Should I buy a towing cable or a towing strap

I was reading some post and realised it might be a good idea to have a towing cable in my car as a standard accessory.

BHPian RedTerrano recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Although I am not into 4x4 or off road excursions, I was reading some post and realised it might be a good idea to have a towing cable in my car as a standard accessory. So I googled around and realised I will have to choose between cable or a belt/strap.

So what are the pros / cons between the two? Which other factors should I consider while purchasing one? Some expert advise please.

Here's what BHPian Mr.Boss had to say on the matter:

It depends on the purpose. Let me put it with my limited knowledge and exposure:

- Tow belt / strap has little flexibility and can take minor jerks (OTOH tow ropes are very much kinetic). They are light and doesn't require frequent maintenance.

- Tow cables are heavy (comparatively), and requires some preventive maintenance to save from corrosion.

Apart from this, cables can be used for multiple purpose (including lifting) which is not possible with tow straps.

If you are not keen on off-roading, tow strap should be sufficient is my understanding.

Here's what BHPian Amrik Singh had to say on the matter:

Towing cables are heavy and prone to rust. These are available with PVC sleeve too, but once they get rubbed on road, or scraped in storage, steel cable is exposed. Further damage could have strands of wires which are difficult to handle.

Towing Belt and Rope are comparatively easier to handle and store. Minor flexibility is an advantage as towing is smoother.

One rule I follow while towing another vehicle on road is to slowly stop before stop line at junction. Wait for car in tow to come to a standstill. Slowly move forward to remove the slack. Now, a movement would be smooth and without any jerk.

Here's what BHPian ruzbehxyz had to say on the matter:

There is a difference between a towing strap and a snatch / recovery strap. Tow straps are designed for towing and they stretch very little. Snatch strap is for recoveries and are designed to stretch to reduce impact to the vehicles during a kinetic recovery.

Since a snatch strap is more strong and can be used for recovery + towing, it is a good idea to have it as a standard accessory in your car. It can help you to rescue someone or help someone to rescue you.

The ones available on Amazon are not that good. You can go for Australian or US brands like TJM, ARB, Ironman, Rhino etc. These will last a lifetime and require no specific maintenance, except for general cleaning.

I bought my TJM recovery kit from Bluegarage, Bangalore which is there in my 4x4 SUV permanently and have used it about 4 times. The kit consists of one pouch containing the recovery strap, two shackles and one pair of gloves. I paid about Rs. 8000 for it and I am very satisfied with the product. Link.

Currently, it is not in stock. However, you can contact them if you plan to buy one.

Here's what BHPian Jeroen had to say on the matter:

This website does a good job explaining the difference between belt/strap/ropes and the various pros / cons.

I have both straps as well as towing rope.

For general purpose (so not off roading), I prefer a rope. Make sure you get a good heavy duty one. Modern cars weigh a lot. Many cars these days weigh well over 1300 kg. A medium size family car will be at 1500+ kg.

Below is an image of my towing rope. I have had this for at least twenty years and I have towed many cars with it. Mostly classic cars. This rope lives in the boot of my classic Alfa Spider. I keep the two sets of chains and shackle with it. The hooks don’t always fit on the towing eye. But with the little chain you can always make it fit.

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