Dodgy tow rope

[kiwipete]

Just come across this dodgy tow rope on Trademe.
It is this type of thing that is killing innocent people when not used correctly. In fact I will go as far to say that this rope is just down right dangerous in any situation. Any rope that has a metal end is asking for trouble, especially when it breaks and becomes a missile!

How can we educate the users and sellers?

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/car-parts-accessories/wheels-tyres/rv-suv/auction-403179564.htm

Feature:

heavy duty material
heavy dust stitching
A must when stuck in snow,mud, or sand
stretches to absorb shock
lighter and stronger than chain
Heavy duty drop forged steel safety hooks, Complete with plastic grip protector guards.

size: leghth 19ft, 7/8''diameter

Max. Towing Capacity: 10,000 LBS

QTY:1

For cars, pickups, 4x4's and farm equipment.

[Lynx]

Its a tow rope, not a snatch strop, therefore its for towing and not snatching.

Cheers Daniel

[cbfb]

Its a tow rope, not a snatch strop, therefore its for towing and not snatching.

Cheers Daniel

"A must when stuck in snow,mud, or sand
stretches to absorb shock"

They call it a tow rope but sounds like they're describing it as a snatch strop.

I'm certainly no expert but this does sound dodgy.

Edit: I posted a question asking what it's actually intended for. Will update if I get a response.

[kiwipete]

Its a tow rope, not a snatch strop, therefore its for towing and not snatching.

Cheers Daniel

"A must when stuck in snow,mud, or sand
stretches to absorb shock"

They call it a tow rope but sounds like they're describing it as a snatch strop.

I'm certainly no expert but this does sound dodgy.

Edit: I posted a question asking what it's actually intended for. Will update if I get a response.

Exactly why I posted this, I thought the same when i read it.

[kiwipete]

Its a tow rope, not a snatch strop, therefore its for towing and not snatching.

Cheers Daniel

Thanks for your input Daniel but I think they are misleading the public with the advert, this is why I am bringing it to others attention.
General members of the public do not know the difference do they?

Even so, you don't tow with a stretchy rope with metal hooks on the ends of it, it is no different than snatching IMHO and I for one would not want a metal hook launching at me.

[Jerry]

use the report this auction and put your concerns in there .... i've just done it

[Sadam_Husain]

it dosent matter what you do and how you label things when people are stuck they'll still use whatever they can get their hands on to get themselves pulled out

[mike77]

Not a 100% certain,

But I think that black and red rope as shown in the picture, dosent actually have any stretch in it.
Have an old rope made of the same looking stuff.
Perhapes it's just the seller overstating charateristics of the rope.

Either way, it's not ideal.

[pruggerdore]

my self and 2 others have at different times bought robes labeled as snatch recovery ropes that havnt been. makes for a mean surprise when you find it isnt. one guy new too the game didnt even realise it after using it. others and I sure did tho.
'' caveat emptor people, Buyer Beware

ha ha spell check didnt even want to know about Latin

[T-Boon]

I`ve used a rope similar to this, it stretches about 2-3 times its length, and the ends are just threaded through themself and when tension comes on its locks tight. When used correctly they are very usefull as they dont touch the ground unless you get really close together.

However for anything other than short distance tarmac line towing they will fail.

Mud and sand, they`ll just snap (unthread at either end). and cast hooks

[safaripete]

i wouldnt use one


but the only time ive ever seen a full rope come off is when the mounting of the hook breaks and the hook becomes a missile

the rope or strop usually breaks in half so the cast hook on this "shouldnt" be a problem as long as the mount on the vehicle being towed is good

its probably more for flat towing

but like i say i would rather use a rated recovery strap/strop

[chevrolux]

if people get themselves in to a situation where just a slow pull isnt going to get them unstuck and they have to be snatched then I would hope they had good idea on what rope to use and they would get their SNATCH strap out and not their tow rope. This is obviously a tow rope.

[rokhound]

i wouldnt use one


but the only time ive ever seen a full rope come off is when the mounting of the hook breaks and the hook becomes a missile

the rope or strop usually breaks in half so the cast hook on this "shouldnt" be a problem as long as the mount on the vehicle being towed is good

its probably more for flat towing

but like i say i would rather use a rated recovery strap/strop

What he said^^^. There is nothing actually wrong with this setup as for the hooked ends to become dangerous, there has to be a failing elsewhere. Having said that, if you use it as a strop, then you take your chances I guess. I agree with chevrolux, this is just a towrope.

[SP450andLE]

Ummm... The auction does say "Emergency Tow Rope".

So I assume this means it should only be used when absolutely necessary, and is not there to be strong enough to be used all the time, but only to get a vehicle out of a bad situation?

[niblik]

Ummm... The auction does say "Emergency Tow Rope".

but only to get a vehicle out of a bad situation?

like using a winch cable to snatch someone out?

yeah ah na.

you had it right in the first place, tow rope. as chevo and rok said... hook wont go anywhere unless something else gives.. used for flat towin a broken truck home, cool.. snatching, not so much.