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Tool Talk Discussion Forum

Car Broken, Can I Tow It?

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Tim

02-10-2004 17:36:42




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My Escort decided to snap the timing belt tonight! It is only about 3 miles from my house. I have a GMC 1500 but not trailer.

My question, has anyone ever towed a car with a pickup before, and if so how did ya do it? I am a cheapskate and would rather not pay for the tow to my house...

Thanks,
Tim




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tim

02-11-2004 10:43:29




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 Re: Car Broken, Can I Tow It? in reply to Tim, 02-10-2004 17:36:42  
Update,

Well the car is now in my driveway. The wife worked our a "deal" with a neighbor who had AAA.

My wife looked at some of the replies and got scared, as she was going to be the one driving the truck! I also forgot that the car has an automatic transmission and a flat tow may not be so good for it.

I should have had her buy the parts, as I bet she could have got them for free! She is good like that...

Thanks for the help. Should have the car fixed this weekend.

Tim

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T_Bone

02-11-2004 11:31:37




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 Re: Re: Car Broken, Can I Tow It? in reply to tim, 02-11-2004 10:43:29  
Hi Tim,

Wise choice. I had simular problem many moons ago. Called the wife with the pick-up to come get me on the Interstate. I explained what we needed to do several times.

It seamed at the time that having her do the pulling would be the safest. Wrong! I'm on a 20ft chain behind a pick-up that I can not see around, 30mph is acutally 60mph in womans speed , and changing lanes you turn on the turn signal then proceed to change lanes reguardless if there's another vechile setting next to the vechile being towed.

Lucky for me the guy heard my sqeeling tires and backed off so I could change lanes and follow the wife.

In 40yrs, I've never asked the wife to pull me again.

T_Bone

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timimg belt..John,PA

02-11-2004 05:10:14




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 Re: Car Broken, Can I Tow It? in reply to Tim, 02-10-2004 17:36:42  
It is not a very hard job to change the timing belt in the Escort. Maybe you can repair the car where it is sitting,now? Some metric wrenches, 1/2 in. breaker bar, small hydraulic jack should do it. Had to do mine last summer.



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Uncle

02-11-2004 04:04:30




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 Re: Car Broken, Can I Tow It? in reply to Tim, 02-10-2004 17:36:42  
Two chains,an old tire and duct tape..... tape is used to safety the hooks ....drive slow use flashers!!



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evetS

02-10-2004 21:57:31




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 Re: Car Broken, Can I Tow It? in reply to Tim, 02-10-2004 17:36:42  
Tim, If you use a buddy that's never towed before, you may want to slide your chain/rope through a long piece of steel/galv pipe. Just an idea to keep the 2 vech. seperated.

Steve



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buck

02-10-2004 21:08:16




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 Re: Car Broken, Can I Tow It? in reply to Tim, 02-10-2004 17:36:42  

Back in my younger days my car (56 ford) broke down in town one night so I left it and cought a ride home. Next day I took the pickup (55 ford) and some chain along with 2 buddies to get my car home. We get hooked up and one buddy is in my car and the other in the pickup with me driving. We start off slow but me and the buddy in the truck get to talkin so soon Im going along at a pretty good clip. Comes time to make the turn off to our dirt road so I make it just like normal just as I hear this little thump of chain breakin and see my car going through the fence and down into the pasture field. If you pay attention you probably will be ok.

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Jerry B

02-11-2004 06:08:20




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 Re: Re: Car Broken, Can I Tow It? in reply to buck, 02-10-2004 21:08:16  
LOL...
"probably be ok"....



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Paul Janke

02-10-2004 19:30:21




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 Re: Car Broken, Can I Tow It? in reply to Tim, 02-10-2004 17:36:42  
For only three miles, I would try to hold it to no more than 25 MPH, especially if you are not used to doing it. I try to push the brake pedal on the towing vehicle only enough to turn on the brake lights, which is the signal for the one being towed to stop us both. It seems like most of those being towed really don't understand that they are to supply ALL of the braking for both vehicles. When I need to tow something with a manual transmission a longer distance, I try to get the person being towed to push in the clutch and put the vehicle in one of the higher gears for a little while (NOT engaging the clutch) once every few miles and then going back to neutral. This is to give everything a chance to turn as if the unit were running just like normal, lubricating things which may not get it while moving but in neutral. THIS DOES NOT APPLY TO VEHICLES WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. Good luck, let us know how it works out.

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old

02-10-2004 19:04:16




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 Re: Car Broken, Can I Tow It? in reply to Tim, 02-10-2004 17:36:42  
Yes you can tow it as the others have said and yes all of them are correct. You can rent a tow dully from u-haul which is safer and is with in the law in all states



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Mac

02-10-2004 18:45:09




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 Re: Car Broken, Can I Tow It? in reply to Tim, 02-10-2004 17:36:42  
Some states, the law can ticket you for towing in that manner.



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MarkB

02-10-2004 18:10:06




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 Re: Car Broken, Can I Tow It? in reply to Tim, 02-10-2004 17:36:42  
I assume you have a helper. If not, call a tow truck.

Your best bet is to get a nylon (poly?) tow strap at a hardware store. A log chain will work too, it's just not very forgiving.

Find something substantial under the car to hook to. Either the subframe rail or sway bar will work.

Don't forget to turn the key on in the car. Mainly to unlock the steering, but also for turn signals.

Start and stop slow. Let the towed car do most of the braking, but remember: It is stopping about three times the weight its brakes were designed for!

Turn wide; a sharp turn can cause the car to roll over the tow strap. Not good.

Keep your windows down and use hand signals to indicate when to start and stop.

Stay below 45 mph, any faster can damage the auto trans.

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Tank

02-10-2004 17:41:15




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 Re: Car Broken, Can I Tow It? in reply to Tim, 02-10-2004 17:36:42  
If it's just three miles tow it.I've done it many times.If it's alot of miles you don't want to because of tranny,just be careful and remember that the towed car should slow down the one in front to keep it steady and less slack in the chain.BTW don't hook to anything weak i.e. control arms,etc.



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