Tow (rope?)

Hi Boxer
The best is to get the vehicle back to the nearest road where you local roadside assist can take over (eg NRMA RACV RAA etc). Failing that, a fixed or inflexible coupling between the tower and towee like a metal tube with eyelets that can be shackled to the vehicles is next best. Of all the flexible towing items you mentioned (eg chain, rope, strap, wire) I would use the chain BUT only after I was ceretain I couldn't use either of the first two options.
Cheers
Pete

Boxer

I too would go for the metal rod/pipe. Not sure about the chain though. Wouldn't you want a little bit of stretch so that you don't jerk the towed vehicle everytime you stop/start. A proper tow rope would be my choice after the inflexible coupling. Just be make sude the driver on the towed vehcicle doesn't drive over it.

R.

My grandfather used a hunk of rope as my father did for years. A hunk of rope does me as well.

I use an old Truck Winch Strap Tie Down. It's a long flat thick strap rated to 9 tonne.

anything that wont break. At work we use winch extension straps coz they are rated and they have duel purposees (winch extension,tow strap and bent tie rod straightner but thats another story)

An short snatch strap will get you out of trouble for a short tow failing that use a bar type tow hitch off the ball of the tow vehicle and chained very tightly and securely to the tow vehicle. But your best option if available is the tilt tray N.RMA type setup. I do not know what the legals are in New South so check when you can.
I am going to visit the RTA site to look after this.

Boxer
I use a tow rope made by black rat. 4 metres long with 50% stretch with a breaking strain of 12 tonnes.

A good quality tow rope is the way to go because it has some give. Chain will break if it is jerked hard enough.
Camper

anything that gets you out is suitable.
the hard bit is getting someone who knows how to drive the towed vehicle.
ie doing the braking (if possible) and keeping the tow rope/chain/snatch tight.

towed a mate out of sand once and must admit the snatch strap was best as it had some give in the sand, but on the bitch i would prefer to use the winch strap probably.

In the situation you describe, a snatch strap is fine, as it has some give. A 10metre winch extension strap is also fine.

I tend to avoid anything too rigid like a chain, as you put a lot of stress on the recovery points.

I use a 7 m long piece of rope, poly about 15mm diameter, eye splice in each end. Works fine but you need to have someone in the tow vehicle who knows what they're doing and preferably uhf or cb communications. Just a LOT safer that way