Emergency Towing Question

[Charlesaf3]

Drove up to Montreal last weekend, which reminded me of something. Last winter I saw a lot of cars off the road when I'd go up skiing. I've got tow straps/chains etc on my tundra, but couldn't figure out where to hook to on little civics/camrys etc. I figured I'd just end up pulling plastic bumpers off, so did nothing.

But I felt bad. I'm sure I'll come across it again - how would you tow a regualr car out of a ditch with a properly equipped pick up? Meaning mainly where would you put the strap on a car with no obvious attachment points?

 

[ultrarunner]

Drove up to Montreal last weekend, which reminded me of something. Last winter I saw a lot of cars off the road when I'd go up skiing. I've got tow straps/chains etc on my tundra, but couldn't figure out where to hook to on little civics/camrys etc. I figured I'd just end up pulling plastic bumpers off, so did nothing.

But I felt bad. I'm sure I'll come across it again - how would you tow a regular car out of a ditch with a properly equipped pick up? Meaning mainly where would you put the strap on a car with no obvious attachment points?

Most foreign cars have either a small single eyelet front and rear or a slot in the sub-frame for a tow hook adaptor sold by companies like AW Direct...

Your right, attaching to the wrong place could result is costly damage...

 

[Diamondpilot]

I have towed many out from the lower A arm on one side of the suspension. I have a 5' piece of 3/8" chain with a grab hook on one end and a snap hook on the other to accept my town straps loop. If you hook the strap up directly you will wear your strap out in a few pulls. I saw a video of a guy with a S-10 pull the whole rear half off of a Neon pulling from the wrong spot. Imagine what I could do with PSD F-350 4x4 if a S-10 pulled one in half.

Chris

 

[Charlesaf3]

I'm thinking of cars I don't own, so no idea if they have a tow loop adapter. I'm guessing anyone who puts their car in a ditch off a highway doesn't have one - I'm driving on the same highways, and yeah there's ice and snow, but its not a big deal if you know how to drive in it. But many who go skiing don't.

I can picture ripping a neon apart no problem.

What does the A arm look like? And that won't rack the frame on the little car?

 

[AlanB]

If I was going to do it, I would invest in a hook to do it with the little fitting that makes it easy, they are fairly cheap.

BA Grade 40 Sports Car & T-Hook Chain - 6'L - Mfg# F11SBC3 E

There are holes in almost all vehicles now that are designed for that little thingy that is not a hook, and not a chain hook. I am sure if I searched the site, I could come up with the right name. Crud, it says on the picture, a T hook, guess it makes sense, anyway, you turn that thing sideways in the hole and it makes a good attachment without damage. Look on any wrecker, and you will probably see a chain much like this.

For myself, being a chicken, I would not want the liability of pulling people out of the ditch, you could do 1000, but number 1001 may make your life miserable.

Good luck with however you go about it.

 

[Charlesaf3]

Where does the hook fit in on the little car?

Sadly, your point about not helping people because of liability fears is a really good one. Still good to know how to do it if I have to, but I am going to have second thoughts now. Doesn't that suck?

 

[Tig]

One thing I noticed is that the good samaritan usually asks the owner/operator of the distressed vehicle to attach the strap or chain. I always figured that was the best way to delegate liability in case something does get damaged on the car. He he attaches it to something that does not look solid, like a bumper or suspension component, tell him so. It will be his decision to proceed or not.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Here is a better picture to the tow hook and chain described above. They are good to have. I am also including a link.

The lower "A-arm" is the lower portion of the suspension. You usually have a lower and upper a arm attached to the chassis then the other ends go to the spindle where the brake then the wheel is attached.

Hook and Chain | Tow Chains, Ropes + Straps | Northern Tool + Equipment

 

[Charlesaf3]

I found a link to a "what not do to" video - think its one mentioned above. Car doesn't leave the ditch, but does get pulled in half

Car pull in the snow

Good idea on the let them hitch it Tig

I'll have to look for pics of a lower A arm - I'm afraid I still don't follow. Don't have any small cars around here to look at, unless it would be the same on my pickup or SUV?

 

[MrJimi]

My wife drives a Toyota and some dip-stick ( previous owner ) hooked the tow hook on the rear A-frame and bent it big time, her back tires were toed in enough to wear a $75 tire out on account of somebody's stupidity.. Please be careful where you hook up to.
Thanks

 

[ultrarunner]

I'm thinking of cars I don't own, so no idea if they have a tow loop adapter. I'm guessing anyone who puts their car in a ditch off a highway doesn't have one - I'm driving on the same highways, and yeah there's ice and snow, but its not a big deal if you know how to drive in it. But many who go skiing don't.

