If you’ve ever been in a situation where your car won’t start and needs to be towed, you may have wondered: Can you tow an automatic car with a rope? While it’s possible, it’s important to understand the risks and limitations of this method, especially when compared to a professional car towing service. In this blog, we’ll dive into why towing an automatic car with a rope may not be the best option, and how car towing professionals can provide a safer, more reliable solution.
Risks of Towing an Automatic Car with a Rope
Speaking of car towing, towing an automatic car with a rope is quite dangerous. Automatic cars have complex transmissions that are set in such a way that they work perfectly when the engine is used in driving the car forward. Towing a car with a rope, especially at high speeds or over long distances, can put unnecessary stress on the transmission and other important parts of the vehicle.
That said, here’s why an automatic car should not be towed with a rope:
Damage to the Transmission: Since there needs to be proper lubrication within an automatic car transmission and since it does take place when the engine runs, towing an automatic car without the engine running could do damage to the transmission after some time.
Overheating possibility: This is when the car engine is off, and there is a possibility of the transmission overheating. The fluid inside the transmission regulates the temperature, and since the car is being towed without the engine running, this cooling system will not work properly.
Risk of brake failure: Automatic cars, in particular, rely on the effectiveness of their brake system even when towing. In cases where the car being towed has power-assisted brakes, these brakes rely on the running of the engine to provide enough pressure. Towing while the engine is not running may cause such brakes to fail, raising a serious safety risk.
Why towing is a safer option?
Rather than taking a risk and using a rope to tow an automatic car, it is always safer to call a professional car towing service. Car Towing has a 24-hour towing service built to transport your vehicle without damage safely. The best solution for hiring a professional towing truck for the following reasons:
Right equipment: Car Towing has high-quality towing trucks and equipment to safely tow your car. In the case of an automatic car, this would mean the ability to use a flatbed tow truck, which is the safest way. A flatbed tow truck completely lifts the car off the ground to avoid any transmission, engine, or brake damage.
Safety and Efficiency: The incorrect way of towing an automatic car may expose the vehicle to certain risks, including damage to the engine or brake failure. Professional towing services ensure that your car is being towed the right way with no extra stress being placed on the vehicle’s systems. The team at Car Towing are trained to handle all types of vehicles, including automatic cars, with assurance of smoothness and safety.
Save yourself from extra costs: While towing an automatic car on a rope seems inexpensive, such action might incur expensive bills if there is any damage. It’s always good to use the services of professional car towing in order not to damage your car and also avoid further costly repairs.
Where can an automatic car be towed with a rope?
Very rare, special cases occur where it may be relatively safe to tow an automatic with a rope. An example could be if you are going very short distances at a low speed and when the car has no power-assisted brakes and also its neutral transmission. Even these can also be best left to professionals offering car towing services.
If you are looking for a reliable 24-hour car towing service in Melbourne, Maningham Towing can help.
24/7 Service: Emergencies can happen at any time, and Maningham Towing is available around the clock. Their team is ready to assist with any car towing service you may have, day or night.
Expertise and Experience: With years of experience in the towing industry, Maningham Towing is well-recognized for safe and efficient towing. Their team is very well-trained to handle all kinds of vehicles, including automatic cars.
Affordable: Towing doesn’t have to be costly. Maningham Towing has competitive pricing on all of its services to make sure you can tow your car without breaking the bank.
Towing Services A-Z: From flatbed towing to emergency towing and breakdown recoveries, Maningham Towing offers the versatility of services one could want.
Can you tow an automatic car with a rope then? Well, the technical answer is yes, but not advisable. There’s a risk of damage to the transmission, brakes, and other components.