Snow cover

[adyclemo]

the person doing the towing/pulling is the person liable despite the fact that you are not in control of the other vehicle. So for example if i was being towed whether it was because i was broken down or just simply stuck and i ran into another car or my car got damaged then the liability stands with the person that was towing me.

[MrTom]

So if I got them to sign and date a disclaimer prior I take it it would clear me if something was to get damaged???

[adyclemo]

I would assume so, however you know how this countrys laws work.

I had a guy run into the back of me a couple of weeks ago, no damage done to mine so thought nothing else of it, hes only trying to claim against me, got a letter from the insurance company the other day, i need to ring them and find out what is cracking off

[MrTom]

That's just my mind up, I'm making some disclaimers

[PaulHooligan]

Better still just wave at them as you drive by and leave the buggers stuck no insurance or liability issues then ...more fool them

[MrTom]

that's a bit evil mate. I don't mind helping. It gives us 4x4s on the road a good name I'd like to think.

[Frenchfarmer]

All in all I reckon if the tow strop is long enough, and you are on the ball, the risk is minimal and the goodwill is worth it.
Here in France if you just drive on by you can be nicked for " Failing to go to the aid of a fellow citizen ".
There is also "Putting fellow citizens in danger." if you are being a "see you next tuesday".

[MrTom]

I like it. A bit like the unwritten rule of us bikers. Never leave a bike who looks like he may be in trouble.

I'm still getting them to sign.

[adyclemo]

The problem is due to the way people are those that dont mind helping are reluctant to incase they get sued, or a claim made for damage etc. There is also the otherside of things where people fake accidents and jump those who stop to their aid etc

[PaulHooligan]

[fudge]

well as it has allready been said if the car who you towing is dammaged wile atached to your car it is your fault

but i wont stop helping people stuck in the snow etc. but this year i think i will have some disclaimers writen, as well i would ask them to attach there car to mine wile i watch, and if im not happy nout is going to happen

[igotababyfrontera]

the whole idea of having a disclaimer is unfortunatly sad

however,

has anyone written one up yet, if so would they mind sharing
its gotta be safe than sorry

[MrTom]

I was going to suggest that between us we could come up with one
I have a had a few people try to sue me whilst I have been teaching them and through there own stupidity hurt themselves. So I'll carry a few with me

[gregster]

After dragging several cars diagonally and nearly taking out oncoming cars with their rear ends, I am considering using an A frame if I go out towing this year.
The problem occurs when the person being towed tries to "help" and spins their front wheels or hits the brakes...as there car is being dragged from one side at the front not the middle, they turn themselves diagonally. Had a couple of near misses last year. Isnt too much of an issue if you are only towing them 50ft to get them unstuck, but if (like last year) we are towing many cars a mile or so up a long hill then I am thinking the Aframe would be much better, leaving me to treat the car as a trailer with no interference from its driver. I think the vehicles occupants would have to travel in the tow vehicle though.
All depends on the tow I guess, its more hassle to fit an Aframe on and means crawling under the front of the car but safer...

Have a new rule for this year though...any car worth more than £20k gets charged upfront...
Last year I didnt charge anyone, just hooked em up and got em on their way, and if they wanted to bung me a drink for helping them get home, then thanks very much...
On the first night of the snow down here me and a couple of mates in their trucks probably towed 100+ cars each off the a20 at vigo, and most people threw us a fiver or more for dragging them up the hill...that is with the exception of all the rich "suits" in their expensive audi's and bmws who just said "thanks, i owe you one" and buggered off...The goodwill started to wear real thin with them by the end of the night, owe me one, I will never see them again...Thats probably why they can afford big expensive cars, cos they are tight ar5es. It was so predictable to, such that by the end we were racing each other to hook up the transit sooner than the bimmer as we knew we would just be taken advantage of by the rich gits.
This year...will be different...anything 20k plus...£10 upfront I think, to make up for last year.

As for insurance, my trade insurance covers me for recovery work, so I guess I am ok, not that I want to have a claim and loose my no claims which would cost me £1000's for what is in effect a £5 towing job most of the time.
Extreme care is the name of the game, and to really firmly tell the person you are towing exactly what to do...
Best thing I found was to tell them to put both feet on the floor and just steer to follow me...if they wont comply and compromise the tow, tell them that you will unhook them and leave them where they are...they soon cooperate then.LOL

[Mr Mud]

Gregster to be quite honest I cant be to drag somebody down the road who has got stuck in the snow, legally it really aint worth the effort, ....I know it sounds a bit harsh but it's a fact of life mate

The first car I ever owned was a WWII Wlliys Jeep back in the sixty's, and in my street I was the only owner of a 4X4, so even without snow I was expected to tow tom dick and harry down the road to start their f*****g cars on Sunday morning!! when I was in bed trying to get over last nights p**s up, so I've kinda lost interest in dragging other peoples cars down any road, let them buy their own 4X4's

[gregster]

I know what you are saying mate....
gotta say it annoyed the arse off me having to drag one of them Toyota Prius hybrid things, with its typically pretentious owner...Great things are these hybrids, sooo much better than 4x4's...they stop the planet warming up, but cant move an inch when it snows! I would have left it, but it was blocking the road I needed to go down.

[king of the kitchen]

what an excellent vid,,,,,numptys,,,,,,,,

[Frenchfarmer]

[igotababyfrontera]

I had a thought
would it be more safe and sucure to pull people with an actual tow bar?
(the ones like the AA and RAC use)

[stretch]

These are some very good points people have raised and i'm sure last year it was mentioned that the person being towed should make the attachment to their vehicle not you. I towed a few people out last year and did not receive a single penny for doing it. Now if anyone does me a favor like jump start etc i'll always bung them a fiver as it's better than the alternative of sitting in a cold car for hours waiting for the RAC/being late for appointments etc. I had some laughs with people in their posh motors last year. I said to one guy "where's your towing eye?" he replied "errrr towing eye?" me "yeah the bit that screws into your bumper" him 'Blank expression' I think we should all come up with a disclaimer that we can use to cover us at much as possible. I've also thought about what igotababyfrontera said would one of these poles be better as you eliminate the risk of the car running into you?

something like this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-TON-CAR-VAN ... 35aea93944 or this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-5t-CAR-RECO ... 53e874664b I know the tow bar shouldn't be used for recovering vehicles stuck in mud etc but would it be ok in a bit of snow situation?

Also the vehicle your towing must be insured and the driver have a valid license.