A lot has already been discussed about recovery and salvage techniques.
The purpose of this thread is to discuss how to tow a broken down 4x4 from the trail upto the mechanic's.
To start off this discussion, let me get in a few personal examples.
Last weekend, Ibrahim's gypsy's clutch was completely fried and he needed to be towed out from the OTR spot to Lonavla town to the mechanic's which was approx 15kms away. Out of this there was atleast 8kms of dirt road with steep climbs and then another 7kms of winding good tarmac road.
I have a nylon crane hoist rope had i think is better for such a situation than the wire rope. So we used that (5meters)
The ideal would be to use a tow bar. Anyone has ideas how to fabricate one?
While towing the gypsy, i first started in 4H and on steep climbs, i needed to shift to 4L 1st.
Now the first question: Can i keep driving in 4L 2nd or 3rd gear or keep changing back to 4H on dirt roads? I am always worried about transmission windups.
Everytime i change gears on the incline, the line goes slack and followed by a sharp tug. Anyway to avoid this?
Around the 6km mark, the front tiny tow loop of the gypsy snaps. And thankfully it did, cause i didn't realize my car was overheating as well. Only when i switched off the engine i could hear the coolant bubbling and saw the indicator light flashing. I immediately started the engine and left it running the keep the bonnet open. My mistake that i didn't keep an eye on the temp gauge from start.
So, what to do to keep your engine for overheating during towing?
What happens after that, you can read it in the OTR thread:
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/4x4-ex...-lonavala.html
Moving on, as we reach bombay, Alok's gypsy's timing belt comes loose and he needs to be towed another 5kms to his mechanic's in new bombay. I tow him easily in 2H since it's tarmac and flat road.
Am i using the right gear?
I could reach 40kmph and stayed in third. Only issue was that everytime i changed gears (however carefully), momentum was slightly lost and the sharp tug was felt. How bad is this for my car and how can it be avoided?
Also, let's say a vehicle needs to be towed for more than 30kms (if it breaks down on the expressway for example). Should the towed vehicle be keep running (if possible) to circulate oil? Should the towed vehicle shift the 4x4shifter to neutral? Ideally shouldn't we fix free wheeling hubs on the rear wheels also to so that they can be unlocked in such an eventuality?
Let's discuss exact modalities to tow 4x4s.
Anyways, also see below the rules for general towing in India:
1. No vehicle other than a mechanically disabled motor vehicle or incompletely assembled motor vehicle, a registered trailer or a side car, shall be drawn or towed by any motor vehicle, except for purposes of delivery and to the nearest filling station or garage.
2. No motor vehicle shall be drawn or towed by any other motor vehicle unless there is in the driver's seat of the motor vehicle being drawn or towed a person holding a licence authorising him to drive the vehicle or unless the steering wheels of the motor vehicle being towed, are firmly and securely supported clear of the road surface by some crane or other device on the vehicle which is drawin or towing it.
3. When a motor vehicle is being towed by another motor vehicle the clear distance between the rear of the front vehicle and the front of the rear vehicle shall at no time exceed five metres. The tow ropes, or chains shall be of a type-easily distinuishable by other road users and there shall be clearly displayed on the rear of the vehicle being towed in black letters not less than seventy - five mllimetres high and on a white background the words 'ON TOW'.
4. No motor vehicle when towing another vehicle other than a trailer or a sidecar shall be driven at a speed exceeding twenty- four kilometres per hour.