Broken tow thread

[Sucoz]

At lunch time we got stuck in a field and had to be towed out. We fixed a tow eye to the tow screw, attached a rope and a 4x4 tried to pull us out. After moving a small amount the screw thread snapped. I'm surprised that it didn't do the job I thought it was intended to. The centre where it has snapped looks like there maybe rust inside. I don't know what the implications are and whether it's fixable?

 

[MikeD]

I suspect it has been used before and slightly bent.

Straightened was then "cracked" whilst it was being done.

Lucky it did no damage when it broke.

 

[Landy Andy]

Yes. Looks like it’s possibly had a fault for a good while. Have you used it previously?

 

[tacr2man]

The towing eyes must be screwed all the way in , and even then they are only suitable for a direct in line pull if you try and pull at an angle they will often snap ! Sucoz in the pic that looks like an extension piece , as the female end is usually part of the chassis rail , and the part you screw in is just an eye and threaded male end . If it is an extension piece due to the vehicle being modified by the converters , the extra leverage is probably why it snapped .

 

[Sucoz]

No we haven't used it previously, we've only had it 5 months but the van is 10 years old, so may well have been used before.
Can they be repaired anyone know?
And MikeD there was a bit of damage to the bumper but nothing serious that I'm aware of.

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[Oldbob]

Just drill it out, put a thread tap in to clean threads and put a high tensile threaded bar in.
Pop over to mainland or stop off on way home and I can get it done.

 

[tacr2man]

No we haven't used it previously, we've only had it 5 months but the van is 10 years old, so may well have been used before.
Can they be repaired anyone know?
And MikeD there was a bit of damage to the bumper but nothing serious that I'm aware of.

You could get one new from converters I would think, it would not be a good idea to try and repair the old extension .

 

[Lenny HB]

Often happens if you are not lined up dead straight with the towing vehicle, they are only designed for winching the vehicle onto a transporter.

 

[jockaneezer]

Try a local scrappy, often the base vehicles still have their jack, wheel brace and towing eye left in them.

 

[Manic]

Maybe it had been used when not fully tight with the nut part onto the surface.

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[Scotch mist]

The fact there was rust in the middle is a good indicator that it was possibly fractured some time ago

 

[Sucoz]

I have sent the photo's to someone recommended on here to see what he thinks can be done. Thanks for your comments. Will let you know the outcome.