towed

Towed is the past participle of tow, meaning pulled behind or dragged by another vehicle or mechanism. In transportation, a vehicle is described as towed when it is attached to a tow vehicle and pulled to a destination. Towing is achieved using equipment such as a tow bar, tow strap, dolly, winch, or a flatbed trailer. The arrangement depends on the towed object's weight, drive configuration, and road conditions.

Common towing methods include flatbed towing, where the entire vehicle is loaded onto a trailer; wheel-lift towing, where the front or rear wheels are raised off the ground while the remaining wheels roll on the roadway; and dolly towing, where two or four wheels are placed on a dolly towed behind the vehicle performing the pull. Each method has implications for damage risk, tire wear, and clearance.

Tow trucks employ winches, hoists, hydraulic systems, and tie-downs to secure and move vehicles. Safety considerations include proper anchoring, avoiding contact with delicate parts, lighting on the towing vehicle, and adherence to weight limits and speed restrictions. Regulations governing towing vary by country and jurisdiction and typically cover licensing for operators, equipment standards, and procedures for recovering and releasing towed vehicles, as well as penalties for improper towing.

Common contexts for towing include roadside assistance, vehicle recovery after breakdowns or accidents, parking enforcement where illegal or abandoned vehicles are removed, and the transport of boats, trailers, or heavy equipment.