Quick connect disconnect wheel cradle arrangement for wheel lift towing systems.

摘要

Wheel cradles (140) for a wheel lift towing system are quickly and easily coupled to or uncoupled from opposing ends of a cross arm assembly (120) associated with a towing vehicle (100). The cradles (140) are coupled to the cross arm (120) by sliding the cradles (140) laterally in a substantially horizontal plane from outside the ends of the cross arm (120). Such lateral insertion facilitates coupling of the wheel cradles (140) to the cross arm (120) 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 (910), between the towing and towed vehicles provides additional protection against accidental dislodgement of the towed vehicle from the towing vehicle.