Tow Points For R33 Gtr

[WRRR]

Guy's

Thinking about putting a bit of track time in with the GTR and hoping to receive some wisdom from the more knowing among the group.

Where have/do you mount towing points on a R33 GTR? Ideally I would like some that can be left on on the street without looking like an eacaped race car but open to all suggestions. Front and rear.

Detailed descriptions of the mounts and what tow hooks etc would be great.

Thanks

[Ant97GTR]

gday mate,

I got a tow hook mounted to the factory one at the rear...perfectly legal as it is tucked away under the car. The front is a bit more of an issue as anything sticking out the front of the car is deemed a hazard to pedestrians. Maybe get one attached to the chassis under the car at the front or look at getting those flexible rope style ones that the porsche cup cars use.

[WRRR]

gday mate,

I got a tow hook mounted to the factory one at the rear...perfectly legal as it is tucked away under the car. The front is a bit more of an issue as anything sticking out the front of the car is deemed a hazard to pedestrians. Maybe get one attached to the chassis under the car at the front or look at getting those flexible rope style ones that the porsche cup cars use.

Cheers Ant.

I hadn't thought about the flexible ones. I'll see if I can find some info.

I had thought about one of the drop down (hinged) ones for the front but attaching it to something suitable is the issue. If you can't get the point way forward I can see spoilers etc being ripped off - or maybe my tendency to over-engineer means I am trying to find a place for something way too big???

I'll see if anyone else has a pearler or two.

[Duncan]

We run a webbing strap (like the porkers etc) they discourage fixed tow hooks even for race cars now. Only problem for a street car is we had to cut the bar about 8cm x .5cm to fit the strap through, it is bolted to the reo bar

[swanny180]

Sorry for n00b request here, but any chance someone could post a pic of these flexible straps?

Sound like an interesting idea...

At recent track day, I used front strut brace to be towed back to pits when a cooler pipe blew off. Any dramas with using this method?

[guesty]

For the flexable ones, most people seem to use an old seat belt bolted to the chassis rail or front reo bar.

As for using the Strut bar, only damage it could probably do is strip the nuts on top of you suspension struts due to the added force.

[Duncan]

sorry I don't have a pic, but it is basically just a webbing loop coming forward from the car, like a seatbelt but stronger of course. Ours has 2 holes with metal reinforcing at the end where we bolt it to the reo bar.

[Duncan]

re using an old seatbelt...we did do that but it is not up to the job. As soon as they tried to lift mark's car by the tow loop with the crane the seat belt strap broke. luckily as it fell further down the slope it landed nose down and they could attach to the rear tow loops instead.

[Marlin]

re using an old seatbelt...we did do that but it is not up to the job. As soon as they tried to lift mark's car by the tow loop with the crane the seat belt strap broke. luckily as it fell further down the slope it landed nose down and they could attach to the rear tow loops instead.

HAHAHAHA, that's gold! I can picture it now. Strap breaks, car falls further down hill, everyone stoked that car lands on nose to use better recovery point

Whatever you do decide to use, keep in mind sideways pulling forces to avoid further damage to bumpers etc..., although extractions from circuit kitty litter is usually more straight forward than rallying. Witness these tools pulling this out by the wheel hub, totally ignoring the tow points. Clowns. :sorcerer:

Edited December 4, 2007 by Marlin

[WRRR]

Thanks guys.

It's amazing how your thinking can get too narrow. All this talk about flexible loops and such and here I am with about 30m of dynamica rope in the shed with the 4wd. The stuff is rated at about 8.5 tonne and temp and oil friendly and soft so it shouldn't gouge if it flaps. I'll have a good look at mount locations and cut and splice a bit in.

[O2 Autosports]

so does anyone have any pics of their set up?

[Duncan]

actually....this time I do! My car is sitting here with no front bar on.

This is what it looks like in front.

This is where I bolted it in (from side on).

Simply a piece of strong webbing with grommets protecting the bolt holes. Grommet tool is readily available from hardware stores (absolutely nfi why anyone else ever needs them though)

Then there is a 5mm high slit in the front bumper that I pull the tow strap through

BTW I have been questioned once about it....apparently it should be red. At that race meet I wrapped it in red electrical tape :|

[Marlin]

We drilled and tapped a solid bar that we then welded across the factory tow loop so it faces foward.

It's is tapped to suit a screw in towing eye that can be found in any modern car (see wreckers). Just screw it in when needed.