There are three types of tows. This information is given in a driving school. There is towing on a flexible hitch, on a rigid hitch, as well as a partial loading method. The most common - it is flexible. Rigid is used in adverse weather conditions. Partial loading towing is used if the steering system does not work in the machine. Let's look at how to tow cars correctly. This information will be useful to every driver.
Towing and traffic rules
It is important to remember that towing on a flexible hitch in difficult weather conditions is prohibited for traffic rules. What do experts advise? If a driver with less experience is in a towed car than in a towed car, it is better to switch places. Why so? The fact is that the control of the tug is more complicated than the control of an ordinary passenger car. You should also precisely agree on the upcoming route. According to traffic rules and from the point of view of common sense, it is recommended to discuss the signals in advance. Perhaps this will be a blinking high beam, various other gestures (for example, hand). These are the basic towing rules. They are also registered in the SDA.
It is believed that the driver of the second car during towing is no longer the driver, but the passenger. This is a false statement. The same restrictions apply to a person sitting in a towed car. The same rules apply as for a regular driver. Therefore, you must have with you all the necessary documents for the car and a certificate of the corresponding category.
What do you need to know first?
Towing a car requires some preparation. The first car should not differ significantly in weight from the second car. Also, the tug must have a clutch in good condition and a working cooling system. In the process of such evacuation, the engine experiences heavy loads, which means it heats up more. Next, in the rear bumper, you need to find a thread or an eye. If there is a thread, it is necessary to screw a ring into it. A towing sling will cling to this element.
It is recommended to install the cable so that it is oblique to the towed vehicle. The rules also provide for towing the inclusion of headlights and alarms on the first and second cars, respectively. If it does not work, an appropriate sign is attached to the rear plane.
Features towing with manual transmission
A car equipped with a manual gearbox can always be evacuated. This will not affect the box in any way. It is enough to put the gearbox in a neutral position and keep your foot on the brake. Flexible towing can be done as you wish. A car can be both a leader and a slave in tandem.
Another thing is an automatic transmission.
Automatic transmission and towing
Everything is much more complicated here. Many owners of automatic transmission have heard that the evacuation on the mechanics and on the machine is significantly different. But not everyone knows the details. Owners are often not sure whether it is possible to take someone in tow and how to do it.
On the manual transmission in the neutral position, only one gear will rotate. If the car is towed with a machine gun, in the neutral position of the box the whole mechanism works completely.
Since the automatic transmission was not designed for such work, the mechanism will quickly heat up and may even fail. An oil pump that pumps lubricant for gearbox operation only works when the engine is running. If the car is faulty, then the transmission elements will not be lubricated. This can also be a reason for failure. If a car with automatic transmission will play the role of a tug, then the automatic transmission system is subjected to serious additional loads. The machine requires certain concessions.
How is towing carried out on automatic transmission
Since the machines of different manufacturers can differ significantly from each other, the towing capabilities should be clarified in the instructions for the car. Information on how far you can tow a car and what speed should be at the same time is often indicated there. Different manufacturers indicate different parameters. It is completely forbidden to tow on a flexible hitch on an automatic box is very rare.
The rule of the middle ground for automatic transmission
The problem is that far from all situations have time to read instructions. For such cases, car service experts and experienced drivers apply the 50 to 50 rule. According to this rule, a car equipped with an automatic transmission can be towed, and it can act as a tractor. But the speed should not be higher than 50 km / h, the distance should not exceed 50 km. These towing rules have already helped many, saved from the failure of the automatic transmission. 50 km is quite a lot. You can drive through Moscow and get to the service station or home. If longer and faster, then this already entails increased wear.
General rules for automatic transmission
In addition to what each manufacturer of boxes for specific models recommends, there is a set of general rules that apply to all cars with automatic transmission. So, if the machine on the machine is towed, then the automatic transmission selector is set to neutral.
If the car pulls the second along, then it is better to go in 2 or 3 gears. During towing, an increased load will affect the automatic transmission mechanism. It is important to make sure that the oil level in the box is sufficient.
Automatic tug
Automakers recommend avoiding such cases. But if other options are simply not available, then several rules must be followed. It is better to prefer a rigid hitch. The mass of the towed vehicle must not exceed the weight of the towing vehicle. The speed should not be higher than 30-40 km / h. It is unacceptable for the automatic transmission to be in position D. The selector must be installed strictly in 2nd or 3rd gear. Towing a car on a flexible hitch is a huge load on the mechanism. Therefore, mode D will be deadly for the box.
Experienced towing driver tips
Despite the rules of the SDA, experienced motorists do not recommend turning on the alarm. It interferes with the cornering signals. ACC also does not provide clear information about further actions to other participants in the movement. It is better to turn on the fog lights. Also, do not forget about the prohibition of towing on a flexible hitch in ice.
If possible, keep in touch with another car owner in any convenient way. For example, by mobile phone. So much easier to discuss among themselves possible maneuvers.
Before starting off, you must first tighten the cable. To do this, roll forward smoothly until the rear machine works like an anchor and the towing line does not stretch. After that, you can start moving. You need to touch as smoothly as possible.
It is advisable to shift gears later and turn the engine to higher speeds. Switching should be fast. It is necessary to pull a significantly larger mass, which means that the machine will lose inertia much faster. The engine does not have enough reduced speed to extend the car. This must be understood.
When driving, you should constantly monitor the situation in the mirrors. The distance and speed of the car behind is important. The cable will sag and accelerate smoothly so that there are no jerks. It is also necessary to calculate the turning radius. If the turn is steep, then go into it along the outer radius, and exit the same way. It must be remembered that the hydraulic booster will not work on the switched off motor. This means that another driver may not have time to turn the steering wheel.
Flexible towing speed is not more than 50 km / h. This is indicated in the rules of the SDA. Slow to brake. Do not forget about the greater braking distance, since a towed car will not be able to reduce speed as effectively. With blinking green, it is better to slow down immediately. It is not recommended to stop on the hills.
Recommendations for towing
It is very important to constantly monitor the sling - it should not sag. To prevent this, at the moment of weakening a little slow down. At the same time, at the minimum speed, they easily press the pedal to tighten the sling.
If the towing vehicle has stopped, do not drive close to it. The force on the brake pedal must be calculated. The pressure will have to be stronger, because the vacuum amplifier will not work. You also need to calculate the speed of the wheel, because the power steering does not work either. Any maneuvers should be carried out by tug signals. Rebuild better in advance.
About the choice of cables
According to the SDA, the cable length when towing on a flexible hitch can be from 4 to 6 meters. It is very important that the cable is not tangled or knotted. It is advisable to avoid once torn lines.
As for materials, steel is strong, but it is very poorly towed. Give preference to cloth or synthetic slings. It is better to try a cable hook in advance on the car.