How to choose a tow rope?

A tow rope is one of the most important components for a car that you may need at any time. He will help an experienced driver in a difficult situation:

• vehicle breakdown
• exit to the ditch
• to start the engine
• car stuck

A small item should be in the boot of any driver.

A large number of cables are presented on the market, which differ in size, type of attachment and material. The choice of such a product must be approached correctly, paying attention to its characteristics.

If you plan a trip on viscous soil, it is better to purchase polypropylene models, since you will have to jerk the car out. A rope cable will not work. For trucks and large crossovers - steel cable models.

Before choosing a cable, pay attention to the maximum load, which should correspond to the mass of the car. It is important to take into account the load with a margin for trips with cargo or passengers. But the length of the product should correspond to the footage indicated in the SDA.

Types of cables

Conventionally, all tow cables can be divided into two categories:

1. Textile.
2. Metallic.

The first category includes:

• fabric tape;
• ship rope;
• polypropylene cable;
• aviation kapron sling.

The second category includes metal cables of different sections.

Each category of cables is designed for its own procedure. For example, some people do a good job of towing a car over a considerable distance, others are effective in cases where the car is stuck in the mud and needs to be helped to move to the ground, on which it can move independently. Some types of towing elements are considered universal.

Characteristics of tow ropes

Tow ropes need to be chosen not at random. You must be sure of its reliability, durability. In order for the tractor not to fail in an unforeseen situation, pay attention to such characteristics:

• Length. It seems to be a simple characteristic, but not all drivers understand what cable length you need to choose for your car. The best option is 4,5 meters. A short cable will lead to an accident, and a long one will be inconvenient and unsafe;
• Material. Cables are made not only of fabric, but also of metal. The first option is tape or rope. All types of materials are strong and reliable. The second type is made of durable wire.
• Maximum load. Ropes for cars must withstand static and dynamic loads. This means that the cable must withstand a load of 1,5 more than the weight of a car: for a passenger car: 2-4 tons, SUVs: 4-6 tons, trucks: 5-8 tons.
• Mount. It happens with loops, carbines or hooks. Most often, drivers of passenger cars buy an option with hooks, as it fastens quickly. But for SUVs, it is better to purchase a product with lapel mounts.

What should be the length of the cable?

Let us return to the issue of cable length, because this is an important characteristic of the product. In different countries, traffic rules prescribe different cable lengths. In our country, this figure varies from 4 to 6 meters.

If the cable is too long, then the machine will wobble from side to side during towing and the driver will not be able to control it. Too small cable - will reduce the distance between cars, in which case the risk of an accident increases.

When buying a cable, it is important to pay attention to the manufacturer, who may indicate incorrect information about the length of the product. Better to buy trusted manufacturers.

Cable material

The material of the tow rope affects the limit load limit, as well as under what conditions it can be stored.

Steel cables

Metal cables have great endurance. However, they have many disadvantages:

• heavy weight;
• amenable to oxidative process;
• requires a lot of space for storage, since it can not be folded on a break;
• it is easy to get injured during operation (a broken core can make a deep puncture or cut);
• in case of a rush during towing, it can cause harm to both cars and to nearby people.

The advantages of such modifications include their strength. If the cable does not succumb to significant corrosion damage, it rarely breaks. They are mainly used for towing bulky vehicles - trucks, full-fledged SUVs and during skidding.

Towing heavy trucks and passenger vehicles must be carried out in accordance with requirements described in traffic rules.

Fabric cables

The most popular type of tow ropes. It is in demand due to such factors:

• it is easy to store - you can tightly twist it so that it does not take up much space in the trunk;
• the material is lightweight, so it is not problematic to constantly carry it in the car.

Since these cables are made of fabric, they do not tolerate storage in a humid environment. They are also suitable only for towing cars weighing up to 3000 kg. If the machine seriously "sits" in the mud, the fabric tape will not cope with the task and will quickly burst. Basically, such towing cables are used to smoothly transport a stalled car to the repair site or to the nearest gas station.

Ship rope

Cables of this type are made of materials that do not deteriorate when exposed to moisture. Thanks to this, they are well preserved in any conditions. Recently, due to the availability of cheaper analogues, these products are rarely used for towing cars.

With frequent use, the rope stretches, because of which it ceases to cope with its functions (towing should occur without jerking, and with a stretched cable, smoothness decreases). Given these properties, mainly ship rope is used to tow passenger vehicles, and more often as an alternative.

Polypropylene rope

The advantages of this material are many:

• stored for a long time;
• Do not be afraid of moisture;
• takes up little space in the trunk;
• easy;
• such a cable has great elasticity, which allows you to tow and get almost any car out of the mud;
• ultimate breaking load - up to 5 kg;
• extinguishes jerks when towing.

By acquiring such a cable, you should pay attention to its structure. Professionals recommend buying a model with fibers that are connected side-by-side (flat ribbon), and not braided according to the rope principle. In the second case, the fibers will fray faster and the cable will tear.

