Tow ropes are useful instruments for getting automobiles unstuck whereas off-roading, however Toyota might have discovered a approach to enhance them.

In a patent software revealed by america Patent and Trademark Workplace (USPTO) Aug. 1, 2023, Toyota describes a retractable tow rope that rolls out from a reel put in on a car—a bit like a winch.

Toyota retractable tow rope patent picture

Such a system would enable drivers to regulate the size of the tow rope by reeling it in or out, eliminating slack and creating the stress wanted to tow one other car. With standard tow ropes, slack is taken out by driving the towing car ahead till the rope achieves rigidity, however this is not at all times doable in tight areas, Toyota notes within the software.

As described within the patent software, the tow rope, which Toyota says could be both heavy-duty material like nylon and polyester or a metal cable, has notches for adjustability. These can be utilized to safe the rope to the tow hitch of the towing car, as soon as it is reeled out to the optimum size, whereas a hook or different connector on the finish of the rope is fixed to the car being towed.

Toyota retractable tow rope patent picture

Within the software, Toyota says the reel would probably be housed in a rear wheelwell. This does not appear to be the best location to entry, however the software additionally states that the reel might be designed to be retrofitted to current automobiles, and even to be detachable.

Patent purposes do not at all times preview production-ready options, however the timing of this one is fascinating. It is surfacing simply as Toyota is including Trailhunter variants of its off-road fashions, catering to overlanding lovers. The automaker first confirmed a Tundra Trailhunter idea on the 2022 SEMA present, and confirmed earlier this yr {that a} Trailhunter grade will likely be a part of the redesigned 2024 Tacoma lineup. The Land Cruiser can also be returning to the U.S. for the 2024 mannequin yr, offering yet one more potential software.