Towing Gadget

ratty · Apr 20, 2014

EeEk said:
Worked with an old guy who told me a story....

He drove buses years ago. Went to the yard and big bus wouldnt start so he tow started it himself with a little bus and a solid bar. Hooked them together and set off in little bus...jumped out the door in to other bus...bump started it and braked and stalled the little bus.

The good old days....or a bit of exageration?? Swears its true.

The hydraulic winch on my old flat bed recovery truck was so fast when the revs were wound up that I could sit in a vehicle hooked on the end of the winch cable and press winch in on the wireless remote control and bump start the vehicle on the end of the cable.

chawks · Apr 20, 2014

Well you learn something new every day. Thanks for all the info. 7.5t is a piece of **** to pull then judging by you lot have towed

Breakdowns aren't uncommon in our Pony club fleet so it's good to know that it can be done and legally (for safety as previously mentioned)

Turboman · Apr 20, 2014

chawks said:
Well you learn something new every day. Thanks for all the info. 7.5t is a piece of **** to pull then judging by you lot have towed Breakdowns aren't uncommon in our Pony club fleet so it's good to know that it can be done and legally (for safety as previously mentioned)

Do be careful if you try and do this stuff. The forces involved can be quite large, and accident and injury are possible. Try and think what would happen in a worst case scenario!
Years ago on forestry work, we got into a habit of snatch recovering each other if we go stuck. I gave up this when the rear crossmember was pulled off a rusty series that was snatching me, and was nearly hit the front of my vehicle

chawks · Apr 20, 2014

Turboman said:
Do be careful if you try and do this stuff. The forces involved can be quite large, and accident and injury are possible. Try and think what would happen in a worst case scenario!
Years ago on forestry work, we got into a habit of snatch recovering each other if we go stuck. I gave up this when the rear crossmember was pulled off a rusty series that was snatching me, and was nearly hit the front of my vehicle

We all have breakdown cover so it's unlikely that we'll ever need to do it but handy to know if ever there was a need for it. I think we'd all play it safe what with having ponies on board.

ratty · Apr 20, 2014

chawks said:
Well you learn something new every day. Thanks for all the info. 7.5t is a piece of **** to pull then judging by you lot have towed Breakdowns aren't uncommon in our Pony club fleet so it's good to know that it can be done and legally (for safety as previously mentioned)

Turboman said:
Do be careful if you try and do this stuff. The forces involved can be quite large, and accident and injury are possible. Try and think what would happen in a worst case scenario!
Years ago on forestry work, we got into a habit of snatch recovering each other if we go stuck. I gave up this when the rear crossmember was pulled off a rusty series that was snatching me, and was nearly hit the front of my vehicle

If towing summit big the key is to be smooth and gentle in everything that you do and to avoid gear changes unless necessary. The less jerking on the rope/bar the better.

To avoid having to keep hitting the brakes and therefore running out of air causing total lock up it is better to tow a non running lorry to a place of safety using first or second gear low box and as close to tickover speed as possible.

blue beasty · Apr 20, 2014

ratty said:
The biggest obstacle I face when towing heavy vehicles on steep slopes is lack of traction. I tend to carry sacks of coal and road grit on board to help my tyres dig in on snow covered roads.

That's cause yer Landy is actually a coal bunker on wheels

ratty · Apr 20, 2014

blue beasty said:
That's cause yer Landy is actually a coal bunker on wheels

If it's in the landy the ballast can't use it up so quickly.

yellow90 · Apr 21, 2014

EeEk said:
Worked with an old guy who told me a story....

He drove buses years ago. Went to the yard and big bus wouldnt start so he tow started it himself with a little bus and a solid bar. Hooked them together and set off in little bus...jumped out the door in to other bus...bump started it and braked and stalled the little bus.

The good old days....or a bit of exageration?? Swears its true.

I have done similar myself with landrovers , must have a wide open area and some bloody quick feet if not, its difficult but it works !

with mine id have the tow vehicle in 1st low and bump the other in 1st low , and speed up the towed one slightly then let tickover so both are going at same speed with slack in the rope, jump out and unhook rope and move the tow vehicle out the way and the jump back in the bump started one

Five Pots · Apr 22, 2014

The Highways Agency guys are supposed use a load cell with a display in car so that they don't exceed the allowable towing force as agreed with the manufacturer. In practise, these guys will do what it take to make the road safer.

ratty · Apr 22, 2014

Five Pots said:
The Highways Agency guys are supposed use a load cell with a display in car so that they don't exceed the allowable towing force as agreed with the manufacturer. In practise, these guys will do what it take to make the road safer.

I'm looking forward to seeing the first HATO guy towing a vehicle whilst accompanied by VOSA. I'll be the first to point out the list of laws broken.

