How to tow a non-runner?

[tejr]

The current MIL issue got me thinking, how would you tow a total non-running cerb? there are no tow hooks from what I can see and therefore no real safe way to winch the car up onto a flatbed?

[mat13]

just find something solid under the front end, like a wishbone.

[Rawhide]

There is a tow hook on the front of the chassis. It's in the centre about one foot under.

I'd be worried if it was pulling a car onto a flatbed if it would push on the bumper though.

[Steve_T]

Not supposed to tow a car with a Hydratrak diff iirc.

[tejr]

Really? hydratrak is just a normal viscous diff? surely less damage would occur to a hydratak than a normal? no idea, but either way mines a 4.2 so has the 'good' diff

Didn't know about that tow hook.. the other issue, as mentioned would be the damage caused to the front bumper!

The only thing I can think is jacking up the front end as high as it'll go, reversing the flatbed to meet the wheels, removing the jacks and then pulling from the tow-hook?! bit of a mission lol

[TVRinBFG]

I've towed Cerberas onto my recovery truck. I tend to use a tie down strap attached to the tow eye, attached to the metal tow wire. That way it is material against bodywork, rather than the winch steel wire. I also usually stand on the the tie down strap to push it down, away from the car's bodywork. Once it starts going up the ramp/beavertail, the tie down strap doesn't touch the bodywork, so your bodywork is only really at risk for the first couple of feet (assuming you've reversed the truck upto the front of the car).

[brogenville]

mat13 said:

just find something solid under the front end, like a wishbone.

What?!! Dont think you want to be doing this, not unless you want your suspension geometry well and truely pulled out of line. If you dont want to use the tow hook (because its corroded for example), then any of the main chassis members will be fine.

[pmessling]

Make sure the tow truck as some wood for when the back starts going up as the tail pipes rub on the group. I have bits missing from mine. On time done that. When Austec collected my car they got it up no trouble.

And yes as said there are towing hooks under the front if the car.

[Steve_T]

Just checked the workshop manual - it says don't tow it too far, although it doesn't say what too far would be of course!

[Brummmie]

Towhook is somewhere here!

[pmessling]

Also concerning the hyrdatrak is that it shouldn't be put on the brake testing machine when being MOT, was a warning when i had a MG ZT V8 with the same diff