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Pipe Towing Heads

Pipe towing heads from 32mm to 355mm, connecting new PE pipe to the pulling equipment

  • Sizes from 32mm to 355mm
  • Standard or mud-tight versions
  • Matched to your pipe diameter and SDR
  • Available for sale or hire
  • Nationwide delivery

A pipe towing head is the connector between the pulling equipment and the new PE pipe going in. It fits into the end of the pipe, and the rig pulls on the head rather than on the pipe wall itself, so the load is taken where the pipe can carry it. We sell and hire towing heads from 32mm to 355mm, in standard and mud-tight versions.

How a Towing Head Connects to the Pipe

The head goes into the open end of the PE pipe and its grippers bear against the inside wall. The harder the rig pulls, the tighter they bite, so the connection holds for the length of the pull. At the other end is the eye the bursting rod, the mole or the winch rope shackles onto.

Pulling on a bare pipe end is what a towing head exists to avoid. Take the load on the pipe wall and it stretches, necks and can be damaged beyond use before the pull is finished.

Standard or Mud-Tight?

A standard towing head suits general pipe pulling and trenchless installation, where the bore is reasonably clean and a bit of ingress does not matter.

A mud-tight head seals the pipe end as it pulls, so the bore stays clean through ground water, drilling mud and slurry. Take the head off at the far pit and the pipe is clean inside, which saves cleaning it out before you commission it. Ask for mud-tight if the pipe you are installing has to be clean when it arrives.

Choosing the Right Towing Head

Two things decide which head you need: the outside diameter of your pipe, and its SDR. SDR is the ratio of that outside diameter to the wall thickness, so two 90mm pipes at different SDRs have different bores, and a head sized for one will not seat properly in the other.

Tell us the pipe diameter and the SDR and we will match the head to it.

Where the Towing Head Sits in the Job

A towing head is never the whole job. It is the last link in an assembly, and which assembly depends on the method.

Pipe bursting with a Grundoburst runs rod, then bursting head, then expander, then towing head, then the new pipe. The rod pulls the lot back through the old pipeline in one pass.

Installing with an impact mole runs mole, then towing head, then the new pipe or duct, so the product follows the tool through the bore it has just made.

Pulling with a Grundowinch runs rope, then towing head, then the pipe, for sliplining and for drawing PE pipe into an open bore.

Common Questions

What is a pipe towing head?
A pipe towing head is the connector between the pulling equipment and the new pipe being installed. It fits into the end of the PE pipe and takes the pulling load through its grippers rather than through the pipe wall, so the rig can pull the pipe into place without stretching or damaging it.
Is a pulling head the same as a towing head?
A pulling head and a towing head are the same component. You will also see it called a tow head, a pipe pulling head or a PE pipe towing head, depending on the supplier and the trade. All of them describe the fitting that connects the new pipe to whatever is pulling it through.
How do I choose the right size towing head?
Match the head to the outside diameter of your pipe and to its SDR. SDR is the ratio of outside diameter to wall thickness, so two pipes of the same diameter at different SDRs have different bores and need different heads. We hold sizes from 32mm to 355mm.
What is the difference between a standard and a mud-tight towing head?
A standard towing head suits general pipe pulling where some ingress does not matter. A mud-tight head seals the pipe end during the pull, keeping soil and slurry out. Mud-tight is the one to ask for on potable water work or where you are pulling through wet or collapsed ground.
Can a towing head be used with an impact mole?
A towing head can be used with an impact mole, connecting your new pipe or duct to the back of the tool so it follows the mole through the bore on the same pass. The same head also works with a pipe burster or a winch.
What does SDR mean when ordering a towing head?
SDR stands for Standard Dimension Ratio, the pipe's outside diameter divided by its wall thickness. A lower SDR means a thicker wall and a smaller bore. Because the head seats inside the pipe, the SDR decides the fit, which is why we ask for it alongside the diameter.
Do you sell towing heads as well as hire them?
We sell and hire pipe towing heads across the full 32mm to 355mm range. Contractors who pull pipe regularly often buy the sizes they use most and hire the occasional one-off, and we can quote for either.

Buy or Hire Pipe Towing Heads

Tell us the pipe diameter and SDR you are working with and we will match the head to it. We offer towing heads for sale or hire with good stock availability, fast lead times and delivery nationwide. For towing heads or any other products in our trenchless technology range, please contact your nearest depot.

Towing Head Sizes

Towing heads are held to suit standard PE pipe outside diameters. Each size is matched to the SDR of the pipe it goes into, so tell us both when you order. Larger sizes and non-standard SDRs can be sourced on request.

32mm, 40mm, 50mm, 55mm, 63mm, 90mm, 100mm, 105mm, 110mm, 125mm, 140mm, 160mm, 180mm, 200mm, 225mm, 250mm, 280mm, 315mm and 355mm.

Standard and mud-tight versions are available across the range.

Questions? Talk to SEL about Pipe Towing Heads

Our team is responsive, experienced and happy to help.

The equipment that pulls the towing head, and the pipe behind it