Experience with tow straps?

[Warlin]

Hey guys! Looking for info from those with experience using tow straps, such as what brands you prefer, how they hold up, etc. I’m considering purchasing the NRG tow straps. Installing primarily for appearance, though I would appreciate it to be functionally sound.

Also, what is the difference between a tow hook and tow strap, functionally?

[ls1ac]

remember, 90% how you mount it.
simple strait pull or a hard yank at an angle to get out of a trap.

[Warlin]

Originally Posted by extrashaky

LOL really? Why would you want the appearance of an impoverished redneck ricer's old Honda?

"I'm so badass I might just run off the road at any minute and need to be yanked out of a ditch, yo!"

Firstly, I am a novice at driving a car for sport, increasing my risk of losing control. If I happen to run off the road, which could happen, the strap would make it easier to recover the car with my Jeep. Secondly, appearance is of course objective, and I think it would add to the theme of my BRZ, which is that of a street racer/weekend track car (pic). The JDM racing theme is often accompanied by a tow hook to complete the appearance, just like the old JDM racecars, a style that I admire and appreciate.

[Spuds]

Originally Posted by Warlin

Firstly, I am a novice at driving a car for sport, increasing my risk of losing control. If I happen to run off the road, which could happen, the strap would make it easier to recover the car with my Jeep. Secondly, appearance is of course objective, and I think it would add to the theme of my BRZ, which is that of a street racer/weekend track car (pic). The JDM racing theme is often accompanied by a tow hook to complete the appearance, just like the old JDM racecars, a style that I admire and appreciate.

for recognizing the desire to make your car look a certain way for what it is. You do you.

Just an FYI though...
Unless I'm remembering incorrectly, the spare tire/emergency tools set includes a tow hook. I'm away from my car right now so I can't confirm.

[NCtoBRZ]

Originally Posted by Warlin

Firstly, I am a novice at driving a car for sport, increasing my risk of losing control. If I happen to run off the road, which could happen, the strap would make it easier to recover the car with my Jeep. Secondly, appearance is of course objective, and I think it would add to the theme of my BRZ, which is that of a street racer/weekend track car (pic). The JDM racing theme is often accompanied by a tow hook to complete the appearance, just like the old JDM racecars, a style that I admire and appreciate.

The street is not the place to push your car to the limit. Learn to drive on the track and drive at less than 10/10ths on the street and stay out of ditches. If you do end up in a ditch anyway, the factory supplied tow hook takes 30 seconds to install and is stronger than a strap. Appearance is subjective, not objective... and tow straps seem to go along with the hideous trend of hella-flush Of course, it’s your car to modify how you wish.

[Brink]

Would a tow strap flap around and damage the paint at all? I was always worried about that. I think tow hooks look better anyway if that's what you're going for. If it's just so you can tow yourself out of ditches you can just pop the factory tow hook in there as others have said, no need to keep something permanently on there.

[Willie Swoopes]

Everyone has the right to dress up the way they want.

Cars and clothes are multi-functional: practical, and "the look."

To this guy the tow hook is cool looking.

We can't all be fuddy-duddys

[dowroa]

Originally Posted by extrashaky

LOL really? Why would you want the appearance of an impoverished redneck ricer's old Honda?

"I'm so badass I might just run off the road at any minute and need to be yanked out of a ditch, yo!"

I believe this conversation is lost in meta that has nothing to do with the original question.

While I don't have a direct answer to your question, as I have't used straps, I have used i-bolts.

Anecodatally, I would not run hard tow options out of the car on the street. When I was rallyXing the 06 WRX, I left the OEM tow bolt in the car as I got lazy and I didn't want to take it out between rallyXes and driving to work. I had just enough time to clean-up for work on Sunday evenings.

Well, one day at a red stop light turning right, a lady in front of me pulls out to turn right and I thought she was gone. I look left and start to go as I look right, and there she is... still in the intersection hedging. I quickly arrested my movement, but I did bump her. Super nice individual, and it would have been no big deal... but that tow hook poked a nice hole through her bumper.

I would prefer to use a tow strap for a DD/weekend autoX/HPDE car following that experience. However, I haven't had a weekend racecar in a while due to being a Dad and life.

My real stage rally guy friends did use straps... but their cars weren't really DDs anymore.

If I find out more information, I will relay it back. A daily that is used as a racecar, to me, shows its heritage on what I do with it and what it does on the weekends. It is part of me being proud at what I did and sharing it with others. Some people see it as goofy. I was just happy, and that is sometimes in short supply.

Sometimes it is OK to be a goof. Don't let people take your happiness away.

- brian

[extrashaky]

I had a funny (to me) thought:

Originally Posted by Warlin

... the strap would make it easier to recover the car with my Jeep.

It would also make it easier for me to drag it across the mall parking lot with my Jeep and hide it in a different section, then camp out until you return from the vape store and watch you panic.

[mjanmohammad]

Originally Posted by extrashaky

I had a funny (to me) thought:



It would also make it easier for me to drag it across the mall parking lot with my Jeep and hide it in a different section, then camp out until you return from the vape store and watch you panic.

I do this to one of my coworkers all the time. We put his car on vehicle dollies and move it to different places in the parking lot.

[Spuds]

Originally Posted by mjanmohammad

I do this to one of my coworkers all the time. We put his car on vehicle dollies and move it to different places in the parking lot.

Someone at work borrowed another's keys and moved their car to a different parking lot entirely. Left them a hint though. Looked a bit like this...

[Jordanwolf]

Originally Posted by redhalo

Your establishing that you openly harass and verbally abuse people who don't adhere to the same tribalism as you? Just so I know where you stand.

Op, do you. I buy fancy shoes cause they look good over functionality. People can enjoy imitating a racecar look with their cars.

I mean, fancy can be functional.

[Soloside]

Originally Posted by Jordanwolf

I mean, fancy can be functional.

Those aren't the YEEZY'S I was looking for good SIR.

[Jordanwolf]

Originally Posted by Soloside

Those aren't the YEEZY'S I was looking for good SIR.

They can be if you want them to be. Impossible can be possible if you are the possibly impossible.