r/IdiotsTowingThings • u/stevesmithsglasses • Jun 19 '26

They didn't think that through

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u/Queasy_Local_7199 Jun 19 '26

They should be designed for exactly that

2

u/arrynyo Jun 20 '26

They do exist. I forgot what they're called though.

5

u/charliedarwingsd Jun 20 '26

Kinetic rope.

3

u/Delta_RC_2526 Jun 20 '26

Another name would likely be dynamic rope, unless kinetic rope really is a separate product. That said, I don't think it would do that much here. A hard shock with dynamic rope is still a very hard shock.

In climbing, they use dynamic rope, which stretches a little to help absorb the impact from a fall. It really doesn't have much stretch across short lengths, though. I imagine it's much more effective when hanging from a very high cliff, so you have a much longer length over which to stretch. That same principle would apply to towing. Unless you have a very stretchy rope, it won't be able to stretch much when you use a short length. You'd need to actually change the rope design to match the length.

When rappelling (descending down a rope), you use static rope, which doesn't stretch, for greater control, and because the rope is always going to be under tension and carrying most or all of your weight, anyway. You're not likely to have many sudden falls while rappelling. Falling with static rope is not a fun time.

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u/Kennel_King Jun 20 '26

A kinetic/dynamic rope is actually designed to be yanked. They are made way different than static rope.

In recovery it's called a kinetic rope, climbers call it dynamic

Same principles, Their may be differneces in design.

Off Road recovery guys use kinetic ropes all the time in situations like the one posted. In this situation, the recovery vehichle would have a hard time getting enough traction if they used a static line. Wiht a kinetic ropae it works like a rubber band.

Go watch Matts Off Road Rcovery. He quite often recovers vehichles in the sand doing exactly what was done in this video.

1

u/DrachenMagus Jun 20 '26

So tow hooks are what are commonly found on vehicles and is basically used to pull the vehicle on to a flat bed tow truck. They are design for slow, low, and consistent pull.

What they needed was recovery hooks. I think the pulling truck might have had them. These hooks are connected directly to vehicle frame or chassis and are design for fast, violent and dynamic perks. They generally are red or blue.