[rkg]

Number of options are available on the net regarding towing rope. Is it advisable to buy one and keep in car for emergencies?

Is it legal to tow by our selves without a proper tow truck?

http://www.ebay.in/itm/Car-Auto-Full...item3f2a7334c5

http://www.ebay.in/itm/Car-Auto-Towi...item5d44a2cd9b

http://www.snapdeal.com/product/spee...to-tow/1181491

[el lobo 6061]

Here is one which I would suggest. Have a look. Good & reliable product and comes with D shackles.

Link.

[Sankar]

http://www.ferreterro.com/two-straps.html

http://www.junglee.com/Ferreterro-CK.../dp/B007MZU8YO

I have the Ferreterro Green tow strap with the integrated hook, i bought this for my Swift. Specs: 2" wide, 2.5M length, rated for 5 tons. I bought it from carkhana.com for Rs.749/- Unfortunately carkhana.com doesn't seem to be online anymore, i wonder what happened.

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/modifi...-gear-etc.html

If you're buying D-Shackled type make sure the shackles go through the tow point in your vehicle, else you may need additional hardware to tow. At the front some vehicles have permanent tow point and some vehicles have screw in tow point, at the back most are permanent welded on the body.

[Jeroen]

I can't comment on whether it is legal in India to tow. I just don't know. But in Europe and the USA it is.

For many years I was part of the Dutch Alfa Romeo Spider Register and its technical committee. Amongst others the technical committee provided repair services for its member during our events. And as these were old, Italian made, cars, that were driven hard, all over Europe, we were always busy.

We always carried tow ropes, just to be able to pull a stranded a car to a more convenient and or safer spot before we would start fixing it.

I would never use a steel cable for towing a regular car. It doesn't flex so it will be very uncomfortable for the car that does the towing as well the car that gets towed. As it doesn't flex it will also put a lot of stress on both cars at the point where you attach it.

I prefer this sort of towing rope:

http://www.autopechonderweg.nl/image...el-3000-kg.jpg

Get the thickest, strongest one you can get. Also, buy two length of medium size chain, about 30 centimeter long. used the chains to attach to the appropriate towing point on the car and then put the hook of the rope into the chain.

Most manual cars can be towed with no problems. But cars with auto boxes might be a very different matter altogether. You might not be able to tow them at all or for a limited distance and speed only. So always consult the owners manual.

Good luck.

Jeroen

[mints21]

Keeping a towing rope is a good idea, and this should be an integral part of the tool box.

I do not think this is a illegal activity to tow your own car. Towing of cars is a common sight on Indian roads.

[joybhowmik]

Originally Posted by Jeroen

But cars with auto boxes might be a very different matter altogether. You might not be able to tow them at all or for a limited distance and speed only. So always consult the owners manual.

I was recently unable to start my 10 year old Santro Xing Automatic at a public parking lot, because the remote's battery went dead.
I called in the tow company, and got a tow home just by slotting the gear selector into "N".
I guess I was lucky, because the auto-box did allow me to slot into N without the car running.
However going by your post above - I inferred, there must be automatics in the western world, which by design do not allow N selection if the car is not running or if the key is not slotted or both.


How do traffic police in such countries, remove such a car when there is a parking violation - without damaging the vehicle.

[Jeroen]

Originally Posted by joybhowmik

How do traffic police in such countries, remove such a car when there is a parking violation - without damaging the vehicle.

The have tow trucks like these:

http://nelis.rctland.eu/img/2013/UK/LWV/LWV3.jpg

You can't tow any car with rope unless there is somebody sitting in that car and the key in the ignition, or at least the steering lock disengaged. Obviously, that well never work for the police. They have to be able to simply and efficiently move your car without you being there, or the need for anybody to go into the car. (which of course, most of the time will be locked as well)

Pretty advanced stuff these days, just because your car is parked and boxed in bumper to bumper by other cars won't help, look at this, you'll be amazed:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eszx9hK8aCU

Or they just lift the whole damn car:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmFPPaL3ls8

Of course, not everybody agrees to his/her car getting towed away:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6r2kPBYPAEc

Anyway, go to YouTube, search 'car towed" and you can have an enjoyable afternoon watching various (hilarious) video's from all over the world.

