Tow ropes !

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adymanchester

adymanchester

Banned
Posts
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Just been asked a few qeustions regarding tow ropes ,not sure of the answer though so maybe someone out here can help 1,is it illegal to tow a car with a rope on the motorway ? 2 what is the maxium lenght of rope etc , 3 A Tow rope or strap if using a landrover for towing ?
 
This is from the Police National Legal Database:

"When the vehicles are attached solely by a rope or chain, the maximum distance allowed between the vehicles is 4.5 metres.

If the distance between the two vehicles exceeds 1.5 metres then the rope or chain must be made clearly visible within a reasonable distance from either side to other road users. This is usually done by tying a coloured flapping cloth in the middle of the rope or chain.

The person in the broken down vehicle must be a qualified driver as he is actually driving the vehicle. A further point is that if it is dark then the broken down vehicle must have its lights on as it would under normal circumstances."

Note: Vehicles are only to be towed on motorways, for the minimum distance necessary, to reach a place of safety where recovery may be effected by a recovery vehicle.

There is no minimum length of tow rope or chain but the maximum length is 4.5m. Any tow rope longer than 1.5m must be marked to alert other road users. One way of doing this is to attach one or more brightly coloured ties to the rope. The law does not specify the type of rope or chain to be used.

Hence why tow ropes are still available to buy in car shops, garages etc, but if plod come along they'll consider other issues relating to towing a vehicle...

Is the towing vehicle suitable/capable?
Does the drivers licence allow him to tow such a combination?
Is the entire combination suitable for the purpose of use?

Potentially any discrepancy could lead to a charge of careless/dangerous driving.
 
I believe the ban on ropes only applies to doing it commercially (this includes a mechanic towing a vehicle into his garage for repairs, not just recovery companies) but doesn't include private individuals.
Not sure about Motorways. I thought it was still legal, but definitely not advisable.
 
As for the questions, i wouldn't advise towing with a rope at high speed, ie on a motorway. Driving without due car.. or maybe dangerous driving
I'd stick to a rope or a bar, not a strap
 
kermit_rr said:
Nah, more likely a vogue
Click to expand...

Oh a school run p@@f chariot :rolleyes: he's got a tratterrer..er..er wiv no pullererer

I was towing a few weeks ago with a transit lwb towing another transit lwb minibus down the m8 motorway
flat out 56mph (limited) in the middle lane traffic police came up on the fast lane had a wee swatch & carried on lol
I towed it nearly 70 miles ;)
 
@doriz

For getting out the ****, hawser laid rope about 6m with a spliced eye on each end and a bow shackle (properly rated) stick it in a bag and forget its there.

I’ll send you a link when I find one, you can have them pre-made.

JATE rings are handy recover points for the front end and pîss simple to fit.


Edited to add: you must know a tame fish-head who’d make one up for the price of fanny full of rum?
 
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kevstar said:
How much ffs money for auld rope.....
ive got some v-nice 8 strand mooring rope & a load of hard eyes & shackles think il make a few :D
Click to expand...

Yup, in fairness Brookwells Land Rover used to sell them made up by a lad who worked for Princess yachts - I have no idea where he got the rope from..... hang on a mo’...

Doriz is resourceful... he’ll work it out.
 
May I recommend , https://www.ropesdirect.co.uk, I pass them on the way to the sailing club, though I've had no contact except as a happy buyer.
Ive always got various suitable ropes in the back of the 110, along with a selection of shackles. However I have two preferences a 1.5inch thick 4metre rope with loops in each end. Or a ten ton breaking strain anchor chain..
 
I must be one of the only ones who uses strops? I have 2 in the seat normally, along with 8-10 shackles of various sizes, all over 3.5T.

My two strops are different, one is a plain 5T 4M, the other is one of those elastics red ones that doesn’t hit the floor when the tension is released. It’s only 3.5T and 2.5-3M long.
 
I have debated whether to carry a tow rope or not - thing I worry about is if you pull someone out of a ditch that they have ended up in due to ice or snow, and part of their car rips off (bumpers etc) are they going to hold me responsible?

In today’s litigious society, I would stop, offer help or to stay with them until help arrived if vulnerable etc or similar (change a flat etc) but I would not do anything remotely like recovery work if the car was properly off the road
 
Attach your rope to your car then offer them the other end. They can then work out how to find & insert their towing eye.
Once done check their fixing.
If they can't work out to attach the rope they are not greatfull or going to peed off when the paint flies.

If in doubt leave their car in Ditch & give them a lift.
 
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