snowfall and lack of visibility through the windshield
- If the length of all coupled cars exceeds 22 m
- Motorcycles without an attached side trailer, as well as towing bicycles and mopeds, or motorcycles without a side trailer
- Towing several vehicles at a time or towing by a car with a trailer
- A vehicle that has problems or malfunctions with the steering gear. Such a vehicle can be towed by partially submerging it on a platform or a particular support device
- Towing trailers of any type by buses
Tip 3: Towing Cable
Also, the road rules set precise requirements for the towing cable: the distance between two vehicles with a rigid clutch should not exceed 4 m.
Such requirements for the length of the car towing clutch are justified. Too long a grip (both flexible and rigid) makes cornering difficult, and a towed vehicle can pull off the track, undercutting the cornering path. Also, if the flex cable is too short, the risk of collision between the towed vehicle and the towing vehicle increases.
Read More: The Five Major Ways To Sell Your Scrap Cars in Brisbane
When choosing a tow rope, it is better to prefer a string made of nylon, as this material is more substantial and elastic. Moreover, it does not take up much space in the car trunk.
It is possible to distinguish a forged steel hook from a cast made of light alloy by weight – the first one weighs about half a kilogram. Also, theme must have a spring-loaded pawl & so that it does not jump out of the mount when the cable is pulled. Burrs and rough marks are a bad sign.
When choosing a tow rope, it is better to give preference to the more expensive option and a store with a good reputation because if the hook breaks during the movement, the elastic cable can “shoot” the remains of the curve at the windshield of the towed vehicle or the rear window of the towed vehicle.
Tip 5: Check Permissible Load Before Car Towing
The cable packaging must indicate the maximum permissible load. It is enough for the cable to withstand a load of 1500 kg for towing a small car since it is better to break the line than to tear off the bumper. When choosing a tow rope, you should also consider the diameter of the loop for attaching the cable to your car and make sure that the hook of the carabiner will fit into this hole.
In the event of a braking system malfunction & car towing must be carried out exclusively using a rigid clutch. Is it worth mentioning that regardless of the type of clutch (rigid or flexible). The driver must be behind the wheel of the vehicle in tow. (except rare cases when design of the severe clutch allows the car in tow. To accurately follow trajectory of vehicle that is towing, regardless on the size and angle of turns)
Tip 6: Recommended Speed During Towing
Both vehicles should turn on the hazard warning lights before driving. The presenter should also depend on dipped beam headlights. Should note that it will be more difficult to break & if engine of the towed vehicle is in a silent condition.
Should secure the cable at a slight angle to ease the jerking force when accelerating. In addition, you should try to keep the thread taut. Especially the driver of the towed vehicle requires to watch out for this. He must timely (in advance) slow down, for example, on a decline, before turning or stopping.