I can picture ripping a neon apart no problem.

What does the A arm look like? And that won't rack the frame on the little car?

Very Good point...

BMW is so concerned about damage that they provide the tow hook adaptor as part of the factory tool kit...

It screws into a spot on the bumper underneath a small 2" x 2" painted cover...

Even the tow experts get it wrong sometimes... my former neighbor owns a repair garage and would tell me stories of cars badly damaged from being towed in to the shop...

 

[AlanB]

Very Good point...

BMW is so concerned about damage that they provide the tow hook adaptor as part of the factory tool kit...

It screws into a spot on the bumper underneath a small 2" x 2" painted cover...

Even the tow experts get it wrong sometimes... my former neighbor owns a repair garage and would tell me stories of cars badly damaged from being towed in to the shop...

The above post really sums it up, even the "pro's" miss sometimes.

There is usually a slot or hole in the "frame" if you can call them that, of the cars that is designed to accept that T. Every car is a bit different, I am sure that there is a book etc. but it really is just summed up by you have to crawl under and look and see what you can reach, no matter what the book says or the manual, you can only get too so much sometimes.

I used to run a wrecker some in HS. One of my favorites was the lady that ran her Mercedes into the ditch, the car was suspended from the sides of the ditch, the wheels were esentially in the air, and she had to crawl out the window to get out. Both sides of this car were crushed, and she was standing there arguing with the state trooper. We were the wrecker on the rotational call, I pulled up and the woman then started screaming at me, I tried my best to be nice, but when it came down to the point of her threatening to sue if I scratched her car getting it out, I thought it best to call my boss and the trooper called the next service in rotation.

I wanted to hang around and see how they got that one out, but thought it best just to leave.

 

[Charlesaf3]

Very Good point...

BMW is so concerned about damage that they provide the tow hook adaptor as part of the factory tool kit...

It screws into a spot on the bumper underneath a small 2" x 2" painted cover...

Even the tow experts get it wrong sometimes... my former neighbor owns a repair garage and would tell me stories of cars badly damaged from being towed in to the shop...

I think if BMW were really concened they'd store the tow adapter the same place my Toyota does - welded to the frame

 

[firemanpat2910]

good samarition laws should protect you. I try and let the owner hook to their own car. I have a piece of chain with a s hook t hook j hook and grab hook all on a ring (like a set of keys. I can usualy find something it can grab.

 

[wushaw]

I have towed alot of folks out of ditches with my Jeep when we have our occasional snow here, I haven't had any issues and I don't charge anybody either like the sharks you see running up and down the highways looking for a quick buck.

 

[hosejockey2002]

good samarition laws should protect you.

Good Samaratin laws IIRC are intended to protect people from liability for providing first aid to injured or sick people. I'm not sure if they apply to pulling a car from a ditch. Probably would take a lawyer to answer this one.

 

[Ductape]

My advice would be to keep driving. Every manufacturer has a different place for their T slots. It would be near impossible for the average Joe to know where they are. On top of that..... T slots are really only designed to secure a vehicle for transport, NOT for recovery (though i've used them for recovery thousands of times). Doing it the wrong way could cause some really expensive damage. Same with lower A arms........ used them for recovery, but they are NOT designed to be pulled on. You would be surprised how many manufacturers make them out or aluminum nowadays. The thought of helping a fellow motorist out of a snowbank is valiant and good-hearted, but my honest recommendation would be to call the police for them. Ever seen those police dash cam videos where the cop is on the side of the highway with a motorist and another vehicle slams into the cruiser, motorist's vehicle, the people, or all of the above ? Don't needlessly put yourself in that position with the police and/or ambulance may be thirty minutes or more away.

 

[Charlesaf3]

Good idea on doing it in reverse.

And sadly, I take yours and others point about not doing it at all ductape - that'll make my gf happy, she gets annoyed at me when I pull over for people. I'll restrict any towing to isolated country roads if I come across that situation.

No way I'd ever charge for pulling someone out of a ditch - that's for people who make their living doing it to my mind. Just hate to pass someone who's off in a snow bank, and the sides of 89 in New Hampshire are usually full of people on friday nights in the winter.

I've learned some useful stuff from this though, thanks.

 

[mjncad]

Most foreign cars have either a small single eyelet front and rear or a slot in the sub-frame for a tow hook adaptor sold by companies like AW Direct...

Your right, attaching to the wrong place could result is costly damage...

Usually those eyelets or slots are meant for tying the car securely on the ship for transport, not for towing. Towing exerts different stresses on the vehicle versus tying it down for transport.

Unfortunately being a good Samaritan these days can get you sued in our litigious society.