Car towing eyes?

[thinfourth2]

Those little screw in towing eyes that some modern cars come with. Are they all the same thread?

Bored of trying to find them in other folks cars when they are stuck in the snow.

[DanGPR]

Suck it and see.

[GreigM]

thinfourth2 said:

Are they all the same thread?

No

[schmalex]

Just thread the tow road through their grille if they ask you to put in the towing eye for them as well.....

[thinfourth2]

GreigM said:

thinfourth2 said:

Are they all the same thread?

No

It would of made sense to standardise them, probably why they haven't done it.

[thinfourth2]

schmalex said:

Just thread the tow road through their grille if they ask you to put in the towing eye for them as well.....

It is not other folk being lazy they just haven't got a clue they even exsist

[Bricol]

Use a longer rope - in one window, out the other and back to tow car . . .

Bri

[littleredrooster]

All different. Some big, some small, some even have left-handed threads just to confuse! If anyone knows why, please tell.......

[TheLurker]

littleredrooster said:

All different. Some big, some small, some even have left-handed threads just to confuse! If anyone knows why, please tell.......

I've always wondered this. I did go on a fact finding mission a while ago, but cant remember what I gleened.

[TheLurker]

Just done some research;

Looks like the reason they have lefthand threads (mostly) is due to the way ropes are twisted. When tension is applied they try to unwind in a anti-clockwise direction, so tighten the eye, as supposed to loosen it.

The other possibility is that it stops people using other potentialy unsafe devices to attach to the car; eg a bolt if they cant find the eye.

[AndyAudi]

TheLurker said:

Just done some research;

Looks like the reason they have lefthand threads (mostly) is due to the way ropes are twisted. When tension is applied they try to unwind in a anti-clockwise direction, so tighten the eye, as supposed to loosen it.

I'm struggling with this reason, by my thinking that would mean you needed to use the rope a particular way round?

[cptsideways]

I've just been out earlier today to attatch one to the wifes Golf as she's come across a few strandees blocking the road & could'nt tow em out as she could'nt find the hook.


So I knew it was under a grill cover but thought I'd read the manual first


Index : Towing go to page 100
Page 100 : No mention of towing eyes
Index : Emergency go to page 122
Page 122 : No mention of it
Rummage through 100 pages of gumph - found ref to towing eye Refer to page 140
Page 140 : For instructions on fitting the towing eye you'll find a leaflet in the toolbox in the boot


FFS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! when was that leaflet last seen

Aaaarrrrggggghhhhh I hate fking Volkswagons

So ended up getting the screwdriver out & prizing off the l/h cover in the lower grill & found the hole. Why the fk are they left handed threads!!!!

[Dogwatch]

cptsideways said:

Why the fk are they left handed threads!!!!

Probably intended to be the last straw when you have a problem on a dark, wet and cold night

[DannyVTS]

I can confirm all Vauxhall Corsa ones are the same and have a backwards thread

[Eggman]

AndyAudi said:

I'm struggling with this reason, by my thinking that would mean you needed to use the rope a particular way round?

Yes; no.