Posted by David Sherman on Monday, July 09, 2007 at 02:59:41 :
In Reply to: Rope / Chain / Strap = BIG NO! posted by Brett in AK on Sunday, July 08, 2007 at 22:15:46 :
It wasn't my favorite method, but it was uphill all the way on a graded dirt road, and I was towing a PW with an M35 so there was no dispute about who was in charge. The PW's brakes and steering worked and I had a friend "driving" it, so if the chain broke they could stop it or steer it into the dirt bank. I always tell everybody not to tow with a chain, usually when they ask to borrow a chain from me. I wouldn't even recommend anybody tow with a rope except to get a vehicle out of the mud or snow.
When I was younger and stupider I towed a Pinto on the freeway for a lady who was broke and begged me to do it. She "drove" the Pinto and never got the hang of keeping a steady tension on the chain. The result was the towing hook ripped off the underside of the pinto and big dent in my pickup cab. Another time I tried to tow somebody's car with one of those cheap tow ropes they sell at all the auto parts places. Its spliced end came apart almost immediately. Never again.