How to tow a car with a manual or automatic transmission?

Towing a vehicle with a flexible hitch

Towing a car with a flexible hitch is the most common method of towing passenger cars.

A flexible hitch, which is usually a fabric cable, is present in the trunk of almost every car owner. And the point here is not that drivers care about the problems of possible towing. Usually the cable, along with a fire extinguisher, a warning triangle and a first aid kit, is included in the motorist’s kit, so it willy-nilly ends up in almost any trunk.

An example of towing with a flexible hitch is shown in the following picture:

In practice, in addition to the towing cable, special towing mounts will also be required. On some cars, the mounts are lugs that stick out from under the bumpers. On others, you should use a special loop that is screwed into the mount under the plug in the bumper.

It is with a flexible hitch that category B cars are most often towed.

Towing a car with automatic transmission

With such a box everything is much heavier. Surely everyone has heard that towing a vehicle with a manual transmission and an automatic one are two different things. But not everyone can tell you what to do correctly. Often in such a situation, car owners doubt that their car will be able to tow another vehicle. And how to do everything right. If mechanics are installed, then only one gear rotates in neutral gear. On an automatic transmission, the opposite is true: all possible gears rotate.

Such a box is not designed for such overloads, which can lead to overheating of the part or its breakage. The gearbox is lubricated by oil, which pumps the oil pump while the engine is running. But when the engine is turned off or faulty, then the gearbox will not be lubricated. Because of this, it may fail. But what about towing? If a vehicle with an automatic transmission is pulled by another car, then the unit experiences enormous overloads. The automatic is not designed for such driving. He demands more leniency.

What should it be

What is necessary for successful and authorized transportation of a vehicle by towing:

1. Serviceability of brake and steering systems.
2. Integrity of the body covering - there should be no breaks or pointed pieces bent outward (if the car has been in an accident).
3. Serviceability of door hinges, handles, glass.
4. Carabiners and other elements of the connecting device must be in good working order.
5. A flexible clutch requires a certain length of cable.
6. For rigid fastening - a special device made of durable and high-quality metal.

When transporting a passenger car, a flexible hitch option is suitable. But to transport a truck or passenger vehicle, a rigid hitch is required.

With the latter type of towing, the trajectory of the second vehicle will not deviate. Thus, during travel there will be no unnecessary interference for other participants.

Rope length

The cable should not be shorter than 4 meters and longer than 5 meters. It should be taken into account that the longer the flexible clutch equipment is, the greater the risk of deviation of the trajectory when moving.

If the cable is shorter than the specified norm, then there is a high risk of a collision between the driven vehicle and the vehicle pulling it.

The color of the cable does not matter. The accumulation of steel fibers is impregnated with reflective compounds.

In the case of using a red and white cable with a “reflector” effect, it is allowed not to attach striped signs. Such cables themselves signal and serve as a means of issuing warning signals.

Most often you can find products made from threads of the following shades and their combinations:

• red;
• orange;
• blue;
• blue and white;
• white with red;
• orange and white;
• other variations.

Speed ​​also plays a role in the presence of a particular length of cable. Even driving slowly by the lead driver will not allow the trailing motorist to drive perfectly smoothly.

This is why it is required that the second (transported) car be driven by a person who is always ready to correct the motion vector in a timely manner.

Travel speed

The main postulate of the Rules regarding the speed limit applies to almost all types of vehicles and in all cases of towing. One rule applies to everyone.

Permitted speeds when towing another vehicle:

If a car has an automatic transmission and is subject to forced removal from its location on the roadway, then it must be driven exclusively at a speed of 30 km/h - no more.

The only thing is that if the number of gears is more than 3 stages, it is allowed to transport the vehicle at an increased speed, but not more than 50 km/h.

Towing a vehicle - rules and frequently asked questions

Various problems may occur on the road that will require the help of other motorists. If your vehicle breaks down, you can do several things - call a tow truck or ask other drivers for help. You can create a separate topic about towing a faulty car, since there are many confusing issues. There are several rules associated with this action, and the most common question of almost all road users is: which car should have the hazard warning lights on?

