Tow ropes are a helpful device for getting autos unstuck whereas off-roading, however Toyota could have discovered a means to enhance them.

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

Toyota retractable tow rope patent picture

Such a system would permit drivers to regulate the size of the tow rope by reeling it in or out, eliminating slack and creating the strain wanted to tow one other automobile. With standard tow ropes, slack is taken out by driving the towing automobile ahead till the rope achieves stress, however this is not all the time 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 cloth 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 automobile, as soon as it is reeled out to the optimum size, whereas a hook or different connector on the finish of the rope is mounted to the automobile being towed.

Toyota retractable tow rope patent picture

Within the software, Toyota says the reel would seemingly be housed in a rear wheelwell. This does not look like the simplest location to entry, however the software additionally states that the reel could possibly be designed to be retrofitted to present autos, and even to be detachable.

Patent purposes do not all the time preview production-ready options, however the timing of this one is attention-grabbing. It is surfacing simply as Toyota is including Trailhunter variants of its off-road fashions, catering to overlanding fans. 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 be returning to the U.S. for the 2024 mannequin yr, offering yet one more potential software.