Best tow rope setup

[smithy]

Hey everyone,

I just realized that I no longer have a decent tow rope to throw in the back of my truck. Are there any thoughts as to the best setup? Looking for something to primarily be used for pulling/being pulled out of the ditch. Would you recommend rope, chain, or strap? What about length? I can't seem to find a quality one to purchase commercially so figured I would make my own.

Any input would be appreciated.

Smithy

[curtz]

Get a tow strap from Princess Auto, I believe there made by Erickson. I use a 3 inch 30 ft for my Dodge diesel. Very strong, they have all different sizes.

[sparky660]

Originally Posted by curtz

Get a tow strap from Princess Auto, I believe there made by Erickson. I use a 3 inch 30 ft for my Dodge diesel. Very strong, they have all different sizes.

X2.

[EZM]

Yup x 3

[cody c]

for pulling folks out of the ditch you want a recovery (kinetic_ strap and not a tow strap, they are very different and rated differently, check out "bubba Rope" and make sure you have good recovery points.

[cougar bait]

I always use tow straps. way safer then chains and they have some elasticity that helps the tug. There is a hutterite colony in central alberta that has bought a big sewing machine and builds tow straps. (Can also repair tents or anything you can imagine!) He has some straps on hand or will build anything you want. He gets straps by the roll in any width from 2" to 12"!!The big ones work awesome with the tractors. I normally get a 2" by 100' and he folds it in half and gives it 2 or 3 stiches the full length so its a doubled strap for 50'. There is no way you will break it! They roll up nice and fit under the seat. Very quick with orders and very reasonable on prices

[smithy]

Thanks for the great info everyone. That certainly helps me out. Cougar, do you know which colony it is?

Thanks,

Smithy

[jip911]

30' "Bubba" rope or master pull "Super Yanker"

We have used some of the 2" ropes at work behind a d10, and I was often scared the truck would pull into 2 before the rope broke...

J

[roger]

I put a 5/16" sythetic on my 10000 lb warn. Good for 20000 tensile. Im even hinking about getting a extra 125 feet as a towstrap or a extension for longer pulls. 125 ft would occupy a space behind the seat no bigger than a loaf of bread. And weighs three lbs.

[Tactical Lever]

Princess Auto had a wicked deal on tow straps a couple months ago; forget what the rating was, but they were 4" wide and 25 or 30' long, closed loop straps. On for about $15, should have been more like $50. Grabbed 3 of them for the various "adventure vehicles" hanging around. I like something with some stretch; saves on breakage, big time.

PA, also stocks some heavy clevises as well. Go on the heavy end for tow straps, skip the wimpy ones and chains, not worth tearing the wimpy ones in half or ripping out a recovery point to save $20.

[YeeHaw]

Being in the towing and recovery industry, I like a 50" X2' recovery strap with a towmans cluster on it. A cluster attaches with a small clevis and has a J hook, a mini J hook, R hook, along with a regular chain hook on it. With this set up you can recover 99% of vehicles as you can use the proper recovery points and double reinforced holes to pull the disabled vehicle. All to often I have seen people try to do things themselves and end up bending tailing arms, ripping frames, etc. you can also pick up a cluster at any towing supply store or online.

[Bushwacker]

The company I work for we use the "ditch hitch" recovery system. This is the only system we are allowed to use.

[cougar bait]

The Erskine colony does all the sewing. About 40 min east of Red Deer ask for martin