Tow Strap for the CB (Not just for looks)

[Mike1357]

Installed and tested a tow strap for the Accord. Had my front lip not been cracked prior to having it towed last week (my balance shaft seal had popped out), the place where the operator had to hook up would have cracked the lip once tension was put on the tow cable. Here's a nice solution for $30.

That's a grade 9 bolt. The washers are from the mounting points for the differential of a 350Z. This (in theory) spreads out the load across a larger area making it less prone to cracking under stress.




This is what it looks like with the full weight of the car on the strap as it's being pulled up a flat bed. You can see the deflection in the fiberglass rebar, but it's nothing I would worry about.


Test video:

Props to the tow truck operator. He does a fine job of not hitting the lip or the exhaust every time. Ever since I installed the lip, I've never used anyone else.

[illinois_erik]

fiberglass hates flexing.. dont be surprised in a season or 2 your bumper support starts to delaminate. And if you were mired, the first tug of the winch no matter how much you would baby it, itd come flying out of there.

now if you just use this for loading and unloading onto a flatbed you might be alright besides the fiberglass eventually splintering apart.

That little bit of red seatbelt webbing cost 30 bucks? damn...

[Mike1357]

We all call it fiberglass but I'm 90% sure it's fiber reinforced plastic, especially given the way it behaves when you drill through it.

That being said, it will be used pretty much exclusively for loading on and off a flat bed.

I'd say $30 isn't bad for about a foot of seatbelt material sewn whatever special way they do to prevent the whole thing unraveling (which can also withstand a few thousand pounds of stress) and the fastening bracket. Not to mention that's the price I payed at the Sebring Raceway speed shop which probably has a decent hike on the prices to turn a profit.

Ultimately I think it's a better option when compared to aluminum tow hooks.

[Quashish]

Ive been thinking of doing that for a while but was thinking of using a stock bolt, but there's none that would work for that. But that's cool. Might do this now

[Boost_Lee]

Nice thread and I'd use that tow truck driver too.

Here's one I found online that's similar, but adjustable. I'd like to find a solid metal point to mount it to also.
http://www.racerpartswholesale.com/p...tionalProducts

[Mike1357]

They were actually selling that same style strap as well but I preferred the OMP one.

[Raf99]

All i could think of was the strap/connection breaking and the car rolling backwards until something stopped it. We are talking about 3000lbs.

[Jarrett]

I like this much better than those ridiculous hooks that so many people put on their cars but I still don't get the fascination with having them visible. Can you not improve the towability of your car without advertising it? People who put those Benen or similar tow hooks on their cars are revealing how retarded they are when most with any sense know that it is secured to a very weak member of the car if not just the bumper cover. Like I said, this is better, but what is the point in showing it off?

[steelbluesleepR]

why don't you just run it to the same location as the factory tow hook with a longer bolt?

I like this much better than those ridiculous hooks that so many people put on their cars but I still don't get the fascination with having them visible. Can you not improve the towability of your car without advertising it? People who put those Benen or similar tow hooks on their cars are revealing how retarded they are when most with any sense know that it is secured to a very weak member of the car if not just the bumper cover. Like I said, this is better, but what is the point in showing it off?

Many sanctioning bodies require a visible tow hook or strap with an arrow pointing to it, but that's just for race cars. A street car doing that is just imitating.

[Mike1357]

All i could think of was the strap/connection breaking and the car rolling backwards until something stopped it. We are talking about 3000lbs.

These straps are made of the same stuff as the racing harnesses, they're meant to withstand extreme forces.

I like this much better than those ridiculous hooks that so many people put on their cars but I still don't get the fascination with having them visible. Can you not improve the towability of your car without advertising it? People who put those Benen or similar tow hooks on their cars are revealing how retarded they are when most with any sense know that it is secured to a very weak member of the car if not just the bumper cover. Like I said, this is better, but what is the point in showing it off?

I like the look of it. Gives the car a sort of race inspired feel. The strap is nice because I can tuck it away behind the bumper if I don't want to see it.

why don't you just run it to the same location as the factory tow hook with a longer bolt?

The factory tow point is underneath the car. If I did that I'd still run the risk of cracking the lip.

[steelbluesleepR]

The factory tow point is underneath the car. If I did that I'd still run the risk of cracking the lip.

but look at where it is bolted. from the bolts, it goes down to the bottom of the car. if you attach it to the top bolt of the three that are there, you'll be connecting straight to the frame (the only good place to tow from; connecting to the plastic bumper support is just dumb) and it should be able to come straight forward through the bumper.

[Raf99]

What is this thing attached to?

[Quashish]

What is this thing attached to?

First post bro

[Raf99]

First post bro

sorry, work was blockin pics.

[Mike1357]

but look at where it is bolted. from the bolts, it goes down to the bottom of the car. if you attach it to the top bolt of the three that are there, you'll be connecting straight to the frame (the only good place to tow from; connecting to the plastic bumper support is just dumb) and it should be able to come straight forward through the bumper.

That's still pretty low but I suppose you could use it. I don't think that mounting it to the rebar is as dumb as everyone is saying it is but ultimately time will tell.