What is the appropriate distance between the towing vehicle and the towed vehicle?
3 Answers
The distance between the towing vehicle and the towed vehicle should be greater than 4 meters and less than 10 meters. Below is an introduction to towing vehicles: 1. Introduction: The towing vehicle is a model produced by Federal Germany, developed on the basis of the Iveco Magirus off-road vehicle and manufactured by the defense vehicle division of Iveco Magirus. 2. Function: The towing vehicle is driven by an electric motor and utilizes its towing capacity (2.0 to 8.0 tons) to pull several cargo-loaded carts behind it. It is commonly used for transporting large quantities of goods within or between workshops, such as transporting goods from warehouses to assembly lines in the automotive manufacturing industry or luggage transport at airports. 3. Structure: Both (6×6) towing vehicles use the same type of cabin as the Iveco Magirus off-road trucks, with the towing hitch positioned above the rear axle. The only difference is that the 330-40ANWTM model uses a turbocharged diesel engine, while the 330-32ANWTM model uses a naturally aspirated diesel engine of the same base model.
Having driven a tractor for over a decade, I've seen too many rookies make this mistake. The ideal length for a soft rope tow should be kept between 4-6 meters—just lay a bamboo pole on the ground to measure. Too close and you risk rear-ending, with the trailing vehicle potentially hitting your bumper during turns; too far is even more dangerous, as a sagging rope can get tangled in the wheels. Last month, my neighbor towed a jet ski with an 8-meter rope—it flapped like a kite on the highway and nearly smashed the windshield of a following sedan. Remember: shorten to under 2 meters when towing motorcycles to prevent swaying, adjust for specific models with RVs (I leave a 5-meter gap for my 7-meter trailer). Add an extra meter in rainy conditions, and always attach reflective strips to the rope!
Last time during a self-driving trip, I towed a friend's broken-down car with an off-road vehicle and deeply realized how challenging distance control can be. For ordinary cars, maintaining a tow rope length of about 5 meters is most suitable, equivalent to 1.5 times the car's length. However, the specific distance depends on the rope material—the nylon tow rope I used has high elasticity, so 6 meters still avoids harsh pulling; my colleague used a steel cable, which could only be kept at 4 meters, as pulling too tight during turns would drag the towed car off course. Special reminder: On downhill slopes, the distance should be at least 8 meters! Last year, while towing on a mountain road, a 4-meter distance almost caused the towed car to slide downhill and collide. Remember, the towed car should drive directly behind you, keeping the rope centered—if the rope touches the ground, there's a risk of it getting tangled in the tires.
