Towing Bar Question

[bluezedd]

Hi guys,

I am going to tow a car approx. 0.7 miles, and I wanted to ask your opinions on using a towing bar with my car. I'm aware of the legal requirements of towing.

the rear towing point is very low on the car (saab 9 3) and it looks like it may fowl the bumper (see here)

http://s857.photobucket.com/user/qwikredline/media...

The car I'll be towing is another Saab 9 3, and the front tow point is quite high up in relation to the rear towing point.

You can see the towing eye cover here:

https://s.aolcdn.com/dims-global/dims3/GLOB/legacy...

I'd like to get a bar like this one for towing. Do you think this would be suitable for my requirements:

https://webimg.secondhandapp.com/w-i-mgl/58ac0a7c4...

When I look at my own car, it really does look like it'll fowl the bumper, but I can't understand why the towing hook would be positioned in a way that you couldn't tow with it. I'm just asking before I order a tow bar in case I am missing something.

Thanks guys.

[eltax91]

0.7 miles? Does the other car have functioning brakes?

If so, use a rope!

[finishing touch]

A point or two to remember.

A car with no running engine has no servo assist on the brakes.
A car with no running engine that normally has power steering has no steering assist.

The U hooks fitted to cars are holding down points for assembly lines and shipping.
Not designed for 40mph on the road hence we fit tow bars for trailers etc.


I have been towed with a bar and a rope but its a lot less frightening towing a car on a trailer.
Just saying; Go careful.

Paul G

[bluezedd]

eltax91 said:

0.7 miles? Does the other car have functioning brakes?

If so, use a rope!

Thanks eltax, I think you're right that I might end up having to just use a tow rope for the car instead of the tow bar. Part of me was looking for an excuse to buy the bar, plus I thought it might be better to prevent a rear end incident.

finishing touch said:

A point or two to remember.

A car with no running engine has no servo assist on the brakes.
A car with no running engine that normally has power steering has no steering assist.

The U hooks fitted to cars are holding down points for assembly lines and shipping.
Not designed for 40mph on the road hence we fit tow bars for trailers etc.


I have been towed with a bar and a rope but its a lot less frightening towing a car on a trailer.
Just saying; Go careful.

Paul G

Thanks for the tips Paul. I remember seeing a towing accident video with an impreza and it has always stuck in my head how dangerous it can be. We'll go super slow I think with a tow rope and get the car moved round. Gladly most of the journey is likely to have 0 cars, with maybe 0.1 to 0.2 miles on a 30mph limit main road. We'll go much slower though and time our exit from the give way when no one is coming and just do 10 to 15mph maximum.

This was the towing accident video that I think of. Looks like maybe the steering lock was on : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDBr2DJzMOQ

I'll go for the rope option, and we will take it super easy on the drive.

Thanks guys!

[finishing touch]

Just don't get my brother to drive the tow car.

17 miles and he didn't look in his mirrors once.
Had the hazards on, then it started raining, turned on the wipers, battery went flat, couldn't see his boot lid, window was down luckily so head out,
rain stinging my eyes, fist waving out the window.

I was shaking like a leaf when we got home. He just said, "Alright" ?




I laugh now but at the time.

[227bhp]

finishing touch said:

Just don't get my brother to drive the tow car.

17 miles and he didn't look in his mirrors once.
Had the hazards on, then it started raining, turned on the wipers, battery went flat, couldn't see his boot lid, window was down luckily so head out,
rain stinging my eyes, fist waving out the window.

I was shaking like a leaf when we got home. He just said, "Alright" ?
I laugh now but at the time.

I think anyone who is of a certain age has plenty of towing stories, I could tell a few
I have a cousin who once managed to pull out onto a roundabout in between the tow car and the one being towed and drive over the rope, fk knows how she managed it, i'll ask her about it one day.