Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Car Chat => Topic started by: steve6367 on 06 October 2015, 11:33:40

Title: Towing a car with U/S gearbox
Post by: steve6367 on 06 October 2015, 11:33:40
Are these any good for a short tow? (< 2 miles)

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-Ton-Tonne-Recovery-Tow-Bar-Towing-Pole-C-W-Spring-Loaded-Damper/361002162587?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D33745%26meid%3De5e52808d6654b1e99fd1c99e1862731%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D6%26mehot%3Dpp%26sd%3D190593373350

Any better than a rope?

Steve
Title: Re: Towing a car with U/S gearbox
Post by: STEMO on 06 October 2015, 14:14:53
I might trust that if it was a hundred quid. £18.99......no.....
Title: Re: Towing a car with U/S gearbox
Post by: Nick W on 06 October 2015, 14:20:24
I might trust that if it was a hundred quid. £18.99......no.....


Exactly what I was going to post. And it worries me that I agree with you ;D
The ones we have at work(Recovery company) are about twice the diameter of scaffold tube, and bent retaining pins are still easy to achieve.
Be very careful if you use one of these poles with screw-in towing eyes, as it's easy to do a lot of damage.
Title: Re: Towing a car with U/S gearbox
Post by: STEMO on 06 October 2015, 15:05:17
I've just had another look cause it reminded me of something :-\

It's a pogo stick.  ;D
Title: Re: Towing a car with U/S gearbox
Post by: minifreek on 06 October 2015, 15:12:16
Anything is better than rope which IIRC you can't use to tow on a motorway...?

It depends on how far the short tow is ...?
Title: Re: Towing a car with U/S gearbox
Post by: Andy B on 06 October 2015, 15:21:26
Anything is better than rope which IIRC you can't use to tow on a motorway...?

It depends on how far the short tow is ...?

AIUI you can use a rope to tow someone off a motor via the next exit point. But you can't use one to tow onto a motorway in the first place.
Title: Re: Towing a car with U/S gearbox
Post by: STEMO on 06 October 2015, 15:49:38
Anything is better than rope which IIRC you can't use to tow on a motorway...?

It depends on how far the short tow is ...?
But....no one mentioned motorway and I'd trust a tow rope more than that spring loaded broom handle.
Title: Re: Towing a car with U/S gearbox
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 06 October 2015, 15:52:17
Have towed a couple of Omegas a reasonable distance with them and they are fine as long as the person in the towed and towing car knows what they are doing
Title: Re: Towing a car with U/S gearbox
Post by: Terbs on 06 October 2015, 16:00:57
The OP stated 2 miles :y
Title: Re: Towing a car with U/S gearbox
Post by: STEMO on 06 October 2015, 16:08:14
Have towed a couple of Omegas a reasonable distance with them and they are fine as long as the person in the towed and towing car knows what they are doing
Well....as everyone on here is aware...you know nowt lad. :P
Title: Re: Towing a car with U/S gearbox
Post by: Andy B on 06 October 2015, 16:22:14
Have towed a couple of Omegas a reasonable distance with them and they are fine as long as the person in the towed and towing car knows what they are doing

Unfortunately the person (my Dad  ::)) in the towed Astra when I used one didn't & bent it  ???
Title: Re: Towing a car with U/S gearbox
Post by: KSR on 06 October 2015, 16:42:43
I wouldn't trust that.


in saying that my 2 ton tow rope was £3.00 from euro car parts  :D
Title: Re: Towing a car with U/S gearbox
Post by: 05omegav6 on 06 October 2015, 17:21:31
TB will be able to tell a tale or two as to why you really shouldn't ;)

As for a £3 two ton rope, first bounce will see that snapped :-X
Title: Re: Towing a car with U/S gearbox
Post by: STEMO on 06 October 2015, 17:41:38
I'm not an expert on cars being towed. As omega owners, most on here will be.
Title: Re: Towing a car with U/S gearbox
Post by: steve6367 on 06 October 2015, 18:04:19
TB will be able to tell a tale or two as to why you really shouldn't ;)

As for a £3 two ton rope, first bounce will see that snapped :-X

Shouldn't use a rigid bar?

Rope I have plenty of from the boat that wont snap  :y
Title: Re: Towing a car with U/S gearbox
Post by: STEMO on 06 October 2015, 18:05:28
TB will be able to tell a tale or two as to why you really shouldn't ;)

As for a £3 two ton rope, first bounce will see that snapped :-X

Shouldn't use a rigid bar?

Rope I have plenty of from the boat that wont snap  :y
Tha boat that won't snap?  I should hope not.  ;D
Title: Re: Towing a car with U/S gearbox
Post by: 05omegav6 on 06 October 2015, 18:37:10
iirc, Mrs TB managed to a) fold his betterthanthatone bar in half and b) rear end the towing vehicle ::)
Title: Re: Towing a car with U/S gearbox
Post by: 05omegav6 on 06 October 2015, 18:38:33
What are you looking to tow, and under what circumstances? Using your breakdown cover might be more efficient ;)
Title: Re: Towing a car with U/S gearbox
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 06 October 2015, 21:04:33
We towed:

Omega estate from Manchester to Notingham
Omega estate from Liverpool to Nottingham
Omega saloon from Milton Keynes to Nottingham

No problems what so ever.

Title: Re: Towing a car with U/S gearbox
Post by: STEMO on 06 October 2015, 21:07:06
We towed:

Omega estate from Manchester to Notingham
Omega estate from Liverpool to Nottingham
Omega saloon from Milton Keynes to Nottingham

No problems what so ever.
Those omegas certainly need a lot of towing  ;D
Title: Re: Towing a car with U/S gearbox
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 06 October 2015, 21:09:20
What could possibly go wrong?  :)
Title: Re: Towing a car with U/S gearbox
Post by: lee4206 on 06 October 2015, 21:25:12
I've got a non sprung one from machinemart that's towed a fiesta 50 odd miles,an insignia ~10 miles and a 206 many miles many times   and it's still as good as the day I got it around 7 years ago.  highly recommend one. Don't know about the sprung ones though.
Title: Re: Towing a car with U/S gearbox
Post by: terry paget on 06 October 2015, 21:26:43
Machine Mart do one like that, and a simpler one without the spring. The sprung bars are weaker on the sprung section and easily bent. I now use the unsprung version.
Title: Re: Towing a car with U/S gearbox
Post by: Andy B on 06 October 2015, 21:46:00
We towed:

Omega estate from Manchester to Notingham
Omega estate from Liverpool to Nottingham
Omega saloon from Milton Keynes to Nottingham

No problems what so ever.

You could've borrowed my A frame  ;)
Title: Re: Towing a car with U/S gearbox
Post by: steve6367 on 06 October 2015, 23:39:08
Thank for all the advise - was a diesel Mondeo Estate - managed to get my hand on a sprung bar and moved it tonight.

Wasn't quite ready for the clattering noise as the load changes, but worked very well  :y

I didn't do more than 25mph though and not sure I would fancy much faster....
Title: Re: Towing a car with U/S gearbox
Post by: Matchless on 07 October 2015, 12:24:44
We towed:

Omega estate from Manchester to Notingham
Omega estate from Liverpool to Nottingham
Omega saloon from Milton Keynes to Nottingham

No problems what so ever.

Nottingham is clearly the centre of the Omega Universe.


Do tell though....why did I end up with a brand-new tow pole after an admin borrowed the old, very well travelled one?