All About The Towing Process

By Adriana Noton


Towing is the function of pulling or drawing a boat, caravan van, motor home, farm machinery using a farm tractor, cargo truck, passenger car or a pickup by means of a bar or chain. The trailer vans and motor homes are the most known towed travel and recreational facilities in many countries. They are designed to detail with safety in mind.

It a service which is offered by emergency road service operators done to stalled vehicles. Also, it is done when accidents do happen and roads need be cleared so that traffic can flow uninterrupted. Vehicles are also vowed when owners violate parking guidelines and park in undesignated spots, are involved in road use violation like driving dangerously under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

A tow bar or hitch is the device which is attached to a vehicle chassis. It may also be attached to an aircraft nose. It can include a tow-ball which allows a trailer to swivel or articulate, tow pin and jaw which has a loop often used for large or agricultural vehicles and towing pintle used by military vehicles worldwide.

Sport utility vehicles, vans, pickup trucks, passenger cars, tractors and minivans are equipped to correctly tow a trailer given the right equipment. Trailers fall into five main categories. These are;the flat bed or open trailers, boat trailers, enclosed trailers, tank trailers and recreational or utility vehicles which are equipped with living facilities.

Tow hitchers used worldwide are different basing on country or region. The fixed-draw bar and the receiver type is mainly used in tow vehicles in the US and Canada while the European Union regulates on the use of swan-neck with a fitted neck and the flange by member countries. The ISO recommended standard which the European countries are the most widely used type adopted by a majority of world countries with the exception of North America.

Safety is paramount ensuring that road users and caravan owners do not fall victim to crushes and accidents due to improper connection of bars and chains which are very costly both to human health and the overall economy of the country or state. Safety ensures that standard hitches are only allowed to be fitted in tow vehicles and proper guidelines provided to the customers by manufactures. These laws regulate on tongue weight to prevent caravans swaying, maximum, minimum and load balancing to avoid snaking and swerving.

Countries have enacted laws which regulate licensing of breakdown drivers, conditions under which a vehicle can be towed and chargeable service fees and certification of tow truck drivers and service operators. Laws vary from country to country. The variation can also be within countries depending on individual state or territory legislation.

Safety regulations and laws touching on Towing Hamilton should be adhered to by tow truck owners, caravan and motor home owners to ensure road safety. This will reduce chances of crushes and accidents occurring which could be devastating and costly. The sector plays a very key economic and social role ensuring that transportation of goods and farming is carried out while at the same time people can take time off traveling in caravans or motor homes.




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