VIDEO: Towing a car with rope and hazard lights

Towing the car - the right way!

If you don't want to call an expensive towing service, you can tow your car yourself with a rope and the hazard lights switched on. This is an emergency aid to a vehicle that is not ready to drive to a workshop or something like that.

1. First of all, you need a suitable rope! Tow ropes come in different weight classes and are often made from twisted plastic ropes. Play it safe and make sure that your tow rope can pull the weight of your vehicle.
2. Depending on the model, there are shackles or carabiners at both ends, which are attached to the front or hooked to the rear of the bumper of the car. For this purpose, there is a towing eye on every vehicle, which is required by law in Germany by the StVZO. Depending on the vehicle, towing eyes can be located behind a flap or a cover.
3. You must mark the tow rope with a red flag or a cloth.
4. If you are being towed or are towing someone yourself, a speed of 30 km / h is recommended.


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Correct use of rope and hazard lights

1. Both the front and rear vehicles must be towed with the hazard warning lights on.
2. The towed vehicle at the rear must switch on the ignition, even if the battery may be empty. This prevents the steering lock from engaging and blocking the steering. In addition, the brake booster is only active when the ignition is switched on (but not when the battery is flat).
3. The vehicle in front should not be lighter than the vehicle in the back.
4. Agree on clear hand signals in advance that you can use to communicate during the towing process. Never use a mobile phone!
5. The person in front should start off slowly until the rope is taut. Then he can give a little more gas to pull the rear vehicle. The rope between the vehicles must remain taut during the entire journey.
6. Due to the different position of the towing eyes on the rear or front bumper, the cars move offset from each other when being towed in order to have a better view of the road.
7. Be particularly concentrated and attentive during the entire towing process! Only when the rear vehicle brakes can the person in front take off the accelerator to avoid a rear-end collision.

Only drive short distances, such as to the nearby workshop or other storage location. If you want to cover longer distances, you have to resort to a towing service.