Towing Gadget

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chawks

Active Member
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Wonder if anyone on here has heard of a towing device that makes it possible for a Discovery 3 to tow a 7.5t horse lorry safely.

Reason I ask is a friend broke down in his horse lorry on a dual carriageway in the dark on a steep hill - the highways agency people got there first and decided to tow lorry up the hill as it was in a dangerous place. Lorry was loaded with 2 ponies as well so there was a fair amount of weight to haul along. Friend couldn't remember what they used to tow but I was suprised that they pulled it along so easily - I know Landies can tow a hefty weight but I would have thought that would be pushing it to the limits?
 
Most vehicles can pull 7.5 tonnes providing they can get traction and the clutch holds out.

You only have to watch a human pulling a truck to realise that if a human can do it then so can a motor vehicle.
 
chawks said:
Wonder if anyone on here has heard of a towing device that makes it possible for a Discovery 3 to tow a 7.5t horse lorry safely.

Reason I ask is a friend broke down in his horse lorry on a dual carriageway in the dark on a steep hill - the highways agency people got there first and decided to tow lorry up the hill as it was in a dangerous place. Lorry was loaded with 2 ponies as well so there was a fair amount of weight to haul along. Friend couldn't remember what they used to tow but I was suprised that they pulled it along so easily - I know Landies can tow a hefty weight but I would have thought that would be pushing it to the limits?
Click to expand...

Quite possible physically, I have seen bigger vehicles live towed, amzing what they can move in low box.
I am doubtful if it is legal for the public to do that, no idea about Highways Agency staff.
I think ratty will know chapter and verse about this.:)
 
So just a normal tow bar then. Thinking about it I guess it's pretty easy for a Landy - it took around 15 of us burly blokes to push one that had got stuck in a muddy field. The Highways agency told my mate that whatever they were using to tow spread the weight to help pull it but I couldn't figure out how that works??
 
chawks said:
So just a normal tow bar then. Thinking about it I guess it's pretty easy for a Landy - it took around 15 of us burly blokes to push one that had got stuck in a muddy field. The Highways agency told my mate that whatever they were using to tow spread the weight to help pull it but I couldn't figure out how that works??
Click to expand...

Often towed trucks that coudnt get out of showgrounds etc.
Just a rope is fine, but the towed vehicle must have brakes, and preferably a driver who is experienced being towed.
Do be careful pushing stuck vehicles, it aint too difficult to end up under it!
 
Turboman said:
Often towed trucks that coudnt get out of showgrounds etc.
Just a rope is fine, but the towed vehicle must have brakes, and preferably a driver who is experienced being towed.
Do be careful pushing stuck vehicles, it aint too difficult to end up under it!
Click to expand...

We did have one pillock who tried to give it one last attempt - as we were putting stuff under rear wheels to aid traction, luckily no one was hurt but too close for comfort
 
Turboman said:
Often towed trucks that coudnt get out of showgrounds etc.
Just a rope is fine, but the towed vehicle must have brakes, and preferably a driver who is experienced being towed.
Do be careful pushing stuck vehicles, it aint too difficult to end up under it!
Click to expand...

i towed a 7.5 tonner off with an 88 ,went well till he slammed the brakes on after engine started and half pulled the crossmember off
 
jamesmartin said:
i towed a 7.5 tonner off with an 88 ,went well till he slammed the brakes on after engine started and half pulled the crossmember off
Click to expand...

Almost always the driver that is the problem, if there is one! What I hate is when they rev the balls off it and spinning the wheels, one day one will gain traction and shoot forwards, so I always try and have a bit of length on the rope.
 
Getting it going isn't the problem - you need to make sure the towed vehicle has some brakes and won't end up ramming you from behind...

I have towed a stricken 7.5 tonne truck (complete with twin axle trailer loaded with a lightweight) from a dark single carriageway road to a layby about 3 miles down the road...

Have also dragged a Mercedes tractor unit off a wet field when he'd stopped and couldn't get traction
 
LiftedDisco said:
Getting it going isn't the problem - you need to make sure the towed vehicle has some brakes and won't end up ramming you from behind...

I have towed a stricken 7.5 tonne truck (complete with twin axle trailer loaded with a lightweight) from a dark single carriageway road to a layby about 3 miles down the road...

Have also dragged a Mercedes tractor unit off a wet field when he'd stopped and couldn't get traction
Click to expand...

Brakes and technique of towed vehicle are essential, as I said earlier. We pulled an artic forestry wagon with a Ford tractor chained to the front of it, and a landy chained to the front of that :D Was just greasy though, truck hadn't sunk in.
 
On level ground and on a solid surface such as tarmac you will only be pulling 4% of the entire vehicles weight so in theory just 300kg. If it was on an incline add 1/60 of the weight per degree of incline up to a max of 45 degs. If the gradient is greater than 45 degs the total weight of the vehicle is used.

I've regularly towed our works trucks (6.5-18 ton) with no difficulty(on hills, mud, snow, ice etc) and once towed a fully laden articulated milk tanker that had jack knifed on a sharp bend on a steep hill in snow.

The main problem with towing vehicles 7.5 ton or upwards is that the majority of them have air brakes which means that if the engine cannot be started the brakes can lock on once the air runs out. The more times the brakes are pressed the quicker they lock on.

Luckily we have a lot of Mitsubishi Fuso's on our fleet which have a prop handbrake and hydraulic brakes so no fear of locking on, just lack of servo instead.

I'm guessing the highways guy used a 'towing bridle' and/or 'winch brother' that attaches to two points of one or both of the vehicles?
 
Didn't the chaps on top gear tow an antanov cargo plane with a disco 4.

7.5t horse trailer shouldn't be a problem.
 
ratty said:
On level ground and on a solid surface such as tarmac you will only be pulling 4% of the entire vehicles weight so in theory just 300kg. If it was on an incline add 1/60 of the weight per degree of incline up to a max of 45 degs. If the gradient is greater than 45 degs the total weight of the vehicle is used.

I've regularly towed our works trucks (6.5-18 ton) with no difficulty(on hills, mud, snow, ice etc) and once towed a fully laden articulated milk tanker that had jack knifed on a sharp bend on a steep hill in snow.

The main problem with towing vehicles 7.5 ton or upwards is that the majority of them have air brakes which means that if the engine cannot be started the brakes can lock on once the air runs out. The more times the brakes are pressed the quicker they lock on.

Luckily we have a lot of Mitsubishi Fuso's on our fleet which have a prop handbrake and hydraulic brakes so no fear of locking on, just lack of servo instead.

I'm guessing the highways guy used a 'towing bridle' and/or 'winch brother' that attaches to two points of one or both of the vehicles?
Click to expand...

And is that all legal for anyone to do on the road?
 
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.
 
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