Are you Competant if you have to be Towed ?
Discussion
Yesterday i was following two cars, one was towing the other with a length of towrope.
After about 5 mins i realised that both cars were nearly new Citroens. The one in front was being driven by a male and he had 2 kids sitting in the back. The one that was being towed was being driven by a woman...it was apparent that they were partners.
Everytime the car in front pulled away, it was abundantly clear to me that both drivers didnt have a clue how to tow properly (safely).Whenever they slowed or stopped, the rope itself dangled along the floor and when the car in front pulled away it almost pulled the front end off the car that was being towed.
I was on the verge of pulling up alongside to offer advice (off duty) when we approached a set of Red ATS.What happened next was your worst nightmare come true (if you owned both cars).
The lead car stopped but the towed car didnt,instead, it rammed the back of the lead car with such force that it pushed it out into the junction sending glass and debris everywhere.
I was just about toget out when the lights changed and the front vehicle pulled away again, snatching the towed car....very painful. I could see that the woman inside the towed car was hysterical, waving her arms around and gesticulating to what i assume was her husband.
Just then, the cars turned left off the main road and into the forecourt of a local Citroen dealer..they were obviously expected because there were mechanics etc waiting on the forecourt.
The damage to both vehicles was what i would describe as 'moderate' and would probably cost in excess of £2000 to fix each vehicle.
I stopped to make sure that everyone was ok and the only person that was not crying was the man.....he had steam coming out of his ears (donkey ears by the way he was driving).
If we tow anything at work, or should i say when, we always get the driver out to sit in our car and a Police officer steers the briken down car. This is because of Safety issues and Insurance issues.
The last thing that i would want is someone running into the back of me when ive stopped.
This brings me to the point of this story,how many people would feel confident and know what they are doing when being towed down the road on the end of a Towrope?
Do you think that it should be a part of the driving test?
After about 5 mins i realised that both cars were nearly new Citroens. The one in front was being driven by a male and he had 2 kids sitting in the back. The one that was being towed was being driven by a woman...it was apparent that they were partners.
Everytime the car in front pulled away, it was abundantly clear to me that both drivers didnt have a clue how to tow properly (safely).Whenever they slowed or stopped, the rope itself dangled along the floor and when the car in front pulled away it almost pulled the front end off the car that was being towed.
I was on the verge of pulling up alongside to offer advice (off duty) when we approached a set of Red ATS.What happened next was your worst nightmare come true (if you owned both cars).
The lead car stopped but the towed car didnt,instead, it rammed the back of the lead car with such force that it pushed it out into the junction sending glass and debris everywhere.
I was just about toget out when the lights changed and the front vehicle pulled away again, snatching the towed car....very painful. I could see that the woman inside the towed car was hysterical, waving her arms around and gesticulating to what i assume was her husband.
Just then, the cars turned left off the main road and into the forecourt of a local Citroen dealer..they were obviously expected because there were mechanics etc waiting on the forecourt.
The damage to both vehicles was what i would describe as 'moderate' and would probably cost in excess of £2000 to fix each vehicle.
I stopped to make sure that everyone was ok and the only person that was not crying was the man.....he had steam coming out of his ears (donkey ears by the way he was driving).
If we tow anything at work, or should i say when, we always get the driver out to sit in our car and a Police officer steers the briken down car. This is because of Safety issues and Insurance issues.
The last thing that i would want is someone running into the back of me when ive stopped.
This brings me to the point of this story,how many people would feel confident and know what they are doing when being towed down the road on the end of a Towrope?
Do you think that it should be a part of the driving test?
Good point Tony.
I'm not sure I'd put it in the test. Maybe one lesson post test to do a stretch of motorway and a short tow (from both ends
) would be a good idea.
I've only been towed once in my Citroen AX, the one and only time it broke down despite all the hammering I gave it. More nervous than I care to remember, knowing that if I didn't brake at the same time as the tow truck that i would rearrange the front of the car (and probably me knowing the build quality on the AX
Chris
I'm not sure I'd put it in the test. Maybe one lesson post test to do a stretch of motorway and a short tow (from both ends
) would be a good idea. I've only been towed once in my Citroen AX, the one and only time it broke down despite all the hammering I gave it. More nervous than I care to remember, knowing that if I didn't brake at the same time as the tow truck that i would rearrange the front of the car (and probably me knowing the build quality on the AX
Chris
I have never been towed or done the towing. Must admit that I would probably not want to even attempt either. I saw some chap at the weekend towing another car and the rope was only about 3ft long. Highly dangerous if you ask me - and a hazard to other road users. I personally think that towing should only be attempted by fully trained mechanics or the like - or by proper tow trucks with the ridged pole.
