TOWING ASSIST EQUIPMENT
There will be circumstances when a light-duty operator will not be able to simply hook up a casualty and be on their way. Depending on the type of call, an operator can have to deal with a vehicle that is in an awkward position, has been damaged or has locked wheels. An operator must be prepared to tackle these types of jobs. Thankfully, there are a number of techniques and pieces of equipment that can simplify these otherwise complicated tows.
DOLLIES
USING DOLLIES
Every operator will be faced with a situation where they will be unable to tow a casualty due to issues with the wheels or tires. Whether there is a flat tire or broken or locked wheel, you must still be able to tow the vehicle to it’s destination. When a flatbed is unavailable and a tow truck must be used, this is where dollies come in.
Dollies are designed to allow operators to tow vehicles that have issues with the wheels or tires. They remove wheels from the ground and allow the casualty to roll freely under the power of the tow truck. They are ideal for situations where tires cannot be repaired or replaced. Additionally, dollies should be used anytime a vehicle is not being towed by it’s drive wheels.
REMEMBER
A vehicle should be towed by its drive axle whenever possible. Towing a pickup backwards can cause aftermarket items to come loose. Make sure they are secure. The general rule of thumb is to transport a vehicle in the direction it goes down the road.
Dollies should also be used when towing a hybrid or all wheel drive vehicle, as both have power to the wheels which can be damaged when towing. Dollies should be used whenever a carrier is unavailable for hybrids or AWD casualties. Dollies should be used when any drive wheels are rolling on the ground during the tow or the driveline needs to be removed.
Remember: dollies are not a long-term solution. They are not designed to be used for long trips or at high speeds. Their purpose is to assist in towing a casualty to a location it can be stored or repaired. They should not be used for long-distance transport or continually at high speeds, as this can result in damage to the dolly and the casualty.
INSTALLING DOLLIES
The first step for setting up dollies is to set the dolly axles to the required length for the casualty being towed. This length can be determined by using a tape measure or by laying the axle under the casualty and adjusting the axle. Place axles in front and behind the tires. The dolly frame can then be attached to axles by disengaging any locks and placing the axles in the axle cradles. Be sure that the dolly is parallel to the casualty to avoid damage the dolly wheels. Rotate the tires into position until locked and repeat on the other side of the casualty. The dolly must then be secured to the vehicle, usually via the wheels.
WreckMaster recommends using a motorcycle strap with a ratchet to secure the wheels to the dolly. After a final inspection, the dollies are now ready to be used.
INSTALLING DOLLIES: STEP-BY-STEP
Get the wrecker into position, extend the wheel lift, attach to the wheel grid and lift the casualty.
Retrieve the dollies from the wrecker and set the cross tubes to the correct vehicle width.
Attach the cross tubes to the dolly on both sides of the casualty.
Use the load bar to raise the dollies into upright position and secure the safety latches.
Repeat on the opposite side of the casualty.
Secure the casualty to the dollies with straps.
After securing the steering wheel, adjusting the wheel lift to towing height and attaching tow lights, the casualty is ready to be towed.
UNLOADING DOLLIES: STEP-BY-STEP
Position the wrecker and casualty for unloading.
Remove straps securing the casualty to the dollies.
Disengage the safety latches and use the load bar to lower the casualty to the ground.
Remove the cross tubes from the dolly on both sides of the casualty.
INSTALLING DOLLIES WITH A FLAT TIRE
SKATES
USING SKATES
When loading casualties with broken, locked or flat tires on a carrier, the wheels must still be able to move along the ground to be loaded on the flatbed. The WreckMaster skate can be placed under wheels that are not able to roll to help the casualty slide on to the flatbed. For wider tire bases, multiple skates can be connected to accommodate larger tires. Skates can also be used in conjunction with other tools and equipment to address issues such as broken ball joints. Skates can also be used a small ramp if the edge of carrier must be overcome.
SETTING UP SKATES
The WreckMaster skate can be one of the simplest to set up but effective tools for an operator. When a wheel is locked or flat, the skate can be installed by laying it in front of the tire and hammering the skate under the wheel by sliding a block of wood into it. Alternatively, a mallet can be used to install the skate by placing a block of wood in front of the heel of the skate and hammering it gently into place. Do not use a mallet or sledgehammer on the skate directly, as it can jam the skate too far under the wheel, causing damage to the wheel and skate.
When using the skate on a casualty with a missing tire or broken ball joint, a block of wood can be used to rest the casualty’s ball joint on and the skate can be placed under the block of wood. This will allow the casualty to slide freely onto the carrier or into a more suitable location for towing.
SLING TOW
WHEN TO USE THE SLING
There was a time when sling towing was the normal procedure for towing most vehicles. Today, sling towing is typically used on larger vehicles such as commercial trucks, pick-ups and SUVs, or vehicles that have damaged or missing suspension or wheels. While sling towing is now used more sparingly, it does decrease overhang, which in turn increases tow capacity.
HOOKING UP THE SLING
When setting up, the crossbar of the tow sling must always be a minimum of five to seven degrees below horizontal. If this is not done properly, the sling may invert upward and forward onto the tailboard of the operator’s truck. This can cause severe damage to the tow truck or casualty and can even result in the loss of the towed vehicle.
By chaining the casualty to a truck hitch, an operator can prevent the sling from moving back and forth on the vehicles front bumper and allow for a tighter hook up, eliminating movement in the slack between the sling and casualty. When sling towing, an operator should not only attach their chains to the front axle of the casualty. The chains must either be married together or wrapped around the frame behind the axle, then run under the rear leaf springs and front axle back up over the leaf spring on the front side of the axle then out to the sling bar.