Impact of towing a car

mclaren1885 · 19th May 2007, 00:48

Clutch problems specially at low speeds should be a concern. However when the car behind is at a distance and the car in front is at a halt and you begin to tow, it gives a big jerk. I am thinking this is kind of harmful to the chassi as it is not designed to these jerks. At times these jerks are really violent.

elf · 19th May 2007, 01:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by arunforu1

No damage can incurr on chassis while towing, unless you bump into tracting vehicle. ... I dont see anything damaging clutch while towing.....

Hello? Depending upon where you're towing from (on the vehicle towing & the vehicle being towed), the towing distance and the traffic & road conditions, you could end up damaging the monocoque structure of the Baleno due to the external strain on the frame.

And the Baleno does not have a conventional Ladder-on-Frame chassis.

vipul_singh · 25th May 2007, 01:30

I had to get my Palio towed recently when it suffered damage to the radiator. The vehicle which the dealer used for towing was an Uno. I was sitting in the UNO on the way to the dealer, and I noticed that there was major damage to the chasis on the side the towing collar is attached. The seam between the wheel-well and the floor pan had started to come apart.

What I mean is that towing seems to cause a lot of stress on the chasis, and tat too much of it would cause permanent damage. Of course, the Uno is an '80s design and more modern vehicles are expected to have significantly improved chasis stiffness, but the argument still holds, I think.

ajmat · 25th May 2007, 08:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by vipul_singh

between the wheel-well and the floor pan had started to come apart.

What I mean is that towing seems to cause a lot of stress on the chasis, and tat too much of it would cause permanent damage. Of course, the Uno is an '80s design and more modern vehicles are expected to have significantly improved chasis stiffness, but the argument still holds, I think.

none of the garage cars have a proper towing bracket to distribute he forces. They use the towing hook which is meant for one off situations

Samurai · 25th May 2007, 09:48

Most popular tow truck used by most service centers in Bangalore is the Omni. The most expendable car I suppose.

drifter · 25th May 2007, 12:16

What? An Omni can tow?

Drifter

Zappo · 25th May 2007, 14:08

Hmmm... the Autofin (Tata dealer) guys here use a 70-80s tracker... Trucker or some such thing that HM used to make ages back as their break-down vehicle cum tow truck. No doors, seats with massive holes in the foam... its one of a kind vehicle. I wonder how they manage to run that 25 years old vehicle even today! And that too as a two-truck.

dadu · 25th May 2007, 15:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by drifter

What? An Omni can tow?

Drifter

Omni has got decent power and it will climb where even the 800's wont, its a rear wheel drive and can carry quite some load too.

mithun · 28th May 2007, 05:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by drifter

What? An Omni can tow?

Drifter

Omni has got a wonderful & strong chassis when compared to other costly counterparts and the low end torque is awesome.

Gypsy is another option.

vivekiny2k · 29th May 2007, 18:57

when buying SUVs on toyota site, i noticed a two prep package as an add on which has improved cooling system and transmission system, indicating these are two areas which will take the beating.

in indian traffic conditions, clutch is another part that may fail (unless you are cruising on the highway most of the time).

regd the chassis, baleno's manual is the most accurate place to check.

moralfibre · 29th May 2007, 19:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by low_bass_makker

Why.........the car would be in neutral while towing........

Arre I meant the car which tows gets a beating on its clutch. The car being towed gets its chassis beat up if the car is not towed properly.

greenhorn · 21st July 2008, 23:45

will something happen to the power steering ? its off when the car is being towed

tsk1979 · 22nd July 2008, 08:42

Nothing will happen to power steering. Its just that you will be required to put in a lot more steering effort since there is no power assistance

diabloo · 22nd July 2008, 09:17

Is there any specification for the rope used for towing? Or any rope/chain will do?

greenhorn · 22nd July 2008, 09:21

I thought a rigid bar was used!

19th May 2007, 00:48	#16
mclaren1885 BANNED Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Bangalore (the city of modded cars) !! Posts: 4,820 Thanked: 45 Times View My Garage Infractions: 0/1 (10)	Clutch problems specially at low speeds should be a concern. However when the car behind is at a distance and the car in front is at a halt and you begin to tow, it gives a big jerk. I am thinking this is kind of harmful to the chassi as it is not designed to these jerks. At times these jerks are really violent.
	() Thanks

25th May 2007, 01:30	#18
vipul_singh BHPian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: BLR / Lucknow Posts: 595 Thanked: 833 Times View My Garage	I had to get my Palio towed recently when it suffered damage to the radiator. The vehicle which the dealer used for towing was an Uno. I was sitting in the UNO on the way to the dealer, and I noticed that there was major damage to the chasis on the side the towing collar is attached. The seam between the wheel-well and the floor pan had started to come apart. What I mean is that towing seems to cause a lot of stress on the chasis, and tat too much of it would cause permanent damage. Of course, the Uno is an '80s design and more modern vehicles are expected to have significantly improved chasis stiffness, but the argument still holds, I think.
	() Thanks

25th May 2007, 09:48	#20
Samurai Team-BHP Support Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Bangalore/Udupi Posts: 25,830 Thanked: 45,558 Times View My Garage	Most popular tow truck used by most service centers in Bangalore is the Omni. The most expendable car I suppose.
	() Thanks

25th May 2007, 12:16	#21
drifter Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 1,488 Thanked: 75 Times View My Garage	What? An Omni can tow? Drifter
	() Thanks

25th May 2007, 14:08	#22
Zappo Team-BHP Support Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 5,922 Thanked: 2,699 Times	Hmmm... the Autofin (Tata dealer) guys here use a 70-80s tracker... Trucker or some such thing that HM used to make ages back as their break-down vehicle cum tow truck. No doors, seats with massive holes in the foam... its one of a kind vehicle. I wonder how they manage to run that 25 years old vehicle even today! And that too as a two-truck.
	() Thanks

29th May 2007, 18:57	#25
vivekiny2k Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: cincinnati, jabalpur,chennai Posts: 1,264 Thanked: 209 Times View My Garage	when buying SUVs on toyota site, i noticed a two prep package as an add on which has improved cooling system and transmission system, indicating these are two areas which will take the beating. in indian traffic conditions, clutch is another part that may fail (unless you are cruising on the highway most of the time). regd the chassis, baleno's manual is the most accurate place to check.
	() Thanks

21st July 2008, 23:45	#27
greenhorn Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: KL-01 Posts: 7,745 Thanked: 4,401 Times View My Garage	will something happen to the power steering ? its off when the car is being towed
	() Thanks

22nd July 2008, 08:42	#28
tsk1979 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 23,717 Thanked: 22,825 Times View My Garage	Nothing will happen to power steering. Its just that you will be required to put in a lot more steering effort since there is no power assistance
	() Thanks

22nd July 2008, 09:17	#29
diabloo BANNED Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Bengalooru Posts: 1,480 Thanked: 17 Times	Is there any specification for the rope used for towing? Or any rope/chain will do?
	() Thanks

22nd July 2008, 09:21	#30
greenhorn Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: KL-01 Posts: 7,745 Thanked: 4,401 Times View My Garage	I thought a rigid bar was used!
	() Thanks