Standard Towing Heads
The Standard Towing Head is a robust solution for pulling polyethylene pipe with wall thicknesses ranging from SDR9 to SDR21. Designed for simplicity and strength, the towing head is inserted into the pipe and secured by turning the eyebolt — this action draws a cone into four toothed segments that bite into the pipe wall, creating a powerful mechanical grip. The harder the pull, the tighter the grip — delivering exceptional holding strength even under extreme tension. Custom variants for alternative materials and wall thicknesses are available on request.
Eyebolt
At the heart of every Brewis towing head is a specially forged, one-piece high-tensile steel eyebolt — a critical component designed for maximum strength and reliability. Unlike welded alternatives used by other manufacturers, our forged eyebolts deliver superior performance under load and eliminate weak points. When it comes to trenchless pulls, don’t risk failure with inferior copies — trust the original that sets the standard.
Features of the Brewis Standard Towing Head
The Brewis Standard Towing Head is engineered for maximum performance, featuring a single-piece high-tensile drop-forged steel eyebolt for superior strength over standard alternatives. Its proven tooth profile ensures powerful, secure grip during pulling operations. Available in sizes from 20mm to 355mm — and larger through our Heavy-Duty range — it supports all major pipe standards including IPS and JIS. Designed to accommodate SDR 11 to 17.6 as standard, with custom options available on request, all popular sizes are held in stock for rapid dispatch.
Benefit Of Service
History of the Standard Towing Head
The Standard Towing Head was invented by Rod Brewis on 27th September 1984 as a result of a conversation about a contractor who had been seen trying to dead insert 63mm PE pipe into an old cast iron main.
Disillusioned with the timber hitch in the winch cable on his JCB slipping off the PE halfway through his pull, he resorted to using a length of fencing wire slipped through the flow holes of a live head, knotted and attached to the winch hook. Although the live head was held in the PE only by the friction and wedging action of expanded O-rings, there was sufficient grip to pull in fifty metres or more of pipe. “What they need is something like a live head but with much more grip” was the simple statement which resulted in the product which has become an icon in the no-dig industry.
The use of O-rings to retain the grippers, the tooth profile, the configuration and manner of operation, and even its name have all been adopted as the industry standard. Its design is such that it will grip a range of wall thicknesses (normally SDR11 to SDR17.6 in Europe) but it is neither pressure tight nor mud tight. Available in sizes up to a 630mm in diameter, the Brewis Standard Towing Head has been the workhorse of the industry since its invention.
1.Consultation
2.Design & Work
3.Complete & Maintenance
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Brewis Engineering Ltd
Unit 4, Handlemaker Road
Frome, UK, BA11 4RW
sales@brewisengineering.co.uk
Mon – Fri 8:30 – 16:30 GMT
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