7 Braided Flat Tow Safety Cables That Full-Time Nomads Swear By

You’re cruising down a long mountain grade, the RV and your towed car handling it like a single unit. Suddenly, you feel a jolt and see the unthinkable in your rearview mirror: your tow bar has failed. In that heart-stopping moment, the only thing between your 4,000-pound car and a catastrophic accident is a pair of thin steel cables. This isn’t just a hypothetical; it’s the scenario that makes safety cables the most critical, and most overlooked, piece of your flat towing setup.

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Why Braided Cables Matter for Flat Towing

Safety cables are your last line of defense. If the tow bar or hitch fails, these cables are designed to keep your towed vehicle attached to your RV, preventing a runaway car. It’s a simple job, but the way they’re constructed makes all the difference.

This is where braided steel comes in. Unlike a solid chain that can snap without warning, braided cables are made of many small strands of steel woven together. This design provides incredible strength and flexibility. More importantly, it fails gracefully. A braided cable will start to fray long before it breaks, giving you a clear visual warning that it’s time for a replacement.

Most quality cables are also vinyl-coated. This isn’t just for looks. The coating protects the steel from road grime, salt, and moisture, preventing rust and corrosion that could weaken the cable from the inside out. It also saves your hands from nasty pokes from stray steel strands during hookup.

You’ll generally find two styles: coiled and straight. Coiled cables use a spring-like design to automatically take up slack, keeping them from dragging on the pavement. Straight cables are simpler and less expensive, but you have to be mindful to route them so they don’t drag and wear through.

Roadmaster 68" Coiled Cables: Top Nomad Pick

Walk through any RV park and you’ll see these cables everywhere. Roadmaster has built a reputation on rock-solid, reliable towing gear, and their 68-inch coiled safety cables are a prime example. They hit the sweet spot for a huge range of RV and toad combinations.

The coiled design is a major practical advantage. It keeps the cables suspended between the two vehicles, well off the asphalt where they could be ground down over thousands of miles. The 68-inch length provides enough slack for sharp turns without being so long that it droops. The real standout feature, though, is the drop-forged steel hooks with spring-loaded safety latches. These aren’t cheap, stamped pieces of metal; they are incredibly strong and the latches ensure they won’t bounce off on a bumpy road.

Blue Ox 7-Foot Straight Cables for Durability

Blue Ox is another titan in the towing world, known for heavy-duty, over-engineered products. Their 7-foot straight safety cables are for nomads who prefer simplicity and raw strength. If you’re towing a heavier vehicle like a Jeep Wrangler or a pickup truck, the 10,000-pound capacity of these cables provides serious peace of mind.

Some full-timers prefer straight cables because there’s no "springiness" to fight against when you’re hooking up. The extra length is also a huge benefit for rigs with long tow bar stingers or significant drop/rise hitches. The main tradeoff is that you have to manage the slack yourself. A common trick is to twist the cables a few times or use a bungee cord to keep them from dragging, but for many, the trade for unmatched durability is well worth it.

CURT 80130 Vinyl-Coated Cables: Great Value

Let’s be clear: "value" doesn’t mean "cheap" when it comes to safety equipment. CURT is a massive, reputable manufacturer, and their 80130 cables offer a fantastic balance of safety and affordability. They check all the essential boxes without the premium price tag of some other brands.

You still get the vinyl-coated, braided steel construction and S-hooks with safety latches. The capacity is typically around 7,500 pounds, which is more than enough for the vast majority of towed cars. This is the perfect choice for someone who wants proven, reliable safety without breaking the bank. It’s a workhorse product that does its job without any fuss.

Demco 60-Inch Coiled Cables for Easy Hookup

Demco’s approach often centers on user-friendly design, and their safety cables are no exception. The 60-inch coiled cables are a great solution for more compact setups, like a gas Class A towing a small SUV. The shorter length means the coil stays tighter and higher off the ground, virtually eliminating any chance of dragging.

Where these often shine is in the small details. The hooks are easy to operate, even with cold hands or while wearing gloves. When you’re connecting and disconnecting your toad almost daily, these little ergonomic improvements make a big difference. It’s about reducing the friction of the full-time travel lifestyle, one small task at a time.

NSA RV Ready Brute Cables for Integrated Setups

This is a more specialized pick, but crucial for a growing number of nomads. NSA RV Products makes the popular Ready Brute Elite tow bar, which has a brilliant, fully mechanical surge braking system built right in. Their Ready Brute cables are designed to work as part of that integrated system.

If you own one of these tow bars, using the manufacturer-matched cables is the smartest move. The lengths and connection points are engineered to work perfectly with the tow bar’s geometry and the braking mechanism. Trying to mix and match components in an integrated system is asking for trouble. Sticking with the NSA cables ensures the entire setup—towing, safety, and braking—functions as a single, cohesive unit, just as the engineers intended.

Reese Towpower 74057 Heavy-Duty Cables

Reese is a legacy brand built on no-nonsense strength. Their Towpower line is all about function over flash, and the 74057 safety cables embody that philosophy. These are typically straight, heavy-gauge cables designed for people who prioritize sheer toughness.

With a 7,500-pound capacity, these cables are built to handle demanding situations. The vinyl coating is thick, the braided steel is robust, and the hooks feel substantial in your hand. This is the set you buy when you’re towing a half-ton truck behind your diesel pusher and you want zero doubts about your safety connection. It’s simple, strong, and reliable.

Hopkins 43345 Tangle-Free Coiled Cables

Every RVer who has used coiled cables, air hoses, or power cords knows the frustration of a tangled, kinky mess. Hopkins directly addresses this pain point with their coiled safety cables. They are specifically designed to resist kinking and tangling, holding their coil shape better over time.

This might seem like a small thing, but it’s a significant quality-of-life improvement. It makes the daily ritual of hooking up and unhooking faster and less aggravating. When you’re managing water hoses, power cords, and tow bars, having one less thing to fight with is a genuine win. Hopkins proves that even the most basic equipment can be improved with thoughtful design.

Ultimately, the best safety cables are the ones that match your specific rig, from weight capacity to length. But no matter which brand you choose, they are not a "set it and forget it" item. Before every single trip, take 30 seconds to inspect your cables for frayed strands, check that the latches on your hooks still work, and ensure they are connected securely. That simple habit is the final, and most important, link in your flat towing safety chain.