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Personal injury or death could result when towing a disabled machine incorrectly. Block the machine to prevent movement before releasing the brakes. The machine can roll free if it is not blocked. |
Note: Empty the truck body or the water tank and lower the truck body or the water tank before towing a disabled machine. Do not tow a machine with material in the truck body or the water tank and do not tow a machine with the truck body or the water tank in the raised position. Failure to dump the load will result in damage to the frame and other components.
The towing machine must be as large as the disabled machine. Make sure that the towing machine has enough brake capacity, enough weight, and enough power. The towing machine must be able to control both machines for the grade and for the distance that is involved.
The towing force on the rear or on the front of an Off-Highway Truck must not exceed either of the following structural limits:
- 40 percent of the gross machine weight
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1110000 N (249540 lb)
Maintain sufficient control and sufficient braking of the disabled machine when the disabled machine is being moved downhill. This may require a larger towing machine or additional machines that are connected to the rear of the machine that is being towed. This will prevent the machine from rolling away out of control.
These towing instructions are for moving a disabled machine for a short distance at low speed. Move the machine at a speed of
This machine is equipped with spring-applied parking brakes. These brakes are released with hydraulic pressure. If the engine is inoperable, activate the brake release/secondary steering switch. This will operate the motor for the electric powered parking and secondary brake release pump. Refer to Operation and Maintenance Manual, "Towing With Inoperable Engine" for additional information.
Shields must be provided on both machines. This will protect the operator if either the tow line or the tow bar breaks.
DO NOT allow anyone except the operator to be on the machine that is being towed by a cable.
DO NOT use a chain for pulling a disabled machine. A chain link can break. This may cause possible personal injury. Use a wire cable with ends that have loops or rings. Put an observer in a safe position in order to watch the pulling procedure. The observer must be able to stop the procedure, if necessary. Stop the procedure if the cable starts to break or if the cable starts to unravel. Stop pulling whenever the towing machine moves without moving the towed machine.
Before towing, make sure that the tow line or the tow bar is in good condition. Make sure that the tow line or the tow bar has enough strength for the towing procedure that is involved. The capacity of the tow line or of the tow bar must be at least 150 percent of the gross weight of the disabled machine. Under certain conditions, failure of the tow line or the tow bar will occur if the tow line or the tow bar is less than 150 percent capacity. A machine that is retrieved from the mud or a machine that is being towed up a grade are examples of these conditions.
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| Illustration 1 | g01207123 |
When the machine is towed from the front, use both tow points (1). When the machine is towed from the front, configure the tow bar or the tow line in a Y configuration. Failure to configure the front towing device in a Y configuration will cause damage to the disabled machine.
When the machine is towed from the front, pull in line with the disabled machine. Pulling the disabled machine at an angle will cause one of the legs of the Y configuration to break . Keep the tow line angle to a minimum. DO NOT exceed a 15 degree angle from the straight ahead position. Pulling the disabled machine at an angle will cause the frame or the rear axle housing to bend. Steer the tires of the towed truck in the direction of the pull.
Quick machine movement could overload the tow line or the tow bar. This could cause the tow line or the tow bar to break. Gradual, steady machine movement will be more effective.
Note: Do not apply more lifting force to the front of the machine than the lifting force that would be required to raise an empty machine with a hydraulic jack.
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| Illustration 2 | g01207206 |
Whenever it is possible, tow the machine from the front. Certain conditions may require the machine to be towed from the rear. Tow the machine from the rear in order to reposition the machine and enable the machine to be safely towed from the front. When the machine is towed from the rear, only attach the tow line to rear tow point pin (2). Only tow a machine from the rear, if all of the following additional conditions are true:
- The machine will be towed across a smooth, level surface.
- The engine of the towed machine is operable.
- The steering system of the towed machine is operable.
- The braking system of the towed machine is operable.
- The machine will be towed slowly for a short distance.
- The truck body or the water tank of the towed machine is empty and lowered.
- The towed machine has an operator in control of the steering and braking.
Consult your Caterpillar dealer for additional details about towing a disabled machine.