31-034

Towing Procedures
FLA COE
FLB COE
FLD Conventional
Business Class
FLC 112 Conventional

> Century Class Conventional
> Argosy COE
> Cargo
> Columbia
> 122SD and Coronado

> Business Class M2
> Cascadia
> 108SD/114SD
> New Cascadia

Freightliner
Service Bulletin

General Information
The following information provides proper towing instructions for all Freightliner trucks with removable tow
hooks.

Towing Procedure
1. Shutdown the engine and set the parking brake.

DANGER
When working on the vehicle, shut down the engine, set the parking brake, 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 hooks, located behind the driver’s-side bumper. See Fig. 1. Close and
latch the hood.

NOTICE
New or ungreased tow hooks may be hard to install. Tow hooks that are not properly installed may be
damaged or break.
3. Install the tow hooks onto the tow hook receivers through the tow hook holes in the bumper, rotating the
hooks so the hook opening faces down. See Fig. 2. Pull the tow hooks to ensure they are securely
engaged in the tow hook receivers.

06/14/2017

f130146

Fig. 1, Tow Hooks

06/14/2017

f130147

Fig. 2, Tow Hooks Installed, Facing Down

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 Aero bumper. See Fig. 3.

Freightliner Service Bulletin, 09/22/2017

Page 1

31-034
Freightliner
Service Bulletin

Towing Procedures
FLA COE
FLB COE
FLD Conventional
Business Class
FLC 112 Conventional

> Century Class Conventional
> Argosy COE
> Cargo
> Columbia
> 122SD and Coronado

06/14/2017

> Business Class M2
> Cascadia
> 108SD/114SD
> New Cascadia

f130149

Fig. 3, Positioning the Stinger Assembly

NOTICE
When using tow hooks to move the vehicle, do not pass a sling (for example, a rope or chain) from one
hook to another. Known as reeving, this practice is not permissible in most industrial applications of
towing and hoisting. Reeving can overload the hooks and result in damage to the vehicle. See Fig. 4.
5. Pull the tow cables out of the tow truck and connect the tow cable lifting hooks onto the tow hooks, then
extend the recovery boom within 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 cm) of being vertical of the tow hooks. See Fig. 5.

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Freightliner Service Bulletin, 09/22/2017

31-034

Towing Procedures
FLA COE
FLB COE
FLD Conventional
Business Class
FLC 112 Conventional

> Century Class Conventional
> Argosy COE
> Cargo
> Columbia
> 122SD and Coronado

> Business Class M2
> Cascadia
> 108SD/114SD
> New Cascadia

Freightliner
Service Bulletin

IMPORTANT: Do not reeve when towing.
1. Tow Hook

2. Chain
Fig. 4, 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. 6.
If enough clearance can not 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.

Freightliner Service Bulletin, 09/22/2017

Page 3

31-034
Freightliner
Service Bulletin

06/14/2017

Towing Procedures
FLA COE
FLB COE
FLD Conventional
Business Class
FLC 112 Conventional

f130150

Fig. 5, Tow Cables Connected to the Tow Hooks

> Century Class Conventional
> Argosy COE
> Cargo
> Columbia
> 122SD and Coronado

06/14/2017

> Business Class M2
> Cascadia
> 108SD/114SD
> New Cascadia

f130151

Fig. 6, Moving the Stinger and Crossbar Under the
Bumper

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.

NOTICE
Reference the applicable axle manufacturer’s information to avoid damaging the axle when towing the
truck.
8. 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. 7 and Fig. 8.

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f130152

Fig. 7, Lift Adaptors Installed on the Crossbar

Page 4

06/14/2017

f130153

Fig. 8, Backing the Tow Truck with Lift Adaptors on the
Crossbar

Freightliner Service Bulletin, 09/22/2017

31-034

Towing Procedures
FLA COE
FLB COE
FLD Conventional
Business Class
FLC 112 Conventional

> Century Class Conventional
> Argosy COE
> Cargo
> Columbia
> 122SD and Coronado

> Business Class M2
> Cascadia
> 108SD/114SD
> New Cascadia

Freightliner
Service Bulletin

9. 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. 9 and Fig. 10.

06/14/2017

f130154

Fig. 9, Positioning the Stinger with Lift Adaptors Under
the Axle

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f130155

Fig. 10, Stinger with Lift Adaptors Under the Axle (tow
truck shown)

10. Secure the axle to the crossbar with a chain or ratchet strap.

NOTICE
Failure to remove the driveline(s) or the drive axle shafts when towing the vehicle with the rear wheels
on the ground could result in damage to the transmission and other parts.
11. Remove all drivelines or all axle shafts for towing.
12. Remove the tow cables from the tow hooks and retract the recovery boom. See Fig. 11.
13. Remove the tow hooks from the bumper.
14. Connect the air and electrical supply lines from the tow truck to the truck being towed.

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. 12.

Freightliner Service Bulletin, 09/22/2017

Page 5

31-034
Freightliner
Service Bulletin

Towing Procedures
FLA COE
FLB COE
FLD Conventional
Business Class
FLC 112 Conventional

06/14/2017

f130156

> Century Class Conventional
> Argosy COE
> Cargo
> Columbia
> 122SD and Coronado

> Business Class M2
> Cascadia
> 108SD/114SD
> New Cascadia

06/14/2017

Fig. 11, Retracting the Recovery Boom

f130157

Fig. 12, Final Towing Position

17. Connect the safety chains. See Fig. 13.

06/14/2017

f130158

Fig. 13, Safety Chains Connected on the Towed Vehicle

Warranty
This is an informational bulletin only. Warranty does not apply.

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Freightliner Service Bulletin, 09/22/2017