GWM Tank 300 Towing and Recovery Guide: Tow Hooks, Rope Rules and Speed Limits
If a GWM Tank 300 needs recovery, the manual recommends an elevating truck or flatbed truck, arranged through an authorised service centre or a specialist towing company. Hoisting type trucks are prohibited because they damage the body. Tow hook recovery is only a temporary method for hard pavement, short distances and low speed. When towing by hook, the transmission must be in N, a four wheel drive vehicle must be set to 2WD, speed must not exceed 30 km/h, and total tow hook distance across the life of the transmission must not exceed 50 km.
A note on trailer towing capacity
The Tank 300 owner's manual does not publish a trailer towing capacity figure. Its towing chapter deals with recovery: how the vehicle should be towed when it fails, and how it can tow another vehicle in an emergency. Rated trailer capacity, tow ball download and gross combination mass are market-specific and appear in your local specification sheet. For a braked trailer rating, check your delivery paperwork rather than an article.
Being towed: which truck is acceptable
Not all recovery equipment is safe for this vehicle.
Flatbed truck. Acceptable. The vehicle must be locked down firmly on the deck.
Elevating or lift truck. Acceptable, with a specific method:
- Towing from the front means the tow truck is placed under the rear wheels and locked firmly
- Towing from the rear means the tow truck is placed under the front wheels and locked firmly
Hoisting type truck. Prohibited. Using one risks damage to the vehicle body.
There is a second rule that catches a lot of operators. For a four wheel drive or rear wheel drive vehicle, recovery must use a flat truck or towing trolley. Traction with two wheels still on the ground is forbidden and will cause serious damage.
Local regulations on trailer towing apply on top of all of this.
Where the tow hooks are
The factory tow hooks are chassis-mounted, not bumper-mounted.
- Front tow hook: located on both sides of the front chassis
- Rear tow hook: located on both sides of the rear chassis
Depending on configuration, some models are fitted with a single front hook and a single rear hook instead. Check your own vehicle rather than assuming.
Tow rope specification
The rope is not an accessory detail. It is a safety component.
- Use an elastic rope, artificial fibre or a similarly elastic material, because stretch absorbs shock loads
- Never use a steel rope. It will damage the bumper
- Attach only to the designated tow hook or towing ring, never to suspension, axles or body panels
- Keep 4 to 10 m between the two vehicles
- Fit a recovery blanket to the centre of the rope so a failure does not send the rope flying
- Use reflective rope at night for visibility
- Take care not to damage bodywork while fitting it
The rope is not supplied with the vehicle. You buy it yourself, which means the specification choice is entirely yours.
Comparison table: recovery method at a glance
| Attribute | Flatbed truck | Lift truck | Tow hook and rope |
|---|---|---|---|
| Permitted | Yes | Yes | Temporary use only |
| Surface | Any | Any | Hard pavement only |
| Measurement (speed and distance) | No vehicle limit | No vehicle limit | Max 30 km/h, max 50 km across transmission life |
| Driver required in vehicle | No | No | Yes, steering and braking |
| Drivetrain requirement | None | None | Transmission in N, 2WD selected |
| Wheels on ground | None | Two, lifted axle carried | All four |
| Best for | Long distance, any fault | Roadside removal | Short move to a safe area |
The tow hook procedure, step by step
- Start the vehicle and shift to N. If it will not start, set the power supply to ON mode.
- If N cannot be selected normally, the shift lever emergency unlocking device can release P. This is a workshop-level procedure and signals a fault, so it should be followed by an inspection.
- Set a four wheel drive vehicle to 2WD mode. Tow hooks must not be used to tow a vehicle in 4WD mode.
- If the transmission cannot be placed in N at all, stop. Do not use the tow hooks. Call for a flatbed.
- Turn on the emergency flashers.
- Release the parking brake and wait for the towing vehicle.
- Turn off AVH before towing, as automatic vehicle hold should not be active during this.
A driver must sit in the vehicle and operate the steering and brakes throughout. That requires the wheels, axles, steering, brakes, transmission and lighting including indicators and brake lights to be in working order.
What towing feels like with the engine off
If the vehicle is not running, the assist systems do not work. Steering becomes heavy and braking becomes hard work. Reduce speed as much as possible to compensate.
Three more rules apply while under tow:
- Watch the brake lights of the vehicle ahead so the rope never goes slack and then snaps taut
- Do not use ropes on long downhill runs
- Never tow the vehicle backwards
Towing another vehicle with your Tank 300
The manual permits this in an emergency, with conditions.
- Turn on the emergency flashers and follow local law
- Start slowly until the rope tightens, then accelerate carefully
- Do not tow a vehicle heavier than the towing vehicle. Damage follows quickly
- Avoid sudden starts and unstable driving, which put excessive tension on the hook and rope
- No rope towing on long downhill sections
- Never tow backwards
One timing rule that new owners miss: during the first 1,000 km of the run-in period, do not drag a trailer or tow other vehicles at all.
Getting unstuck without a second vehicle
If the Tank 300 is bogged or bottomed out, self-recovery comes before a rope.
- Clear mud, snow or sand from around the stuck tyres
- Place wood blocks, stones or similar material to improve tyre adhesion
- Restart the vehicle
- Release the parking brake
- Accelerate carefully to bring the vehicle out
While doing this, keep the surrounding area clear of people, vehicles and objects. The vehicle will lurch forward or backward suddenly the moment it frees itself. Also check for large stones buried in the mud or snow, because those are what damage body panels and sensors on the way out.
Common mistakes Tank 300 owners make
- Accepting a hoisting type tow truck because it turned up first. It is prohibited for this vehicle.
- Allowing a two-wheels-down tow on a four wheel drive. Serious drivetrain damage follows.
- Using a steel rope or chain. It has no stretch and it will damage the bumper.
- Hooking onto a suspension arm or bumper bar. Only the designated hooks or rings are rated for it.
- Towing by hook while still in 4WD. Explicitly prohibited.
- Treating the 50 km figure as per trip. It is a lifetime total for the transmission.
- Leaving the parking brake or AVH engaged. Both need to be off before the rope tightens.
- Skipping the recovery blanket. It is the difference between a failed rope dropping and a failed rope flying.
- Towing a trailer during the first 1,000 km. The run-in period prohibits it.
Carry the recovery gear before you need it
Most of these rules only matter when you are already stuck, which is exactly when shopping is not an option. An elastic rated rope, a recovery blanket, rated shackles and traction aids take up little space and remove almost every improvisation above.
At GWM Accessories we supply aftermarket recovery and towing hardware built around Tank 300 mounting points, including rated recovery gear, snatch equipment, traction boards and underbody protection. Browse the full range at gwmaccessories.store.