Thankfully I have not yet been in a situation where my car has totally died and not been able to push to the side of the road. Then I ring the AA. Get the professionals in.
Thankfully I have not yet been in a situation where my car has totally died and not been able to push to the side of the road. Then I ring the AA. Get the professionals in.
BIG M - I couldn't agree more..
Seeing some cars being towed with no more than a couple of feet of rope
scares the hell out of me. I'd say leave it to the recovery companies to deal with - is £50 a year too much ? Make it illegal to tow with rope and use a steel bar to interconnect the vehicles.
Either make breakdown recovery a mandatory part of the insurance policy, and make towing by non-authorised persons illegal or make it part of the driving test, along with motorway driving.
Seeing some cars being towed with no more than a couple of feet of rope
scares the hell out of me. I'd say leave it to the recovery companies to deal with - is £50 a year too much ? Make it illegal to tow with rope and use a steel bar to interconnect the vehicles. Either make breakdown recovery a mandatory part of the insurance policy, and make towing by non-authorised persons illegal or make it part of the driving test, along with motorway driving.
I wonder how mechanics learn about it/
The theory behind towing is not complicated, and is really only common sense, although some cars make it easier than others.
However we all see the most extreme examples of people towing whilst we are out and about on the roads. Towing should be limited to short distances only, and all drivers involved should be confident in their abilities.
My suspicion is that the people who drive everywhere at 40mph are te same people that should not be towing or towed.
The theory behind towing is not complicated, and is really only common sense, although some cars make it easier than others.
However we all see the most extreme examples of people towing whilst we are out and about on the roads. Towing should be limited to short distances only, and all drivers involved should be confident in their abilities.
My suspicion is that the people who drive everywhere at 40mph are te same people that should not be towing or towed.
I think if the engine of the car being towed does not run and hence no vacuum for the servo then towing it is not a DIY tow rope job. No Servo, no Power Steering(?) it’s a nightmare, if anything happens quickly you have no chance. A woman sitting in a car with no servo working trying to stop quickly – no chance. When cars did not have power assisted brakes you could get away with it, when front disc brakes came out you could not. Has anyone tried stopping a car fitted with four discs after having pumped out the servo? Find a private road and try it some time.
Part of the driving test – I think not.
Ivan
Part of the driving test – I think not.
Ivan
i have seen some hilarious towing situations as described.
Personally If I have to tow a vehicle using a car I use one of the sprung (3-piece) poles that hook and the lock onto the towing loops on your car.
If towing using the 4WD i prefer to use an A-frame eliminating the need to have someone in the towed vehicle.
I've been towed a couple of times....but didn't particularly enjoy the experience.
Think I was told to have my foot on the brake at all times...light brake pressure when rolling along...and hard when you saw the brake lights.
I think the tow rope has to be fairly short to stop other cars overtaking....and getting caught between the towing car and the towed car.
Would be a good idea to make it a part of the driving test.
Think I was told to have my foot on the brake at all times...light brake pressure when rolling along...and hard when you saw the brake lights.
I think the tow rope has to be fairly short to stop other cars overtaking....and getting caught between the towing car and the towed car.
Would be a good idea to make it a part of the driving test.
ribol said:
I think if the engine of the car being towed does not run and hence no vacuum for the servo then towing it is not a DIY tow rope job. No Servo, no Power Steering(?) it’s a nightmare, if anything happens quickly you have no chance.
Its not as bad as you are making out.......people do it everday, especially the Police and most of the cars that we tow are not running.
As long as its done at a slow speed (20mph) and BOTH drivers are competant then theres no problem.
Most of the time, people run into problems because they are towing far too quickly...the rope is too short....one or both of the drivers simply hasnt got a clue !
deltaf said:
I think it could be made an optional part of say an extended test.
Ive towed and been towed, it takes a wee bit of getting used to, but as long as you both know what youre doing (ie the physics of towing) then its not a major problem.
