Tow Ropes

[gpw6335]

Anyone making tow ropes out there for sale?

[Av8er]

Army Jeep Parts, Bristol, PA.

[gpw6335]

Yea he's got about everything, a fellow on this thread used to make them and they were nice, I have one.

[lucas]

I think Wingnut made nice ones in correct size..............GREG can reply??

[Wingnutt]

I've made close to thirty-two (32) of them in the past six years. Here are a few old links:
viewtopic.php?f=48&t=200760&p=1171855&h ... s#p1171855
viewtopic.php?f=48&t=203801&hilit=bumper+ropes
viewtopic.php?f=48&t=217297&p=1278184&h ... s#p1278184
viewtopic.php?f=48&t=243887&p=1426773&h ... s#p1426773

But it's not a continuous operation. I only make them when I find a coil of genuine old manila or hemp rope in the correct 1/2-inch diameter. Modern rope just doesn't look right and it usually has a tracer in it.

I will make one for anyone who sends me the rope, but that can be expensive in shipping.

[khakiweb]

What is the correct diameter and length for a tow rope? For diameter I've heard 1/2" (which seems pretty small) and 1"; and for length I've come across several between 16' and 24'. It seems 12" is pretty standard for the eye.

[Wingnutt]

What is the correct diameter and length for a tow rope?

There is not one easy definitive answer to that question for a number of reasons.

Tow ropes were not issued as tow ropes at the factory or in the field, they were made from rope issued to units, including Ordnance Dept maintenance depots, in 300-foot coils. Those coils had a Federal Stock Number and a description and it was 1 inch diameter rope.

As for the length, I have never seen one specified for a tow rope in any period reference myself.

Per Bob Notman, an ORD 7 Organizational Spare Parts and Equipment dated 8 June 1943, says they were 20-22 feet when finished (meaning, with the eyes spliced into each end). The best way to achieve that, with decent size eyes, in my experience, is to start with a 24-foot section of rope.

AAW contradicts itself on this question. Page 239 says 12 feet. Page 284 says 24 feet.

Twelve (12) feet seems awfully short, but when I think about the towing I did as a kid with my pop, we always kept the towed vehicle cinched up pretty tight, so it might not be so wrong. Then again, calling these "tow" ropes is somewhat deceiving to begin with. They were also (and maybe more often) used to pull another jeep out of a jamb. The longer the better for access to the stuck jeep in that situation.

From a "looks" perspective, a 12 foot rope looks short when it's wrapped around a bumper. The longer the rope, the more prominent it looks on the bumper.

EDIT: corrected reference and three instances of "two" instead of "tow"!!!! (eye-yai-yai)

[Mark Tombleson]

My Navy jeep went the heavy duty route.

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=230921

[Wingnutt]

I've seen your small ship's hawser before!