Enjoy Jeroen

[GTO]

This thread has a load of tips on towing another car, be sure to go through it.

Originally Posted by joybhowmik

I was recently unable to start my 10 year old Santro Xing Automatic at a public parking lot, because the remote's battery went dead.
I called in the tow company, and got a tow home just by slotting the gear selector into "N".

Wouldn't it have been simpler to buy a new battery and replace it in your remote

[joybhowmik]

Originally Posted by GTO

Wouldn't it have been simpler to buy a new battery and replace it in your remote

Since the said incident happened at 10 pm on Sunday on a cold January evening when most shops were closed, the earliest I could get a replacement was at 11 AM on Monday

[John]

Have been using this product called RunLock Loop rope ( http://www.runlock.se/1/en/home/home.php ) for a few months now. Very versatile product and has a number of applications. Here is the link to the India dealer - Guns & Tackle

[bblost]

I bought this from Amazon a couple of weeks back.
Today came across a overheated Palio in the middle of traffic. Used this to move it away from the junction. A couple of cops helped stop the traffic while I did this.

Because of the confusion, the Palio guy had not disengaged the parking brake. The cable snapped right at the hook. So the cop tied it up with a simple knot.

This is a really nice thing to keep in your car.

[KiloAlpha]

Originally Posted by bblost

I bought this from Amazon a couple of weeks back.
Today came across a overheated Palio in the middle of traffic. Used this to move it away from the junction. A couple of cops helped stop the traffic while I did this.

Because of the confusion, the Palio guy had not disengaged the parking brake. The cable snapped right at the hook. So the cop tied it up with a simple knot.

This is a really nice thing to keep in your car.

Firstly, keeping a tow rope (and other such sundry tools/equipment, including a tyre inflator) is a life saver to many a stranded motorist. Your thoughts and actions to help the stranded Palio are much appreciated.

However, once you had decided to tow that guy out of trouble, IMHO, it really was your responsibility to ensure that the Palio was in a tow-able state, and that the entire operation would be completed quickly, efficiently, and safely. In your place, (and I am speaking from experience here) I would have checked that the parking brake was disengaged.

But hey, we all live, we learn, eh?

[bblost]

Originally Posted by KiloAlpha

But hey, we all live, we learn, eh?

Completely agree with you.
In fact I specifically told that driver to not engage the brakes.
He even acknowledged the same.

I sat in my car. There were two policemen who were along with us. One of them stopped traffic in the adjacent lane.
Another was beside that driver.

This guy gave me a thumbs up.
I got an acknowledgement from the police to move forward.

I did and snap.

That driver looked quite embarrassed and I think he was just very confused at that point of time.
He had just witnessed his car bonnet smoking out like crazy. This being a very important junction, all other motorists were honking like crazy till the cops got there. The temperature hovering over 40 degrees did not help matters as well.

In your place, (and I am speaking from experience here) I would have checked that the parking brake was disengaged.

Next time, instead of trusting the other driver, I am going to lean inside the car I am towing and do this before I get back to my car.

[Thad E Ginathom]

I wouldn't like to be towed, or tow, at anything above walking pace!

The guy being towed, on the end of a rope, has to be as quick on the brakes as the towing guy or... bump.

The one time I was towed, by a recovery vehicle, on a British motorway, they used a rigid link, like a steel bar (hey, perhaps it was a steel bar!) and, although I had to steer, I did not have to think about braking.

There was a story in UK about a towing car reaching very high speeds, like 100MPH, until he was stopped by the police. The guy being towed was a nervous wreck!

[bblost]

The safest speed IMHO when towing a car is no more than 10-15 kmph.
Even when the road is completely clear.

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

There was a story in UK about a towing car reaching very high speeds, like 100MPH, until he was stopped by the police. The guy being towed was a nervous wreck!

I can imagine this like a scene from some comedy movie.