Aviation slings

Aviation nylon is inferior in strength to its steel counterpart, but in other indicators such a cable is better, therefore this option is considered one of the best in this category.

The material is not afraid of moisture. It is as easy to store as polypropylene and fabric analogues. It perfectly withstands heavy loads.

Although these tow cables are considered one of the best options, they have a significant drawback. Kapron does not have elasticity, so it is suitable only for towing a car on a flat road. To help the stuck car out of the mud, you need to use a polypropylene analogue due to frequent jerking.

Cable color

Most of the parameters for towing cables are not governed by traffic regulations. The requirements relate to the length of these elements, as well as the towing method on serpentine and slippery roads.

The color of the cable is left to the discretion of the motorist. The main factor that you need to build on is safety during towing. In addition to the alarm included, the cable should be clearly visible to other road users. There are frequent cases when the gray rope became the cause of traffic accidents. Sometimes the alarm in the form of red fabric dressings did not save.

The color of the tow rope is especially important at night, which is why most motorists prefer a color that has a reflective effect.

Rating of the best tow rope manufacturers

On the shelves of many car dealerships you can see tow cables of different quality. Some of them are disposable. Since the quality of this product is not regulated by the rules of the road, the choice is complicated by the fact that a large number of products do not meet the characteristics indicated on the package.

The TOP manufacturers that have won a good reputation due to quality products include:

• Scythian - Ukrainian-made cables with high elasticity and strength. Often they are used in construction, as well as in ports. The company’s website has a detailed description of each item.
• Ukrkekoprodukt is a manufacturer that manufactures a wide variety of cables for towing large vehicles. The material from which the products are made has sufficient elasticity, which makes it possible to dampen jerks when evacuating a car from swamp or sand.
• Belavto is a Belarusian manufacturer engaged in the manufacture of towing elements for over 20 years. Most of the positions cannot be attributed to budget products, but its quality deserves attention.
• Stels is a Russian company specializing in the production of ATVs and snowmobiles. Additional products - high-quality towing belts at an affordable price.
• Lavita is a Taiwanese company whose products are worthy of the attention of any motorist. The products undergo a two-stage quality control: first on the production line, and then on the territory of the country of sale. This gives confidence that the product is fully consistent with the declared characteristics.
• The Dutch company Vitol manufactures car accessories, including towing cables, which can be safely classified as reliable products.

How to tow tows

All proven manufacturers test their products in two ways:

• Static load indicator. This parameter is necessary for long towing, during which the cable stretches slowly (for example, when driving on a rise). For the urban mode, you can use any textile option, as during such transportation sharp and frequent jerks are excluded (if the driver of the towing car is able to perform the procedure properly).
• Dynamic load indicator. This parameter is very important for evacuation work. The cable is checked by sharp jerks. Polypropylene modifications are ideal for pulling a car out of a snowdrift or out of deep mud.

No matter how strong and reliable the tow rope is, an important element is the rope carbine and the car hook. With sharp jerks, they may not withstand, so the towing process should be as smooth as possible.

How to mount a tow rope

Most models of cars, in the rear of the body, have a special point for attaching the cable. Most often, this place is located under the bumper or inside it. It is more difficult when the "point" is inside the bumper, then it is necessary to have a special extension cord, which is twisted in place for attaching the cable.

In case your car needs help, you need to look for the attachment point in front of the body. It can also be, both under the bumper, and inside it. Auto manufacturers try to hide the extra parts of the car and make hooks to fix the belt inside the bumper. So it is better to study the service book of your car in advance.

The process of installing the cable to the attachment loop is simple and logical. Experienced drivers attach a carabiner or hitch loop to the left eye of the tractor and to the right of the towed machine. A very good option with a towbar for a trailer at the tractor - if this towbar, of course, is available.

If the towed car does not have an eye, experienced drivers attach the cable to the rigid elements of the body. However, if you are not sure what you can and cannot attach the hitch to, do not try it yourself: it is likely that you attach the cable to something not strong enough.

How to ride in a bunch

When the cable is already attached, it is important to follow the rules of movement:

• coordinate the driving route and conditional signals with the second driver
• You can not tow a car without a driver
• when towing, you need to drive slowly and carefully
• you need to move smoothly, without sudden movements, so that the cable does not break at the wrong time
• speed should not exceed 50 km / h
• the driver of the tractor must turn on the low beam, and the driver of a faulty car - an alarm
• the tractor warrior must shift gears
• the cable between the car must be pulled

So, a correctly selected tow rope will help to get out of a difficult situation without additional worries about a wrecked car due to a broken tow.

Common questions

1. How long should the tow rope be? The length of the towing cable, according to the Road Traffic Regulations, should vary from 4 to 6 meters.

2. How to choose a tow rope for a car? When choosing a cable, you must take into account the weight of your car with a margin, the cable itself must be of high quality and durable, as well as clearly visible at night.

3. What is the minimum tow rope length? The minimum length is 4 meters. If the parameter is lower, then you are more likely to collide with a towing car due to insufficient braking time.