Abstract: A cushioning pad for attachment to a sling belt of a towing sling and for positioning between the belt and the bumper of a towed vehicle. The cushioning pad is an elongated sleeve adapted for slidable attachment to the sling belt and includes a bumper retainer at one end of the sleeve for preventing the bumper of the towed vehicle from passing over the sleeve upon a forward lurch of the vehicle. A slide preventor prevents the sliding of the sleeve upon the sling belt when the towing sling is being utilized to tow the vehicle.

Abstract: A cable engaging apparatus is disclosed for a drum having cable spooled thereon, which forces the cable as it is wound onto the spool, into axially adjacent positions with respect to preceding portions of the cable on the drum. The apparatus comprises a roller means having a plurality of resilient discs mounted coaxially thereon. The roller is mounted with its axis approximately parallel to the axis of the drum. The circumferential surfaces of the discs are placed in resilient engagement with the cable spooled on the drum, applying an axially directed guide force to the cable as it is wound onto the drum.