The towed vehicle, which is located behind, must be allocated for other road users

The first step is to start by looking at the definitions. A towed vehicle is a car that is located behind and is being towed. A towing vehicle is a vehicle that assists and performs towing. For both the first and the second, according to the Traffic Rules, there are certain requirements.

Rules . The towed vehicle, which is located behind, must be separated from other road users. Therefore, the hazard warning lights on the towed vehicle must be turned on. In some cases, this system may not work. Then you should mark the car with a warning triangle - it is attached to the rear of the towed car.

The maximum travel speed is 50 km/h

At night and in conditions of poor visibility, the side lights on the towed vehicle must also be turned on. Such cases include tunnel passage. The final rule that applies to towing is that both vehicles must have daytime running lights, low beam headlights, or fog lights on—the motorists' choice.

Another issue that should be discussed in this case is the speed of cars. The maximum indicator does not depend on where exactly the vehicles are moving - in a populated area or outside it. The maximum travel speed is 50 km/h. This rule is the same for any case of vehicle towing. If a lower speed limit is indicated on the road, you should obey it.

To tow, you must have at least 2 years of driving experience

Many people are interested in the question: is towing allowed on a highway? In fact, there is no direct ban, so it’s possible. But if, according to technical parameters, cars cannot reach speeds of more than 40 km/h, towing is prohibited. On roads of this type, the minimum speed limit is 40 km/h. If a vehicle is initially unable to reach a higher speed, it is prohibited from entering the highway.

The rules have been learned, so you can help a friend in trouble? Not certainly in that way. Interestingly, not every motorist can tow. To do this, you must have at least 2 years of driving experience. Only in this case can you help another motorist and not receive a fine.

Bottom line . Towing a vehicle involves many issues and regulations. They relate to the speed of movement and the inclusion of lighting devices.

Features of a rigid coupling

This method of towing is carried out using a solid structure, one end of which is attached to the driving vehicle, the other to the driven one. It allows both vehicles to be kept on the same line while driving, which ensures reliability and safety.

Therefore, a rigid vehicle coupling is especially useful for moving heavy, clumsy equipment. It will prevent cars from colliding with each other.

Inventions

Mercedes-Benz has invented an electronic collar for trailers. The new system is called Trailer Stability Assist (TSA). It is fully integrated into the vehicle's existing electronic stability control system. TSA quickly detects the beginning of a skid or lateral sway of the trailer and effectively suppresses these movements by alternately braking the right and left front wheels of the vehicle.

Not all drivers are familiar with the rules for towing vehicles: in driving schools little time is devoted to this section, and in practice, not many have tested themselves as a driver of a towing or towed vehicle.

In a real traffic situation, the lack of theoretical and practical knowledge causes certain difficulties.

Rules for towing with a rigid hitch

Towing a vehicle with a rigid hitch

First of all, traffic regulations prohibit towing in any case if the steering of the towed vehicle is faulty - it can only be transported by partial or full loading. Sometimes they write that when hitching with three attachment points, it is not necessary for the driver to be behind the wheel of the towed car - this is an erroneous idea that contradicts the requirements of the traffic rules.

The driver of the towing vehicle must have at least 2 years of driving experience. The dimensions of the rigid coupling must be such that the distance between the machines is no more than 4 meters. The weight of a towed vehicle with a non-working brake system should not exceed half the weight of the “tug”.

How to tow a car correctly

It would seem that there is nothing complicated here: attach one car to another with a cable and pull. Well, or steer and slow down if you took a place in the gallery. But not everything is so simple, it’s not for nothing that a whole section in the traffic rules is devoted to this topic.

There are four towing methods - with a flexible hitch, with a rigid hitch, with partial or full loading. Most often, motorists use the first and last. The rest require special devices, which you not only won’t carry with you (they will take up at least half of the car’s trunk), and you’ll never buy (not all drivers will fork out money for the necessary tow rope, but here is a whole metal structure, which costs significantly more ). The full loading method is not, in fact, towing. It would be more correct to call such transportation transportation of a car. And tow trucks do it. Therefore, if towing with a flexible hitch is extremely undesirable for you (for example, you are the owner of an automatic transmission) or is completely impossible (in case of ice, this is prohibited by traffic regulations), then feel free to dial technical assistance. For the rest, towing using a conventional cable will most likely be suitable.

