cnoe Posted August 25, 2015 Report Posted August 25, 2015 After reading about the "cordless drill" tugs on a recent thread I thought I'd post a couple pics of my tug solution. Having used the lawn tractor option with some success I was looking for something a bit quieter, but didn't need something as substantial as a golf cart. An elderly family member left me with this. I beefed up the batteries and installed new innertubes but the drivetrain is all stock. It'll pull my J 300' to the fuel dock and back but still needs a few feet of momentum to roll over the sliding-door tracks. 2 years in service and counting. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk 1 Quote
cnoe Posted August 25, 2015 Author Report Posted August 25, 2015 ... and there are lots of these used personal scooters available for sale at flea markets, Craigs list etc. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Quote
Raptor05121 Posted August 25, 2015 Report Posted August 25, 2015 That is really neat. Can you expand on the power delivery? Quote
Guest Posted August 25, 2015 Report Posted August 25, 2015 One of my customers built a tug from an old snow blower. He removed the blower portion and built arms similar the the one on a Power Tow model. It works quite well. Clarence Quote
Shadrach Posted August 25, 2015 Report Posted August 25, 2015 I think it's a great bit of repurposing, but I'm not sure how I'd feel actually using it. Probaly something like this... https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=csuZHyW-iGI 1 Quote
Yetti Posted August 25, 2015 Report Posted August 25, 2015 most of the wheel chairs use motors like this http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/221491958887?ul_noapp=true&chn=ps&lpid=82    I have a couple of these. The come in right and left models. Quote
cnoe Posted August 25, 2015 Author Report Posted August 25, 2015 Unlike a wheelchair the scooter has a single 24V motor driven through a direct-drive transmission. It runs forward or backwards in variable speed. Without the plane in tow it'll run faster than I can walk for more than a mile. Keep in mind these are designed to transport individuals like Marauder's gals. BTW, love the Costanza reference but I roll faster than that WITH the plane. I gave up being self-conscious years ago and have no qualms about driving down to the FBO on the scooter, you just have to look like you OWN IT! Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk 1 Quote
cnoe Posted August 25, 2015 Author Report Posted August 25, 2015 Tow speed shown on attached video... Video.MOV Quote
peevee Posted August 25, 2015 Report Posted August 25, 2015 I was going to say it would be nice to be able to flip it around the other way, then I saw the bolt on the front, nice. Quote
jetdriven Posted August 25, 2015 Report Posted August 25, 2015 When u get old and lose your medical you can still rider around Walmart. 3 Quote
aviatoreb Posted August 25, 2015 Report Posted August 25, 2015 No - no - no.  Electric wheel chair is all wrong.  Here is the world record fastest "mobility scooter" record of 107mph.  Something to feel proud of operating around the airport  Better yet, here is a wheel chair to get excited about. Turbine powered baby! Quote
22 others Posted August 25, 2015 Report Posted August 25, 2015 Man, you really have to check your pride at the door with this one... but it does pass the cheap test. I'll keep me eye on craigslist. Quote
AndyFromCB Posted August 25, 2015 Report Posted August 25, 2015 How about hitting the gym a few of times a week instead Might allow you to keep your medical longer, too... Quote
aviatoreb Posted August 25, 2015 Report Posted August 25, 2015 How about hitting the gym a few of times a week instead Might allow you to keep your medical longer, too... Â How can you say go to the gym with an avatar face like that? 1 Quote
cnoe Posted August 25, 2015 Author Report Posted August 25, 2015 How about hitting the gym a few of times a week instead Might allow you to keep your medical longer, too... Â Hell if I worked out any more I might just blow away. Problem is I'm the runt of the litter at 5'6" and 135# so it's more like the plane moves me rather than me moving it. Â I do okay on level ground but anything steeper than that and I'm just wearing out my sneakers as the inertia exceeds traction. Â 22others is right about "checking your pride at the door", but now that I've overcome the stigma of pulling my J around with the scooter I'm now able to drive the loaners around inside Walmart with my head held high. Â Just wish I could get my hands on one of those turbine models! Quote
Guest Posted August 25, 2015 Report Posted August 25, 2015 A busted knee from a fall while pulling your plane could ruin your flying days as quickly as anything. A tug is a cheap investment. Clarence Quote
Raptor05121 Posted August 26, 2015 Report Posted August 26, 2015 A busted knee from a fall while pulling your plane could ruin your flying days as quickly as anything. A tug is a cheap investment. Clarence A busted knee from a ground-level fall? WTH? Quote
Marauder Posted August 26, 2015 Report Posted August 26, 2015 A busted knee from a ground-level fall? WTH? Yep, I got lucky when I did my fall. Pulling on the tow bar, hit a patch of ice and my knee slammed into the nose truss. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Quote
carusoam Posted August 26, 2015 Report Posted August 26, 2015 A picture of my wicked expensive Red Line tow bar is coming soon... (Say that with ya best Boston accent) It's attached to an old lawn tractor for CB credit. The slope to the hangar is too great. It takes two of me to put the O away. Three if the tanks are full. I've tried working out in the gym. But, my chance of doubling my strength is not likely to happen. Best regards, -a- Quote
Hank Posted August 26, 2015 Report Posted August 26, 2015 Guess I should be happy with my two-piece towbar. It used to be rusty blue and had zero problems other than brown spots on both hands after using it. So I had it all nicely powder coated a dark red to match the plane. Now the durn thing slips out of the wheel all the durn time! I'm about to start grinding the powder coating off . . . I forget where it came from, it had part of a sticker on it before coating. Pull the pin and it collapses inside itself for transport. I had one of their catalogs once and saw my towbar still there. What was the name? Seems it had a vintage aircraft (Champ?) on the cover. Quote
carusoam Posted August 26, 2015 Report Posted August 26, 2015 Hank, You'll love the RedLine design. It has a quirky split piece that expands (twist,twist of the hand tool) to lock it in place. That part probably comes from an industrial catalog... Good time to update the beloved already owned tool. Best regards, -a- Quote
Guest Posted August 26, 2015 Report Posted August 26, 2015 A busted knee from a ground-level fall? WTH? Yes, it can and does happen. Clarence Quote
ArtVandelay Posted August 26, 2015 Report Posted August 26, 2015 Guess I should be happy with my two-piece towbar. It used to be rusty blue and had zero problems other than brown spots on both hands after using it. So I had it all nicely powder coated a dark red to match the plane. Now the durn thing slips out of the wheel all the durn time! I'm about to start grinding the powder coating off . . . I forget where it came from, it had part of a sticker on it before coating. Pull the pin and it collapses inside itself for transport. I had one of their catalogs once and saw my towbar still there. What was the name? Seems it had a vintage aircraft (Champ?) on the cover. This is what I use, you can get them from spruce: http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/pspages/deluxe_towbars2.php?clickkey=66882 Quote
Hank Posted August 26, 2015 Report Posted August 26, 2015 This is what I use, you can get them from spruce: http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/pspages/deluxe_towbars2.php?clickkey=66882 Â Yep, that's it, but mine came from somewhere else. Good design, works well. Quote
aviatoreb Posted August 27, 2015 Report Posted August 27, 2015 Yep, I got lucky when I did my fall. Pulling on the tow bar, hit a patch of ice and my knee slammed into the nose truss. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk  I had a hangar neighbor who fell backwards and banged his head hard on the ground hard - straight behind him. He said he saw stars - but luckily no real damage.  I wear those shoe spikes in icy conditions before I go anywhere near the airplane outside the hangar, for that reason. 1 Quote
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