By Jorge P. Gutierrez, Jr. (Jpg2esq) on Wednesday, September 26, 2001 - 03:13 am: Edit

My other car, a 1992 Toyota with 167k miles (don't laugh its paid for!) broke down a couple of miles down the road. No interstate. Timing belt we think. Any tricks on getting it home? Can't I just attach a tow strap to my Disco and get it home? Or should I just pay $70 for a tow?? Any thoughts?

By Jose A Cabrera (Jcabrera) on Wednesday, September 26, 2001 - 04:05 am: Edit

Tow it with the Disco. Make sure the Toyota (and the Disco) has a good/dependable/secure/adequate place to attach the strap to.

By William Turner (Wturner) on Wednesday, September 26, 2001 - 04:25 am: Edit

And a 'good/dependable/secure/adequate' person in the Yota that knows when to hit the brakes, and that they aren't going to work as good.

By peter matusov on Wednesday, September 26, 2001 - 05:14 am: Edit

the rule of thumb is that the guy in a vehicle at the back end of the rope is doing the braking for both of you. At least, start doing it.

my brother towed my big jeep (with his big jeep) for about 40 miles on rural highways, but then we had to lose about 1200ft of elevation in about 5 miles... my brakes were smoking when we came to a stop!

By Daniel on Wednesday, September 26, 2001 - 05:19 am: Edit

You could also run a tow chain through a length of steel pipe between the two vehicles so when you brake, the pipe keeps the toyota from hitting the back of the Disco. This is not to be used in the place of a brain with feet in the toyota, but it does provide additional protection.

By William Turner (Wturner) on Wednesday, September 26, 2001 - 05:28 am: Edit

So then when you stop the 'length of steel pipe between the two vehicles' drops down just enough to slam into the gas tank on the Disco when the Yota doesn't stop right away. Now you have a fuel leak, and have to race home so your not out there towing both vehicles, that or you could get a spark that causes a violent movie style explosion burning your Disco and your ass to a crisp. The Yota still stuck in the road to a ball of flames. HA HA

By Daniel on Wednesday, September 26, 2001 - 05:43 am: Edit

O.K. William,
I should have been more specific. You have to keep the chain inside the pipe snug. You don't want any more than a couple of links of slack chain on either end of the pipe. This would/should prevent all the terrible things you mentioned.
Remember, I said this is not in the place of a driver in the back, it should be used as an extra piece of protection.

By Jim on Wednesday, September 26, 2001 - 06:11 am: Edit

Rent a trailer from uhaul or someone, one that you can stick the front wheels of the yota on and hook it up to your disco and tow it home. Cheap and safe compared to the other options and you only need one driver.

By peter matusov on Wednesday, September 26, 2001 - 06:19 am: Edit

oh come on, just strap the yota in and tow it!

hehehe, 7 years back, i asked my uncle to tow my van with his truck. all i had for a tow strap was a 10-foot steel cargo strap i picked up on the road. the roads were slick ice all around town, he was shitting his pants towing me for about 5 miles :-)

By E Snyder on Wednesday, September 26, 2001 - 06:32 am: Edit

Towing on a highway without a rigid connection (ie a tow bar, tow dolly, etc.) is illegal here in Va, and probably where you are too. A ticket might cost more than the cost of the tow truck. No AAA? That's a must for any Rover owner!

By Brett on Wednesday, September 26, 2001 - 06:33 am: Edit

Why don't you just pick up the Toyota and put it in the back of the Rover? Close the door and drive it home, them unload it in the garage?

By Leslie N. Bright (Leslie) on Wednesday, September 26, 2001 - 10:10 am: Edit

Snyder, you're on the wrong end of the state....

On THIS side of Virginia, I've seen cars that should have been junked pulling even worse-looking cars with bailing twine.... and waving at the cops as they pass....

-L

By peter matusov on Wednesday, September 26, 2001 - 10:13 am: Edit

LOL, Leslie!

By Leslie N. Bright (Leslie) on Wednesday, September 26, 2001 - 10:33 am: Edit

Ya don't think I'm kiddin, do ya???

"I" wasn't the one using bailing twine BTW.... but I have done it w/ rope before.... (LOOOONNGG ago in my youthful stupid days....)

I DO use a towbar for my Series now, does MUCH better.

But sometimes, ya gotta do what ya gotta do....

-L

By peter matusov on Wednesday, September 26, 2001 - 11:31 am: Edit

no, i've lived in Motor City for a couple of years. towed my buddy's Cutlass Ciera from Taylor
to Southfield, MI, on the 30' rope behind my beat Chevy Caprice. All 18mi on local streets, right past the cops many times.

peter