Years ago (and I mean years ago ... well before I could legally go out on the roads with a car) a farmer we knew had me help him tow a car back across his own land. He gave me two instructions which I have always remembered and were blindingly simple.
1) Don't let the rope go slack.
2) I make us go - and I'll do it gently ... you make us stop - and do it gently.
OK ... a little simplistic I know but a damn fine bit of very to the point and easy to remember advice if you don't know how to be towed. From that information you pick up very quickly how to do it properly.
Phil
Towing eh? Brings back memories! Did it often as teenagers but then between my brother and I we had a lot of cars that broke-down 
Best though was when I bought an MGA Twin Cam as a non-runner from a bloke in the Lake District, we lived in Ealing. He offered to deliver it as far as Nottingham in the back of a pantechnicon (I kid you not) and my brother and I towed it home the rest of the way down the M1 via Brent Cross and the North Circular.
What added to the event was that the tow car was also an MGA – my brother’s 1600, the Twin Cam had no screen so I had to wear goggles, as the engine didn’t run neither did the heater so took a flask of hot coffee to keep me warm! Oh and it was Charity Shield match day at Wembley with Man U involved (aren’t they always?) so the M1 was full of fans travelling down for the match - fortunately both MGs were red!
I did wonder if it was legal to tow on a motorway but as there was a huge police presence that day and we didn't get pulled I assumed so? At one point the tow rope broke near Neasden, and a mounted policeman trotted over on his steed, gave the combination a once over and pointed out that I needed the reg’no of the tow car on back of the Twin Cam, he actually waited whilst I went into a newsagents to procure a black marker and some card to make-up a number plate! He must obviously have been more into horses than cars because I reckon he could have ripped into because of the un-roadworthy condition of the Twin Cam, it had been in a barn for 10 years so I guess the tyres were perished! All good fun, oh and yes I feel pretty confident about towing and being towed! Rich...
Best though was when I bought an MGA Twin Cam as a non-runner from a bloke in the Lake District, we lived in Ealing. He offered to deliver it as far as Nottingham in the back of a pantechnicon (I kid you not) and my brother and I towed it home the rest of the way down the M1 via Brent Cross and the North Circular.
What added to the event was that the tow car was also an MGA – my brother’s 1600, the Twin Cam had no screen so I had to wear goggles, as the engine didn’t run neither did the heater so took a flask of hot coffee to keep me warm! Oh and it was Charity Shield match day at Wembley with Man U involved (aren’t they always?) so the M1 was full of fans travelling down for the match - fortunately both MGs were red!
I did wonder if it was legal to tow on a motorway but as there was a huge police presence that day and we didn't get pulled I assumed so? At one point the tow rope broke near Neasden, and a mounted policeman trotted over on his steed, gave the combination a once over and pointed out that I needed the reg’no of the tow car on back of the Twin Cam, he actually waited whilst I went into a newsagents to procure a black marker and some card to make-up a number plate! He must obviously have been more into horses than cars because I reckon he could have ripped into because of the un-roadworthy condition of the Twin Cam, it had been in a barn for 10 years so I guess the tyres were perished! All good fun, oh and yes I feel pretty confident about towing and being towed! Rich...
My parents told me a story about when they found themselves in a situation similar to the one described many years ago, father in front car, mother in rear. They got both cars home safely, but while stuck in traffic en route a woman went to cross the road between the two cars. Completely failing to appreciate that one car was towing the other, and not seeing the rope (which was being kept taut), she apparently went over like a sack of spuds! This was despite my mothers frantic shout when she realised the head-in-the-clouds numpty hadn't seen...
Had to hurt! Shouldn't laugh but....
The hidden dangers of towing!
Had to hurt! Shouldn't laugh but....
The hidden dangers of towing!
I would love to see towing included in the test. Because it requires a bit of skill and common sense it would be a useful way to weed out those drivers who have neither qualities!
However, I think the practicalities would rule it out. If you were a driving instructor, would you want some numpty learning to tow with your cars?
>> Edited by danhay on Tuesday 2nd September 10:29
However, I think the practicalities would rule it out. If you were a driving instructor, would you want some numpty learning to tow with your cars?
>> Edited by danhay on Tuesday 2nd September 10:29
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