Place the load spreader spacers on a 88.90 mm (3.50 in) X 88.90 mm (3.50 in) X 1524 mm (60 in) wood beam. The optional length for the wood beam is 1219 mm (48 in).

Towing Clearances

When towing a vehicle with sling-type towing equipment, raise the vehicle wheels until the bottom of the wheels are at least 100 mm (4 in) off of the ground. The opposite end of the vehicle MUST be at least 100 mm (4 in) off of the ground.

When towing a vehicle with wheel-lift towing equipment, raise the vehicle wheels until the bottom of the wheels are at least 250 mm (10 in) off of the ground. The opposite end of the vehicle MUST be at least 100 mm (4 in) off of the ground.

Towing Dolly

A towing dolly can increase the clearance between the ground and the vehicle when the vehicle is being towed over rough surfaces. The towing dolly may also increase the clearance between the wheel-lift and the underbody of the towed vehicle. Using the towing dolly may help avoid damage to the towed vehicle.

With the towing dolly installed, raise the vehicle until adequate clearances are obtained between the wheel-lift equipment and the underbody of the towed vehicle.

Towing Over Rough Terrain

Care must be taken in order to assure adequate ground clearance when towing over rough terrain or when crossing sharp rises such as curbs. Curbs and other sharp rises should be crossed at an angle of approximately 45 degrees. This will allow one wheel of the tow truck to cross the curb at a time. This will minimize the chance of scraping or other damage to the vehicle being towed.

Stopping

Notice: Do NOT induce panic or spike stops when towing a vehicle. Damage to the vehicle being towed or the towing equipment may result.

Towing When the Keys Are Not Available

When the keys are not available, a towing dolly must be placed under the drive wheels and the opposite end of vehicle lifted.

Safety

Caution: In order to avoid personal injury and/or property damage, observe the following precautions:

Caution: A vehicle can fall from a car carrier if it is not properly secured. This can cause a collision, serious personal injury, and vehicle damage. In order to secure the vehicle before towing, observe the following precautions:

Any loose or protruding parts of a damaged vehicle, such as hoods, doors, fenders, trim, must be secured prior to moving the vehicle. Also, NEVER allow anyone to ride in a vehicle being towed for any reason.

The safety of the operator and all others in the vicinity of the tow truck or the towed vehicle must be considered at all times during a towing operation. Safe operating speeds depend on weather, road, traffic, and visibility conditions. The condition of the towed vehicle must also be considered.

All state and local laws regarding such items as warning signals, night illumination, speed, etc., must be followed.

Towing Trucks

Sling-type equipment can be used to tow light duty trucks if the towing equipment lift capacity and the Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) specified by the towing equipment supplier are not exceeded.

Towing on Non-Drive Wheels

Notice: Before towing the vehicle, perform the following steps:

General Motors vehicles may be towed on their non-drive wheels.

Towing on Drive Wheels

Notice: Before towing the vehicle, perform the following steps:

Avoid towing vehicles on their drive wheels. Refer to the vehicle-specific towing instructions for the maximum tow speeds and distances. If these steps cannot be followed, a tow dolly MUST be used.

Towing Full-Time All-Wheel Drive Vehicles

Notice: Before towing an all-wheel-drive vehicle perform the following steps:

When towing an all-wheel drive vehicle, use a towing dolly under the wheels that would otherwise be on the ground.

Towing Selectable or Automatic Four-Wheel-Drive (4WD) Vehicles

When towing a selectable or automatic four-wheel drive vehicle, refer to the vehicle-specific towing instructions for the following information:

Towing GM Vehicles Equipped with Air Bags

Supplemental Inflatable Restraints (SIR) (air bags) are designed to supplement the protection offered by safety belts. In a frontal or near-frontal impact of sufficient severity (comparable to a collision into a solid wall of approximately 22 km/h (14 mph) and above), sensors in the vehicle detect the sudden deceleration. As the air bag inflates, in less that one-twentieth of a second, it splits open the protective cover in the steering wheel (and the instrument panel for vehicles with passenger air bags) and inflates in front of the occupant. The bag then begins to deflate immediately.

Identification of a GM Vehicle with an Air Bag

A vehicle in which the air bag has been deployed can easily be identified by the cloth bag drooping from the steering wheel hub and possibly from the instrument panel on the right front passenger side of vehicles that are equipped with a passenger-side air bag.

