brightspark
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you need arms like garth and a big foot then your ok
- Thread starter Ross365
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Barking Mat
Cuddler of hedgehogs.
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In 1999, I borrowed a fixed bar for HGV recovery to tow an abandoned non running vintage 7.5 ton horsebox to a field I'd borrowed, minimal brakes, no power steering, finished off going down a massive hill, being towed by a big tractor.
All went fine, but, I was genuinely bricking myself.
It wasn't insured or roadworthy, and didn't run.
In hindsight, I wouldn't do that now.
All went fine, but, I was genuinely bricking myself.
It wasn't insured or roadworthy, and didn't run.
In hindsight, I wouldn't do that now.
BTDT! In a street sweeper behind a Dodge with a Harvey Frost on the back, so I couldn't see a thing, through tiny streets in hackney at about 40mph. Plus every now and then I had to fire the sweeper up to build up the air, and make sure that when I switched it off again I didn't go to far and bring the steering lock on.......
I sweated off about three stone......
brightspark
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a couple of pieces of 2.5mm twin and earth cable twisted in a loop at the ends works well
brightspark
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was on my jollies in turkey and a wagon towing a trailer behind overtook me behind the trailer he was towing a big fat guy in a fiat 500 
We have all our lifting equipment tested every year and the insurance engineer just loves cutting through lifting straps and strops with a small nick or cut in them. But he told me a couple of years ago that if I write TOWING ONLY on them I can keep them whole. So I now have towing straps in my cars and van and a local farmer buys the 3 ton plus one's to keep in his tractors.
Pete.
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a couple of pieces of 2.5mm twin and earth cable twisted in a loop at the ends works well
I've pulled a transit out of a muddy verge with a 32a 110v lead as a tow rope. It was a good few feet longer when I unravelled it but it did the job.
Smallfry
HE's Spartacus.
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I have a towing pole with a spring in the middle to absorb shocks. BUT towing, just no. Not unless its pulling someone off a muddy field or very, very local.
Get yourself enrolled with Britannia Rescue. No damage to your car, no damage to anyone elses car, no possible offences likely to be committed, The only hassle is having to wait.
Most vehicles do not really have a decent place to attach a rope without damaging something, and most people these days have no experience and no idea of being towed on a rope. Also, most cars now have power steering and brakes, neither of which will be working.
I will only tow anyone else with a tractor, Land Rover, or the Unimog.
Get yourself enrolled with Britannia Rescue. No damage to your car, no damage to anyone elses car, no possible offences likely to be committed, The only hassle is having to wait.
Most vehicles do not really have a decent place to attach a rope without damaging something, and most people these days have no experience and no idea of being towed on a rope. Also, most cars now have power steering and brakes, neither of which will be working.
I will only tow anyone else with a tractor, Land Rover, or the Unimog.
Pete.
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I towed many a car when I was younger but not for many years now until last week. I towed my brother's Audi A4 8 miles on Friday to get it to my house aftere the turbo exploded. Used a normal rope with a loop sling for a bit of extension and towed it with a VW transporter van. No dramas at all but my brother had arms like popeye when we got there. He said shall we got back roads or dual carriageway? I said dual carriageway and we stay in lane 1, coz there will be no junctions, traffic lights, roundabouts just a nice steady drive.
Smallfry
HE's Spartacus.
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Until some eejit tries to squeeze into the gap between you, or you have to emergency stop ...........
Edit. I think most of us here are of an age where towing, and being towed was fairly frequent, and so have experience, and know the theory.
But most younger people have no idea.
I used to have breakdown cover on everything, wasn't cheap for the vans etc. (size/weight etc.)
only used it once... took them 13 hours to get my dad back from Leeds... which is an hour and a half away
cancelled them all after that, would rather go out and tow stuff back that deal with that.
got towed Essex to Sunderland once years ago, my mams little peugeot towing my sprinter :-)
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This thread prompted me to dig out the towrope I carry, made in the 80's from some 20mm polypropylene, I spliced and whipped an eye in each end and it towed many a dead rally car out when I used to do recovery.
Pigeon_Droppings2
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A good set of bits in the car is not a bad idea these days. Last time I had to call them out the quote was a 5hr wait I think.
It was quicker to call a friend, patch things up and get the car home myself! At the very least a tow rope gives the option of moving the car to a safe spot to wait.
I know someone who was left stuck at a motorway services overnight...because it was deemed "Safe"...one jubilee clip would have fixed the car!
It was quicker to call a friend, patch things up and get the car home myself! At the very least a tow rope gives the option of moving the car to a safe spot to wait.
I know someone who was left stuck at a motorway services overnight...because it was deemed "Safe"...one jubilee clip would have fixed the car!
colnerov
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Given its age test it because they degrade over time.
colnerov
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Matchless
I started with nothing, still have most of it left
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Well he had someone right up his ar5e!
