Front Towing Hookup With Removable Tow Loops

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  1. Press the eStop button on the dash and secure it with a lock.

    2. Danger: When working on the vehicle, engage the parking brake, shut down the electrical system, and chock the tires.

    Before working under the vehicle, always place jack stands under the frame rails to ensure the vehicle can not drop. Failure to follow these steps could result in serious personal injury or death.

  2. Open the hood. Remove the tow loops, located behind the driver's-side bumper. See Fig. . Close and latch the hood.

    3. Notice: New or ungreased tow loops may be hard to install. Tow loops that are not properly installed may be damaged or break.

  3. Install the tow loops onto the tow loop receivers through the tow loop holes in the bumper. Pull the tow loops to ensure they are securely engaged in the tow loop receivers.

    Fig. 1, Tow Loops

  4. Lower the stinger assembly so that it is level and approximately 1 inch (0.3 cm) off the ground. Back the tow truck so that the crossbar with lift adaptors is within 6 inches (15 cm) of the aerodynamic bumper. See Fig. .

    Fig. 2, Positioning the Stinger Assembly

    5. Notice: When using tow loops to move the vehicle, do not pass a sling (for example, a rope or chain) from one loop to another. Known as reeving, this practice is not permissible in most industrial applications of towing and hoisting. Reeving can overload the loops and result in damage to the vehicle. See Fig. .

  5. Pull the tow cables out of the tow truck and connect the tow cable lifting hooks onto the tow loops, then extend the recovery boom within 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 cm) of being vertical of the tow loops. See Fig. .

    Note: Do not reeve when towing.

    1. Tow Loop

    2. Chain

    Fig. 3, Reeving

  6. Lift the front of the truck until there is enough clearance for the stinger and crossbar to pass under the bumper. See Fig. .
    If enough clearance cannot be gained with a single lift, jack stands or other means capable of supporting the weight on the front axle must be used while the cables are shortened to allow a second lift.

    Fig. 4, Tow Cables Connected to the Tow Loops

    Fig. 5, Moving the Stinger and Crossbar Under the Bumper

    7. Warning: Failure to chock the tires or connect the tow truck's air brake system before releasing the spring parking brakes could allow the disabled vehicle to suddenly roll. This could cause property damage or personal injury.

  7. Chock the rear tires.

    8. Warning: Before towing an eCascadia all rear axle shafts must be removed. Failure to remove the axle shafts will result in damage to the axle/vehicle, and the driven electric motors may cause induction currents and thus pose an electrical hazard.

    If the vehicle is in a location where the drive shafts cannot be removed, the vehicle being rescued may only be towed out of the danger zone for a short distance and at a walking pace. Where possible, the ignition should be switched on and the neutral gear should be engaged. Once the vehicle is out of the danger zone, the drive shafts must be removed.

  8. Remove all rear axle shafts.
    For any axle shaft that has been removed, cover the ends of the hubs with metal plates or plywood cut to fit the axle opening and drilled to fit the axle shaft studs. This prevents lubricant from leaking out and will keep contaminants from getting into and damaging the wheel bearings and axle lubricant.
  9. Use mid-rise or high-rise forks, or lift adaptors (part number 0200020) on the crossbar to provide clearance for the aerodynamic bumper. See Fig. and Fig..

    Fig. 6, Lift Adaptors Installed on the Crossbar

    Fig. 7, Backing the Tow Truck with Lift Adaptors on the Crossbar

  10. Extend the stinger and place the lift adaptors under the axle. Make certain the lift adaptors are under the front suspension springs between the U-bolts. See Fig. and Fig..

    Fig. 8, Positioning the Stinger with Lift Adaptors Under the Axle

    Fig. 9, Stinger with Lift Adaptors Under the Axle (tow truck shown)

    11. Warning: Failure to protect high-voltage (HV) cables from towing chains could cause property damage, severe personal injury, or death.

  11. Secure the vehicle axle to the tow truck crossbar with a chain or ratchet strap.
  12. Remove the tow cables from the tow loops and retract the recovery boom. See Fig. .

    Fig. 10, Retracting the Recovery Boom

  13. Remove the tow loops from the bumper.
  14. Connect the air and electrical supply lines from the tow truck to the truck being towed.

    15. Important: On trucks equipped with a front air suspension, either air pressure must be supplied to the secondary air system or the front suspension must be blocked to operating height with wooden spacers and the axle chained to the frame to prevent damage to the truck.

  15. Release the park brake and remove the chocks from the rear tires.
  16. Use the stinger to pull the truck close to the back of the tow truck for final towing position. See Fig. .

    Fig. 11, Final Towing Position

  17. Connect the safety chains. See Fig. .

    Fig. 12, Safety Chains Connected on the Towed Vehicle

Note:
Parent topic: Towing the Vehicle
Document Number: 0000088955
Manual Publication Date: 2024-03-21
Topic Publication Date: 2025-02-24