How to use the tow rope and precautions when towing

Choose the right towing tool

First of all, what we are going to introduce is towing a trailer, that is, a car pulls the towed vehicle in the front through a towing tool. Different from the loading or semi-loading trailers of professional rescue slat trailers, the towing trailers are simple and quick to operate, easy to use, and cost-effective. It is suitable for car owners to operate by themselves in emergency situations, which can buy valuable time for later troubleshooting.

The towing tools used for towing trailers are divided into two types: soft tow ropes and hard tow bars. The material of the tow rope is mostly made of high-strength fiber fabric or steel wire, and there are tow hooks and locks tied at both ends of the tow rope. The rigid towbar is replaced by a steel or iron pipe, and is also equipped with tow hooks and locks at both ends. For both safety and towing effects, a tow bar is undoubtedly a better choice. A hard tow bar has a better ability to transmit traction when towing, especially when the towed vehicle loses brake control. Make sure that the car in front does not get hit by the car behind when braking too hard. Of course, the tow rope is not useless, its advantages are space saving, low price, flexible use, etc., and practice has proved that the soft tow rope can be fully used for basic trailers, so it has become the preferred tool for private car owners.

Correct operation of the trailer

1. Locate the trailer hitch behind the towing vehicle and in front of the towed vehicle. The position of the trailer hitch of many cars is designed at the lower part of the bumper, and the clear position is usually marked in the vehicle manual. The owner can also find a hidden space by observing the front and rear bumpers, which is covered with a round or square cover. The location is where the car's trailer hitch is located.

2. The trailer hitch of some cars is split and needs to be assembled when in use. After removing the cover on the bumper, assemble the onboard hook.

3. Install the trailer tool. Whether you choose a soft or hard towing tool, you must ensure that it is firmly and reliably connected to the car hook during installation, and the tow hook designed with a safety lock needs to be locked in place. Double check the front and rear connections before the trailer is driven. The soft tow rope without a tow hook at both ends should be tied with a slip knot. If the knot is pulled after a dead knot, it will be difficult to untie the tow rope.

4. The tractor starts in 1st gear to ensure that the large torque provides sufficient traction. At the same time, the tractor needs to control the speed of the vehicle to keep it running smoothly, and increase the power output when it feels a little resistance. Manual transmission models avoid sharply lifting the clutch pedal, and start slowly with semi-linkage to avoid damage to the car.

Trailer Considerations

1. The trailer tool with eye-catching colors should be selected, such as yellow, blue, fluorescent green, fluorescent red, etc. If the color is not eye-catching enough, you can hang colorful cloth strips on the trailer. When towing at night, try to use a tow rope or tow bar with reflective material to increase the warning effect.

2. The trailer tool should be installed on the same side of the front and rear vehicles as the trailer hook. If the faulty car is the left hook, then the tractor should also choose the left hook to ensure that it runs straight after hitting the road. And when installing the trailer hook, be sure to check afterwards to ensure that the trailer hook is installed tightly, so as to avoid the tow hook popping out and hurting people during use.

3. Pay attention to the communication and cooperation between the front and rear vehicles. There are many learnings about trailers, among which the cooperation between the front and rear drivers is very important. Before towing the truck, drivers should formulate a reasonable driving route to avoid complicated road conditions and congested roads. If there is no walkie-talkie as a communication tool, it is necessary to agree on the communication signals for starting, decelerating, turning, going up and downhill, etc. before going on the road, so that the control of the front and rear cars is consistent.

4. Control the safe distance between vehicles. In order to prevent rear-end collisions when using tow ropes, it is necessary to master the distance and speed of the vehicle. Generally, the length of the tow rope is about 5m to 10m, so the distance between the vehicles should be controlled within the effective range of the tow rope, and the tow rope should be kept in a tensioned state. When towing the vehicle, the speed should be controlled below 20km/h.

5. During driving, both front and rear vehicles should turn on the double flashing warning lights, and drive along the outermost lane. You can also paste the "trailer" sign behind the towed vehicle to signal other vehicles to drive carefully.