Safety latch and line system for towing vehicles

摘要

Wheel cradles for a wheel lift towing system are quickly and easily coupled to or uncoupled from opposing ends of a cross arm assembly associated with a towing vehicle. The cradles are coupled to the cross arm by sliding the cradles laterally in a substantially horizontal plane from outside the ends of the cross arm. Such lateral insertion facilitates coupling of the wheel cradles to the cross arm in situations of difficult access to the towed vehicle's wheels, for example, when the towed vehicle is positioned with two of its wheels abutting a curb. An arrangement for coupling a back-up safety line, such as a safety chain, between the towing and towed vehicles provides additional protection against accidental dislodgement of the towed vehicle from the towing vehicle.