What's That Rope?

**The Wizard** · 10-10-2014 10:29 PM

On a number of restored military Jeeps I have seen a large rope warped in a figure eight on the front bumper. It is more than likely a manila rope but does anyone know the correct size and length?

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**emmagee1917** · 10-13-2014 06:04 PM

One inch and 26 feet long with loops on both ends.
Chris

**Bill Hollinger** · 10-19-2014 02:58 PM

Chris nailed it. Not all had them but they were used as a tow rope. They are hemp. The idea was at 26 feet it could be wrapped around the bumper and the loose end looped at the end of the bumper and then reverse wrapped a bit to tighten the looped end so it wouldn't come off.

**browningautorifle** · 10-19-2014 06:37 PM

Is that your family car Bill?

**Bill Hollinger** · 10-25-2014 11:30 PM

It used to be Jim. I sold it a few years ago as a divorce was looming.

**browningautorifle** · 10-26-2014 07:46 AM

Yup...been there...

**Peter Laidler** · 10-26-2014 08:18 AM

From a more practical and realistic point of view. Having been bogged in, in the rain and in deep mud, it's cold and equally deep sxxt, I can honestly say that when you need a tow rope, you REALLY need a tow rope and PDQ, before you get even deeper in the shi........, er........ mire! And wrapped around the bumper so that you have to unwrap/unravel the whole ruddy thing ain't perhaps the best idea I have ever seen.

I would say that the best place for a tow rope is coiled up in the back. Some say that you can use it as a 'nosing' bar for pushing other vehicles but this is inevitably self defeating because if HE is bogged in, then so will you be - next! Just my jaundiced but practical way of looking at things

**Harlan (Deceased)** · 10-28-2014 03:01 AM

Originally Posted by browningautorifle

Yup...been there...

Me too my buddies 'Jim's'.... I'm STILL dealing with it after a year since I filed.

**browningautorifle** · 10-28-2014 08:59 AM

Believe me Harlan, that story isn't isolated. Um...let's see...tow rope...we used to keep our tow stuff hooked up and over the top somehow. That way you just had to get to the top and retrieve the towline. Driver's job...he got us stuck...

**Bill Hollinger** · 10-31-2014 07:52 PM

We have used the rope on the front bumper to push start other jeeps. Now days we care deeply that we don't scratch or dent our MVs but I know the 19 year old driving them back in the day could have cared less how messed up the pushed or pushing vehicle got.

As for the best place for the tow rope? I think at the ready on that front bumper is the best place for it. It's out of the way and with the limited space under the rear seat (bicycle pump and canvas takes up the room) it is the most logical place for it also.

The front bumper channel has a dense solid oak bumper filler in it to reinforce the center section on the bumper for just this reason. In the manuals it shows instruction on tow rope application and method. They thought of pretty much everything on the WWII GPW/MB jeep

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