Hi

 

I broke down a month or so ago, and needed to be towed to bump start my vrs. The problem was a knackered battery, but i thought it could be a starter motor problem at the time. I tried to jump start it using some cheapie jump leads, but they just got hot (red hot) and didn't transfer enough current.

 

I realized at that point that im woefully under equipped, having neither proper jump leads or a decent tow rope. I've got a suitable pair of jump leads sorted now, and I just need to invest in a decent rope for a situation where it may be needed in an emergency.

 

Im thinking something like this: towing rope

 

I was wondering what other people use, and what length is best?

 

Regards

 

I use a 4 metre strap. Cost a little less than that (found at the side of the road). Only downside is you have to tie a knot in it, and then undo it after it's had a car pulling it tight. I normally tie an old spanner in the knot so I can use that to wiggle it loose. 

 

The benefit of a strap is it's flat, so it rolls up to go in the boot. 

Edited 27 July, 201411 yr by StevesTruck

I would have thought only legal way to tow nowadays is using a bar?

I would have thought only legal way to tow nowadays is using a bar?

Nowadays towing anything with a rope is frowned upon in quiter areas like the parts where I live you can get away with it and it's normally found acceptable everywhere else to get the car to a safe place ready to be recovered!

A quick tip for jumping a diesel with a flat battery.

connect the leads up from the running car to the flat one, start the running one up and go have a cup of tea while it puts a bit of juice back in the flat battery before trying to pull 500 amps thru the leads on cranking, even thin cheapo leads will do it if used like that, give it a good 10 mins connected up and running the car before trying to start the flat one and it should go easy, important bit is to disconnect the leads as soon as possible once both are running to reduce the chance of rectifier damage to the altenators.

we use a 12 ft strap for quick towing away from dangeous places.

I would have thought only legal way to tow nowadays is using a bar?

 

If it's recovery of a vehicle that's suffered a breakdown locally/to a place of safety, then anything that's not dangerous is fair game. Both vehicles need to be road legal. 

 

If it's transporting the car a distance, then you can't have someone in the car, so that rules out a rope or a straight bar.

Thanks for replies everyone.

 

Sounds like a strap might be better as it would pack away small. I just thought a nylon rope would have a bit of stretch to it, minimizing the snatching. Anyone have any recommendations for a high quality strap?

 

Regards 

Machine mart do some good ones! I've got an orange 5t rated one from there for about £13

As for the tying a not in the rope/strap.

It all depends on the knot you tie, I work with a bloke who used to work on the docks for a long while so he is clued up on his knots and what not.

He has shown me one knot, just one knot that is used for any kind of 'towing' or excessive pulling/strain. It is impossible to explain over text, but basically you use the rope tightening to hold the knot in place, when finished , it is a simple twist and a pull and the knot comes loose , no knives , head scratching or irritation needed.

ps: a strap would be an excellent idea , I have a rope but a strap will hold a lot more than a rope, don't worry about the elasticity, besides , how often are you going to get towed? ( hopefully not often!)

JRJG