You should not have any illusions that the first person you meet will help you. Of course, if you are a girl, the chances of meeting a prince on a white horse, a real man, increase significantly. Only trouble: having learned that you need towing, the gentleman becomes sad, refers to the lack of a tow rope and... leaves. All he had to do was go to a car store, then it would be more difficult for a true macho to retreat.

How to choose a good tow rope?

As you understand, an ordinary rope will not help here. Most motorists hope for the primordial Russian “maybe it will blow by”, so only a few are puzzled by the purchase of towing cables. It’s another matter if the need arises. Just on a country road, finding a store with automotive “gadgets” is oh so difficult. And often the search ends with a call to the “fairy for broken cars” - a tow truck. True, such services cost several times more than the price of a tow rope. Within one district of Moscow, transporting a passenger car by tow truck will cost no less than 1,500 rubles. If you are stuck in the region, add a couple thousand more to the final cost for delivery to the Moscow Ring Road. But all the problems could be solved by one visit to the auto shop.

An emergency trip to get a tow rope, by the way, can end in disappointment. If you buy the first rope you come across, give it a sharp tug, and nothing connects the car anymore. So choose carefully.

Towing ropes can be steel or synthetic. It is clear that the former are many times stronger and more resistant to abrasion, but they take up quite a lot of space in the trunk, do not absorb shocks well and can seriously injure a person or damage the towed car if they burst during transportation. Of course, if you are the owner of a heavy truck, then you cannot do without a metal rope. It is selected based on the maximum weight of the vehicle. For passenger cars, a lightweight synthetic rope is more suitable. Unlike steel cable, it is compact and elastic. In addition, it costs half as much - about 500 rubles versus 1000-1500 rubles for a metal one. There are also disadvantages: firstly, they are inferior to their steel counterpart in strength, and secondly, they often fray. There is also a Kevlar option, which is usually used for electric winches and combines the advantages of both cables. There is only one drawback - the price. It “bites” and starts from 2000 rubles. Spend money on a durable, but pricey option for off-road enthusiasts.

The requirements for the towing rope are quite specifically stated in the traffic regulations. The length of the rope should be from 4 to 6 meters. No more, no less. It cannot be longer, because difficulties will arise during turns, and a short belt during sudden braking can cause the towed vehicle to collide with the tractor.

In addition, according to traffic rules, the tow rope must be equipped with at least two red and white flags.

What else should you pay attention to when choosing a towing device? Firstly, at the connection points between the cable and the carabiner. These are the most vulnerable points in the entire structure. Therefore, if there is any doubt that the mounts can withstand the weight of another car, it is better to choose another option. The second important parameter is the maximum load capacity. Buy a cable that can withstand 1.5-2 times the load than the weight of your car. If you have to pull the car out of the mud, the towing strap, designed for a standard load, most likely will not hold up and will break.

He said: "Let's go" and waved his hand

This is exactly how the towing takes place, as in the song about Yuri Gagarin. Initially, drivers must discuss the details of the route, the speed of movement (according to traffic regulations, it should not exceed 50 km/h), as well as the conventional signals that they will give to each other for a timely stop , lane changes and other maneuvers. This is the very case when the phraseology “give up” will not mean a loss of interest, but, on the contrary, close attention to the towing process.

Before driving, make sure the tractor's low beams are on. Even during the day. The towed vehicle must have flashing hazard lights, and if the battery is dead, a warning triangle must be attached to the rear. For your own safety. The key must be in the ignition, otherwise you risk the steering wheel locking.

By the way, in March last year, legislators introduced another rule. Now only drivers with more than two years of experience can drive towing vehicles (Section 20.2(1) of the Traffic Regulations).

So, let's start moving. This is perhaps the most difficult part of the journey. You need to move smoothly. It is especially important to avoid jerking if the cars are connected with a metal cable, since it is not elastic and can burst under sudden loads.

