Club 80-90 Forums

What are the legalities of towing someone elses car?

Say : someone is stuck in the snow/mud/ice/flood and ask me to tow them out.

Its it legal for me to do so?
What if damage happens to their vehicle would i be liable?

Im not sure if my metal bumpers are attached to the chassis or body work. If the latter is it hard to attach it to chassis.?

Both vehicles need to be road legal....and insured. Rear bumper mounting has a tow loop on and the bumper is just for show..long as the bracket is bolted on ok it will stay put unless you go berserk.

Front has a tow loop too, sometimes better to pull someone out while watching proceedings, obviously not along the road though

It is normally incumbent upon the towed (following) driver to:

Have some experience at it

Keep the rope/strap tight (braking gently a lot of the time, hard at others)

To follow your vehicle path fairly accurately (not cutting corners)

To trust your judgement and if you 'commit' and go at a junction roudabout or decision point, to drop the brakes and go with the flow.. else holding you back could cause an accident

On the other hand, it's also concomitant upon the towing driver to :

be experienced at it;

to exercise good judgement, allow for reduced, sometimes lethargic acceleration, especially at junctions;

not cut corners;

..and not forget they are towing someone in a moment of gay abandon!

Thankyou for your comments they have really helped:)


One more question:

Where can i find nuts n bolts for my bash plate?
Or what size do i need?

Front or rear?

Rear: M14's at the back, stainless is best, about 3.5" long will do
Underneath, to connect to prop bars they're all M12, two short &two long you will have to work the lengths out maybe

M&C is probably thinking are you having trouble with the anchor (captive) nuts for the front bash-plate bolts, all M8 I think, about M8x25

Think it would be a good idea to see if you can get a copy of ETKA the digital illustrated parts catalgue loaded, or try the on-line version

http://www.vagcat.com/epc/cat/vw/T2SY/1988/59/

Can be very useful

M6 up front...chimeny nuts available new from vw, m8 into the subframe, and m10 at front of rear and prop bars.

Oops yes, substitute M12 for M14 & M10 for M12 for the engine plate

19 head and 17 heads respectively