john steele

Random hints. Rent a dolly for the front wheels or a tow bar if you are traveling any distance or in traffic. You can not flat tow or use a front wheel dolly with a AWD automatic. The car being towed should be in neutral. The tow vehical should be heavier, especailly lower, than than towed vehical. (i.e. don't use a lifted Jeep to tow a subie). To tow without a dolly, use a tow strap, not a chain. start from a stop slowly. Tie a tire or 2x4 to the bumber of one vehical if you do not want a scratch if you bump. Make sure the bumpers of the vehicals are about the same heigth or be forwarned of the consequences of even a minor bump. The rear driver should drag the brakes to keep the tow line in tension. Hook the tow line to the frame or a tow hook attached with grade 8 bolts. Never tie off to a bumper or a suspension. The two cars should be far enough apart that the rear driver can see the strap easily. Never stand by a tow line under tension, should it fail or a bolt fail, it could easily kill someone, tie a large rag or shirt to the line in the middle and should the line fail the cloth will dampen the whip around. If the rear car has power brakes and steering and does not run, it will be difficult to avoid hitting the tow vehical. Remember, if somebody pulls out in front of you and you hit the brakes, the driver of the towed vehical will not have enough reaction time and the towed vehical will likely hit you at the speed that you are towing. Oh yes, one problem on many cars is that you can not hook a tow line to the frame without it hitting the front bumper of splitter, or air dam or ? Under tension, a nylon strap can cut through a bumper cover in a second.