When turning and changing lanes, do not forget that your tandem is similar in length to a limousine, which means you need more time and space to complete the maneuvers. Do not ignore the turn signals, otherwise the driver behind the moving car may not be able to navigate.

By the way, the towed vehicle must be driven. For some reason, many people forget about this, believing that the tractor driver will do everything. And don't forget to slow down. It is the rear one that monitors the distance and ensures that the cable is tensioned all the time. You just need to know moderation in everything, including braking. Some drivers are so “attentive” to ensuring that the towing strap is in constant tension that they brake throughout the entire road. However, the braking system may not be able to withstand excessive load. And the tractor experiences additional resistance.

These are, in essence, all the towing rules. It’s not difficult to follow them, but in times of trouble they can help out not only you, but also another motorist whose engine has failed or whose wheels are stuck in the mud. All you need to do is choose the right cable and learn how to use it. Good luck on the roads!

Towing with a rigid hitch

Unlike towing with a flexible hitch, in which the tow rope can sag to the ground, towing with a rigid hitch is carried out using special fixed devices, usually made of metal.

At the same time, towing couplings can be of various designs . The simplest rigid couplers have one attachment point for each vehicle. More complex ones have multiple attachment points to the towed vehicle (as in the picture above) and allow the towed vehicle to follow the path of the towed vehicle while driving in a straight line. The rules for different types of rigid couplings are different.

In practice, towing with a rigid hitch is used much less often than towing with a flexible one. However, rigid couplers have several advantages over flexible ones. For example, they are more durable and allow you to tow heavy trucks.

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A car with an automatic transmission is towing

Manufacturers do not recommend doing this. But, if there is no other choice, then you need to adhere to a number of rules. It is better to use a rigid hitch. The weight of the first car should not be greater than the weight of the second. You cannot exceed the speed of 35 km per hour. You cannot tow in position D. You must strictly select 2 or 3 speed. It is impossible to evacuate using a flexible hitch, as it puts a heavy load on the part. In this regard, driving in D mode can simply kill the box without driving even a couple of kilometers.

Definition of the concept

Towing a car is the manipulation of transporting a car using the traction force of another vehicle and connecting parts. The principle of moving mechanical vehicles is simple - one machine transports another from one place to another.

The following concepts appear in the procedure:

1. A towing vehicle is one to which a vehicle that requires forced transportation is attached.
2. A towed car is one that is directly transported by a trailer (travels second, attached to the towing vehicle).
3. A towbar is a special device at the bottom behind the car that allows it to be used as a tractor. Carabiners and other connecting elements cling to the tow bar.
4. “Paws” (hooks, etc.) - are used in front of the car in order to hook the connecting device coming from the towing vehicle (from the towbar).

The towed vehicle must be suitable for stopping in time on the road or adjusting turns.

If the car is not capable of this, then it should be evacuated using special transport equipment. In this case, transporting a car with a broken steering wheel or brakes does not apply to towing.

Is a category necessary?

The driver of a car that is pulling another vehicle on an inflexible device must be quite experienced. But one of the issues that worries motorists in connection with the concept of “rigid coupling” is the category of rights. Some people think that they should be with the letter E, allowing them to carry a trailer heavier than 750 kg.

The definition of the difference between it and a car is in the traffic rules:

“Trailer” is a vehicle that is not equipped with an engine and is intended to be driven in conjunction with a power-driven vehicle.

A motor vehicle is a vehicle driven by an engine. the term also applies to any tractors and self-propelled machines.

Towing of cars is regulated by paragraph 20 of the traffic rules. It does not specify categories of rights. They are discussed in Article 25 of the Law “On Road Safety”. The legal document establishes a special category for each vehicle, as well as for the use of trailers with them. There is no mention of towing here.

It is clear from the traffic rules that a trailer and a car that has lost the ability to move under its own power are different types of vehicles. The law that exists for the use of the former does not apply to the latter. And in order to tow a car, the driver does not need to have the letter E on his license.

Government Decree No. 333 of March 24, 2017 contains a clarification regarding the length of service of a motorist:

When towing, driving towing vehicles must be carried out by drivers who have been licensed to drive vehicles for 2 years or more.