Sunday, 28 October 2012

Tips on How to Tow Your Car Safely



All you need to tow your car safely is some basic information and your common sense. Failure to tow your car properly may lead to problems such as damage to one or more parts of the car or personal injury to you or others around you.



You should only tow a car when it is at neutral. This way, the wheels will not be locked. If this is not done, the wheels and other parts of the vehicle may be damaged and there is a safety risk. When towing a vehicle, make sure a sturdy cable such as tow chain is used. It should be properly fastened from the trailer hitch of the vehicle doing the towing to the vehicle that is being towed. This fastening should be double looped and it should go to a strong part of the undercarriage.
You should note that having a passenger on a vehicle that is being towed is illegal in many states and it poses a safety risk. The vehicle being towed should only have a driver whose sole purpose is to direct the vehicle in such a way that it follows the towing vehi cle. You should communicate with the one manning the vehicle being towed to make sure he/she does not stop suddenly or too slowly.

You should always have a clearly visible sign to warn vehicles behind you that the vehicle is in tow so that they should keep a safe distance. Failure to have this sign is actually a violation in many states. When towing a vehicle, you should never drive faster than 45 MPH. This is because the higher the speed, the greater the strain on the tow cable.

There is a risk that the cable could snap and this could cause an accident. You should limit the distance between the car that is towing and the one being towed. This will prevent the car being towed from getting off the course. If the tow is due to a vehicle breakdown, you should never push it beyond the nearest service station.

When towing a vehicle with an RV or a camper, most of the rules that apply to towing a vehicle that has broken down such as maintain 45 MPH apply. However, there are a few extra tips that will help you do this safely.

You should always allow for more stopping distance because of the momentum of the vehicle you are towing. You should always keep in mind the fact that the length of your vehicle has changed. This will help you while negotiating corners and while overtaking. You should note the limit of your RV or your camper and you should never pass this limit. If you do, there is a risk that the cable may snap.

You will find the limits for the RV and camper in the owner manuals, from the dealership, or through research. When towing with an RV or a camper, make sure the safety cables have been crisscrossed - make sure the cross is at the center. This will help center the vehicle behind the RV if it is unhooked for one reason or the other.

Posted by R2blog. R2blog auto post for blogspot. Download at http://R2blogger.blogspot.com


0 comments:

Post a Comment

 

My Geek Tricks Copyright © 2011 | Template design by O Pregador | Powered by Blogger Templates