Towbar

[AndreiC]

Do people have a recommendation for a good quality towbar for an early model Mooney? When I bought my 70E model a year ago it came without one, and I made a makeshift one using hardware store pipe. It works fine, but I found that every time I use it I end up with serious shoulder pain afterwards. Must be something related to the fact that it is too short (I wanted it to fit in the baggage compartment) so the angle I push on it is not quite right.

Or if anyone wants to sell me one of their older ones, if they recommend it...

[ArtVandelay]

I use this one, 2 pieces so it fits in baggage area, but it would slip out so I added the 4” of threaded pipe and cap to prevent it from slipping.


It’s almost 4’ in length.

[Fly Boomer]

44 minutes ago, ArtVandelay said:

I use this one, 2 pieces so it fits in baggage area, but it would slip out so I added the 4” of threaded pipe and cap to prevent it from slipping.

I have a collapsible one like yours.  How is the pipe nipple held in the tube of the tow bar?

[LANCECASPER]

Do people have a recommendation for a good quality towbar for an early model Mooney? When I bought my 70E model a year ago it came without one, and I made a makeshift one using hardware store pipe. It works fine, but I found that every time I use it I end up with serious shoulder pain afterwards. Must be something related to the fact that it is too short (I wanted it to fit in the baggage compartment) so the angle I push on it is not quite right.
Or if anyone wants to sell me one of their older ones, if they recommend it...

If you wanted the best quality towbar, here you go: https://redlineaviation.com/ul-hand-tow-bar/
I have another towbar in outstanding condition that came from Mooney with the Acclaim (OEM equipment). I'd sell that for $100 plus shipping



 

[Rick Junkin]

16 minutes ago, LANCECASPER said:

If you wanted the best quality towbar, here you go: https://redlineaviation.com/ul-hand-tow-bar/

I have one in outstanding condition that came from Mooney with the Acclaim. I'd sell that for $100 plus shipping

 

Do I understand that Mooney shipped the Acclaim with a Redline towbar and you’ll sell that for $100? Or do you mean you’ll sell a different Mooney-provided towbar for $100?

[LANCECASPER]

1 minute ago, Rick Junkin said:

Do I understand that Mooney shipped the Acclaim with a Redline towbar and you’ll sell that for $100? Or do you mean you’ll sell a different Mooney-provided towbar for $100?

I corrected the post.

[Rick Junkin]

1 minute ago, LANCECASPER said:

I corrected the post.

Dang, I was going to jump on that if Andrei didn’t. 

[ArtVandelay]

I have a collapsible one like yours.  How is the pipe nipple held in the tube of the tow bar?

JB weld.

[PT20J]

I bought the Redline. I like it a lot. Not for CBs though. But I learned from my wife's uncle who framed a stock certificate he owned from a company that went bust and across it he had written "Always buy quality" as a reminder.

[Hank]

No idea what my C left the factory with. What I have is collapsible rather than folding, and I think it came from Chief--the tag disappeared when I powder coated it from rusty blue to a burgundy that almost matches the lower fuselage. 

[BDPetersen]

When the battery on my tug let me down I resorted to the factory towbar to pull mine out of the hangar against a very slight ramp upslope. In the midst of a hard pull the bar slipped out of the nose gear and sent me sprawling and cursing. Note to self: use the towbar that latches on from both sides. Or fix the tug.

[Skates97]

9 hours ago, PT20J said:

I bought the Redline. I like it a lot. Not for CBs though. But I learned from my wife's uncle who framed a stock certificate he owned from a company that went bust and across it he had written "Always buy quality" as a reminder.

A good friend used to say "Buy the best and cry once." 

[EricJ]

3 hours ago, BDPetersen said:

When the battery on my tug let me down I resorted to the factory towbar to pull mine out of the hangar against a very slight ramp upslope. In the midst of a hard pull the bar slipped out of the nose gear and sent me sprawling and cursing. Note to self: use the towbar that latches on from both sides. Or fix the tug.

Put a very slight bend in it so the angle is just under 90 degrees and it won't do that.    Mine put me on my butt the first time I used it, so I bent it with a bench vise and no trouble since.

[DonMuncy]

I have the factory bar with a slightly off-set angle and it dumped me on my rear once.

So I built one that does not do it.

[Ragsf15e]

I thought mine was bent right but I also ended up on my butt cursing.  Welded a short tube in the end so it now goes all the way through the nose wheel and then there’s a hole drilled through it that I insert a large cotter pin. Very similar to what @ArtVandelay posted.

[AndreiC]

Right now I am debating between the Bogert towbar (available from Spruce for $275) and the Redline one ($260 + shipping). I’ve read great things about both. The former has the advantage of being available soon, while the latter they say it takes 4-6 weeks. 
 

Anyone able to comment on what they would choose between the two?

[kortopates]

2 hours ago, AndreiC said:

Right now I am debating between the Bogert towbar (available from Spruce for $275) and the Redline one ($260 + shipping). I’ve read great things about both. The former has the advantage of being available soon, while the latter they say it takes 4-6 weeks. 
 

Anyone able to comment on what they would choose between the two?

I own the Bogert and really think its the best option because it easily is attached and locks into place (without reaching the nose wheel), takes up very little space and is light being made out of aluminum.  

[Pinecone]

7 hours ago, Skates97 said:

A good friend used to say "Buy the best and cry once." 

In the long range shooting world it is "Buy once, cry once."

[Pinecone]

I have used the Bogart or a clone on Pipers and Cessnas and did not like them.  They do not always latch closed or stay latched. 

 

[Fly Boomer]

4 hours ago, kortopates said:

I own the Bogert and really think its the best option because it easily is attached and locks into place (without reaching the nose wheel), takes up very little space and is light being made out of aluminum.  

Bogert lists 80 airplanes, but not Mooney.

https://bogertaviation.com/collections/bogi-bars-aircraft-tow-bars-and-tow-bar-accessories

EDIT:  Found it!  I guess Mooney is below 80th in popularity.

https://bogertaviation.com/products/bogi-bars-nose-wheel-aircraft?_pos=3&_sid=adb3c6339&_ss=r

[kortopates]

23 minutes ago, Pinecone said:

I have used the Bogart or a clone on Pipers and Cessnas and did not like them.  They do not always latch closed or stay latched. 

 

Bogerts attach very differently to Cessna's and Pipers than they do to the Mooney's making a much more secure attachment with a Mooney; and the only tow bar that inserts into both sides of the nose wheel tube. Been using it over a decade and have no such experience with not staying latched on a Mooney.

[hammdo]

I have Bogarts and it is flawless for my Mooney…

-Don

[Pinecone]

Thanks for the input.

[hubcap]

18 hours ago, hammdo said:

I have Bogarts and it is flawless for my Mooney…

-Don

^^^^^THIS^^^^^

I have the Bogert and could not ask for a better solution. I have never had an issue.

[Echo]

On 4/9/2024 at 2:24 PM, Pinecone said:

I have used the Bogart or a clone on Pipers and Cessnas and did not like them.  They do not always latch closed or stay latched. 

 

The Bogart Towbar is flawless.  It stays connected when you need it and it "retracts" into a very compact lightweight bar when you travel.  The padded double handle is simple, but elegant.  This bar is pricey, but it is just flat out awesome in form and function.  I LOVE MINE and wish I had gotten one WAY earlier than I did.