Patent ID: 8257014

Claim:
A method for using an auto-latch mechanism mounted on a crossbar of a towing vehicle to enable the towing vehicle to hook-up and tow-away a disabled vehicle, wherein the disabled vehicle has a connecting portion for engagement with the auto-latch mechanism, comprising the steps of: providing the auto-latch mechanism with opposing guide plates mounted on the crossbar and a plunger pin having a distal end movable into a location between the opposing guide plates; raising the crossbar to locate the connecting portion of the disabled vehicle between the opposing guide plates, to cause the connecting portion of the disabled vehicle to exert downward pressure on the distal end of the plunger pin, and to force the plunger pin to retract away from the location between the opposing guide plates to allow further downward entry of the connecting portion between the guide plates; and extending the plunger pin toward the location between the opposing guide plates so that the plunger pin engages the connecting portion and each of the opposing guide plates, thereby securing hook-up of the disabled vehicle to the towing vehicle without the need for the operator of either the towing vehicle or the disabled vehicle to leave the safety of an interior of the vehicles.