@Froggmann:
You sound like you've never seen a tow rope before. Why would the hooks get ripped off? They don't get ripped off on regular tow ropes.

You may be right about things getting mucked up inside the case, but are you telling me you don't think people have figured out how to make durable and non-rusting metals?

hughjass

@swartz: I did not, it's still going to get all soggy though

sirwebster

WHA!!!???

Dissin on new technology Brian?

Hyprocracy, thou art Giz!

FrankenPC

This rope is just ment for light pulls in a straight line. It looks like it doesn't self recoil as it has a knob to wind it up on the side and it would take a fairly large spring to wind itself up. Having weight in the center of the rope acually makes it safer as it won't allow the hook(if it happens to come loose while pulling) to slingshot back at the other end, only part way. I would recommend it...better than nothing.

Abnormal

Auto recoil plus big dangerous metal hooks? This defies every bit of recovery advice ever uttered. If that thing cuts loose you don't want Newton coming back at you with all his equal and opposite reaction fury. Super death and maim potential.

HDC

hey guys, I have seen them here in Europe more than 20 years ago (hint: age giveaway;-), so it's not that new. Have even used one on a few occasions. My old Renault 12 had to be parked facing downhill in its later days, when temperatures approached 10° C - above zero, that was;-) - and if no hill was in sight or facing downhill not an option, the tow rope was the weapon of choice. That middle part was red instead of yellow, but nevertheless did the job, with the R12 weighing something like a ton, so I guess all you naysayers that it might be a bit too flimsy could be wrong as well.
Just damn bloody convenient, like those retractable USB cables. Only wish they made USB2 retractables small enough, so far I only found USB1.

yogibimbi

Looks like a waste of money to me. On top of rusting innards from water and muck getting inside and fowling up the mechanicals I would imagine the spring itself would rust rather quickly. Not to mention ripping the hooks off or snapping the strap on a hard pull.

Froggmann

I guess it's okay as long as it sqeegies (?) the water and muck out while you wind it back up.

strider_mt2k

" and no matter how well you can coil a rope, it gets thrown around and uncoils, when in a pickup it gets soggy and nasty"

you do know that the "sailor" way of coling a rope includes a anti-decoil feature, because boats arent the most stable things around.

swartz

Rap my rope like a sailor?

Oh, wrap. That's okay.

HeyBeav

You guys have obviously never lived an area where tow ropes are a necessity. Up here in da UP (upper peninsula of Michigan), I use my tow rope at least once a month to help out vehicles stuck in the ditch due to icy roads. It is 30 feet long to get reach without sending me in the ditch, but more often then not I double it around to prevent sliding on short tows. This plastic case design is pretty crappy. Spot on analysis, Brian.

nglatt

Just a guess, but tow ropes are a required item for many off-road areas (esp. beach areas) along with square of wood (to support a jack in mud), a jack, etc. This would satisfy the letter of the law, even if it's not the best for the job...

Kuda

I kinda like the look of this. It would certainly keep the strap clean, dry, and knot-free. Lord BLam is right; you couldn't double it up, but with a five ton rating you could lift a Hummer containing two Smart cars.

DearEditor

and wrapping this around a tree would achieve what? your stuck vehicle is still stuck, only now you have a rope going between it and a tree.

this is intended for towing another vehicle, and no matter how well you can coil a rope, it gets thrown around and uncoils, when in a pickup it gets soggy and nasty, and depending on length can be a sod to store, so something like this is a pretty good idea.

sirwebster

I'm sure the "people who can't coil a rope" demographic is fairly large.
But people that ignorant probably shouldn't be allowed to attempt using a tow rope

snrub

I ride ATVs and this would be perfect to stowe in the under-seat compartment. My current tow rope is wadded up and barely fits. After you get stuck and get out, you don't want to take time to roll it up all fancy like, you want to get on and go.

Cerixus