A General Motors (GM) vehicle with an air bag that has not been deployed can be identified by the following items:

If you cannot determine whether the vehicle is equipped with an air bag, follow the same precautions as if the vehicle were equipped with an undeployed air bag, especially if it is a late model vehicle.

Towing and Recovery Operations with an Undeployed Air Bag

It is very unlikely that securing an unstable vehicle will cause the air bag to deploy. If the vehicle must be secured to prevent dangerous motion before recovery or towing, first secure the vehicle, then follow the other precautions. In normal towing and recovery operations, the air bag is unlikely to deploy from vibrations and bumps in the recovery, loading or towing. However, if the vehicle has been damaged in a crash, the air bag electrical system might also be damaged and more susceptible to an unwanted air bag deployment.

If the vehicle has been involved in a collision, we recommend that the negative (-) battery cable be disconnected and positioned or insulated to prevent unwanted connection before beginning recovery, loading or towing.

The General Motors (GM) air bag system has an energy reserve feature. This feature enables the air bag to deploy even if the battery has been disconnected or previously destroyed in a severe frontal crash. The energy reserve has the power to deploy the bag for up to 10 minutes after the battery is disconnected. To avoid serious injury, do NOT place your body or any objects against or close to the air bag module during this 10 minute period.

It is also very unlikely that the inflator canister located in the steering wheel hub and Instrument panel (passenger-side air bags) would be ruptured. If the inflator canister is ruptured, do not touch or ingest any of the canister's exposed chemicals.

If it is necessary to jump start the vehicle, be sure to follow the jump start procedure described in the owner's manual of the vehicle being started.

Towing and Recovery Operations with a Deployed Air Bag

Except for a few simple precautions, the towing operations done on vehicles with a deployed air bag can be performed as if the vehicle had no air bag. As in many other operations, safety glasses and gloves are recommended during this operation.

After the air bag has been deployed in a crash, the air bag itself will not be hot to touch. However, some components within the air bag module will be temporarily hot.

Some smoke coming from a deployed air bag module is normal, and should not be cause for concern. Also, when the nitrogen gas is vented out of the air bag. Small particles from inside the air bag are also vented into the passenger compartment. These airborne particles look like smoke and some of the particles are deposited as residue on and around the air bag. This residue consists of corn starch, which is used to lubricate the bag as it deploys, and by-products of the chemical reaction. A trace amount of sodium hydroxide dust, which is an irritant in greater quantities, is one of the by-products. The sodium hydroxide quickly converts to sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate (baking soda). Therefore, it is highly unlikely that you will contact any irritating chemicals after an air bag deployment.

Sodium azide, which is a component of the propellant that produces the nitrogen gas, is toxic if ingested in sufficient quantities. However, the sodium azide is sealed in a metal canister until it converts to nitrogen gas to deploy the air bag. There is no detectable amount of sodium azide present in the passenger compartment of the vehicle after the air bag deploys.

General Motors (GM) has taken great care in designing Supplemental Inflatable Restraints (SIR). By taking the simple precautions described, you can help reduce the risk of injuries and unnecessary vehicle damage in towing and recovery operations involving GM vehicles.

General Motors (GM) Towing Service Under GM New Vehicle Limited Warranty

The Current General Motors (GM) New Car Limited Warranty includes the following statement for owners, relative to towing. Towing is covered to the nearest dealership handling your vehicle model line, if your vehicle cannot be driven because of a warranted defect. In general, towing charges will be accepted if the following conditions prevail:

Front Towing

Notice: Do NOT tow this vehicle with sling-type towing equipment or fascia/fog lamp damage may occur. Use ONLY wheel-lift or car-carrier towing equipment. Always use safety chains and T-hooks inserted into the T-hook slots (1) or vehicle damage may occur.

Rear Towing

Notice: Do NOT tow this vehicle with sling-type towing equipment or fascia/fog lamp damage may occur. Use ONLY wheel-lift or car-carrier towing equipment. Always use safety chains and T-hooks inserted into the T-hook slots (1) or vehicle damage may occur.

Notice: Do NOT tow the vehicle on the drive wheels unless absolutely necessary. If the vehicle must be towed on the drive wheels, do NOT tow the vehicle more than 80 km/h (50 mph) or a total of 800 km (500 miles) throughout the life of the vehicle. If these limitations are exceeded, transmission damage may occur.