ATV tow bar for my Mooney

[Houman]

Looking for a cheap tow bar to attach to my atv, it seems Aircraft spruce don't have the ones I see my local FBO/fight school use with their ATV...

Canadian winters are tough and my hanger is on the back side of the airport, so I have to tow it couple fundered feets in a very tight spot with a fence just at the wingtip before I can start the engine and taxi it. In summer my little gas powered tow works well, but in winter with the ice and snow it's just not cutting it. On my last flights, the longest and toughest part of the flight is to get the plane out and back in the hanger.

So with that, I have decided to move my ATV from the cottage to the hanger ( I fly much more than use the ATV at the cottage anyway )..

Thanks for links on where I can buy one...

[Guest]

Try a Brackett aircraft TH-5.

Clarence

[DrBill]

My A&P is starting to make some.  They work real nice on my Mooney with his Toro Tractor.

Here's his email.

markhowell165@carolina.rr.com

Bill

[lsearcy]

Bought mine from Bogart. Works great

bogertaviation.com/

[gsxrpilot]

http://mooneyspace.com/gallery/image/36261-towbar/

This is the best Mooney tow bar. It's about $20 in parts from HomeDepot.

 

I believe I used 3/4 inch pipe. You can verify with a short 10" piece to see if it slides easily but not sloppily through the nose gear knuckle.

 

Parts list: 1-10" nipple, 2-90 degree elbows, 2-45 degree elbows, 1-2" nipple, 1-6"nipple, 1-8" nipple, 1-threaded cap, 1-10' pipe.  You can see in the picture how it's put together. A receiver mount two-eyelet (google it) on my truck or ATV makes towing simple. 

 

I slide the 10" nipple through the nose gear and spin the cap on the end. That keeps the tow bar from working it's way loose but allows it to move.

 

After using it for several months, the joints started to work loose so I just added tack welds to each joint. It's solid and works great.

[StinkBug]

If you can give me a sketch with some dimensions on what you need I can give you a quote on making one up. 

[Bob - S50]

Be careful not to damage your nosegear while towing.

 

Bob