Paul D · Apr 22, 2014

Five Pots said:
The Highways Agency guys are supposed use a load cell with a display in car so that they don't exceed the allowable towing force as agreed with the manufacturer. In practise, these guys will do what it take to make the road safer.

I disagree.

About 9 years ago or so we were towing the caravan with the Disco on the M18 when the temperature went off the gauge .. pulled over straight away on the outside of a sweeping bend onto the Hard Shoulder and immediately got the wife and kids out of the Disco, over the Armco and behind the caravan .. if something hit I'd rather they were behind the accident.

The HA arrived within minutes, must have been cruising I guess .. and did nothing helpful! First thing thing they did was to go mad and angrily shouted to the family to get back into the Disco!!! I told the HA to #### off, big style, and that the family stay where they were. The HA were, I believed and still believe, absolutely in the wrong trying to make people stay in vehicles stranded on the hard shoulder .. they left pretty quickly, having given us no real help whatsoever, beyond suggesting that we pour water in the expansion tank and drive away!

No worries, all sorted shortly, we were only a few miles from home, but it beggars belief what could have happened.

With hindsight I should have taken their numbers etc or pictures or video, but in the heat of the moment I did nothing ..

So stuff the HA, they and their patrolmen in my experience are egotistical tossers.

Pikey · Apr 22, 2014

Paul D said:
I disagree.

About 9 years ago or so we were towing the caravan with the Disco on the M18 when the temperature went off the gauge .. pulled over straight away on the outside of a sweeping bend onto the Hard Shoulder and immediately got the wife and kids out of the Disco, over the Armco and behind the caravan .. if something hit I'd rather they were behind the accident.

The HA arrived within minutes, must have been cruising I guess .. and did nothing helpful! First thing thing they did was to go mad and angrily shouted to the family to get back into the Disco!!! I told the HA to #### off, big style, and that the family stay where they were. The HA were, I believed and still believe, absolutely in the wrong trying to make people stay in vehicles stranded on the hard shoulder .. they left pretty quickly, having given us no real help whatsoever, beyond suggesting that we pour water in the expansion tank and drive away!

No worries, all sorted shortly, we were only a few miles from home, but it beggars belief what could have happened.

With hindsight I should have taken their numbers etc or pictures or video, but in the heat of the moment I did nothing ..

So stuff the HA, they and their patrolmen in my experience are egotistical tossers.

Yep bunch of effing tossers.

ratty · Apr 22, 2014

Paul D said:
I disagree.

About 9 years ago or so we were towing the caravan with the Disco on the M18 when the temperature went off the gauge .. pulled over straight away on the outside of a sweeping bend onto the Hard Shoulder and immediately got the wife and kids out of the Disco, over the Armco and behind the caravan .. if something hit I'd rather they were behind the accident.

The HA arrived within minutes, must have been cruising I guess .. and did nothing helpful! First thing thing they did was to go mad and angrily shouted to the family to get back into the Disco!!! I told the HA to #### off, big style, and that the family stay where they were. The HA were, I believed and still believe, absolutely in the wrong trying to make people stay in vehicles stranded on the hard shoulder .. they left pretty quickly, having given us no real help whatsoever, beyond suggesting that we pour water in the expansion tank and drive away!

No worries, all sorted shortly, we were only a few miles from home, but it beggars belief what could have happened.

With hindsight I should have taken their numbers etc or pictures or video, but in the heat of the moment I did nothing ..

So stuff the HA, they and their patrolmen in my experience are egotistical tossers.

On numerous occasions I've had HATO guys situate themselves directly behind casualty vehicles on the motorway which prevents me doing this. After I've pulled up in front of the casualty rather than behind they then get in their car and feck off without saying a word.

I also watched in disbelief as a HATO guy put a rope around the lower arm on a Renault and proceeded to tow it. When I pointed out that he'd been lucky that the vehicle stopped cos he'd just buggered the flexi brake hose running on top of the bottom arm he looked blank.He couldn't see what the problem was.

According to VOSA when towing a casualty vehicle the number plate of the towing vehicle must be applied to the rear of the casualty vehicle. I am looking forward to pointing this out.

tacr2man · Apr 22, 2014

I have towed 54 tonne in Australia ,with my 110 reached about 30+mph , relied on the towed artic to stop us when I got him into layby . as mentioned in previous posts , its the stopping more than the pulling , and solid bar makes things far safer.

Towing Gadget

ratty

I'm not special I'm limited edition

chawks

Active Member

Turboman

Mab An Gov

chawks

Active Member

ratty

I'm not special I'm limited edition

blue beasty

Leaks an prone to bits dropping off

ratty

I'm not special I'm limited edition

yellow90

Banned

Five Pots

Active Member

ratty

I'm not special I'm limited edition

Paul D

Old, nackered 'n broke, but the Landy is fine . :)

Pikey

Dummy Ejection Facilitator..

ratty

I'm not special I'm limited edition

tacr2man

Well-Known Member

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