Aircraft Tug Poll

[SkyBound]

Thank you for taking the time to share your opinion.

[bumper]

I only have a slight uphill into my hangar, but when there's snow and ice, tugs that use traction don't work so well. I use an electric winch and rope on a rolling platform that allows me to move it from one side of a 60 X 72 foot hangar to the other. It anchors to a couple or removable hooks in the concrete floor. It will easily pull my planes up and over an ice berm. Once inside the hangar, the level floor allows me use a hand tow bar to back the Mooney into its spot. The Husky A1-B has lift rings so I can hoist it up out of the way (1 ton overhead electric chain hoist for rings and a cheap Harbor Freight wire rope hoist for the tail) to get the Mooney in or out).

 

[DrBill]

I have an 8 in rise over 12 feet from apron to hangar.  I use a Harborfreight 400 pound "hoist" mounted to the floor as a winch.

Works great for 8 years now.

BILL

[Awful_Charlie]

I've got a gas powertow, as without permanent electricity in the hangar the electric options weren't going to be practical.  It works, but struggles when the surface is slippery, eg after more than half an inch of snow, or over the grass when it is wet.  It is compounded when needing to steer, as anything other than a gentle turn when pulling means lifting the drive off the ground.

 

If there was an alternative to the long arms stretching out then it might be better - I'm considering trying to put something together, but need a good welder and a bunch of steel stock, as well as actually working out how to do it!

[Marauder]

I have an 8 in rise over 12 feet from apron to hangar. I use a Harborfreight 400 pound "hoist" mounted to the floor as a winch. Works great for 8 years now. BILL

Bill -- do you use the tail hook to pull it in? Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[aviatoreb]

I only have a slight uphill into my hangar, but when there's snow and ice, tugs that use traction don't work so well. I use an electric winch and rope on a rolling platform that allows me to move it from one side of a 60 X 72 foot hangar to the other. It anchors to a couple or removable hooks in the concrete floor. It will easily pull my planes up and over an ice berm. Once inside the hangar, the level floor allows me use a hand tow bar to back the Mooney into its spot. The Husky A1-B has lift rings so I can hoist it up out of the way (1 ton overhead electric chain hoist for rings and a cheap Harbor Freight wire rope hoist for the tail) to get the Mooney in or out).

 

 

Nice playground in there!

[Seth]

I've got a gas powertow, as without permanent electricity in the hangar the electric options weren't going to be practical.  It works, but struggles when the surface is slippery, eg after more than half an inch of snow, or over the grass when it is wet.  It is compounded when needing to steer, as anything other than a gentle turn when pulling means lifting the drive off the ground.

 

If there was an alternative to the long arms stretching out then it might be better - I'm considering trying to put something together, but need a good welder and a bunch of steel stock, as well as actually working out how to do it!

 

If it helps, I hava powertow EZ 35 (former version of your power tow) and the long arms with the spring being old didn't like to stay fastented, so I have a bungie cord wrapped around the top of it once I hook it on near the landing gear to give added pressure and keep it connected to the airplane.  Low cost, added reliability solution - an no duct tape invovled!

 

-Seth

[DaV8or]

Nice playground in there!

 

Hmmm... Needs a boat. His work is not finished.

 

 

 

It is quite lovely. I am very jealous... errrr.

[DaV8or]

I have the Sidewinder and I do recommend it, but when it comes to recommending a tug, or tow to someone, I guess it would depend on the conditions the tug was to be used in. Serious incline, snow and wet are areas that the Sidewinder isn't all that great. If these things were the issue, I would then recommend a used lawn tractor, or a Quad to get the plane in and out. The winch idea seems to work for folks and it is economical, so I might go this way too. The Quad would be the most fun though! You could use it to scoot around the airport too.

[Alan Fox]

I use a manual towbar for the Mooney , But if I have to drag it across the airport I "borrow" my IAs quad..........The beech is too honkin heavy to drag with a manual bar......Have a lug bug if needed....Both spots are in a place where I can taxi it into place , but if the grass is wet , its a pain in the ass pushing it back....

[clh]

We just use an old lawn tractor that we bought for $50 about ten years ago....   They are the most popular tugs around here.  

[DonMuncy]

I probably have too much time on my hands. I have multiple tow systems.

1. I carry the short collapsible tow bar in the plane so I can move it, if necessary, at my destination, but I don't remember the last time I used it.

2.  I have a longer hand tow bar with an "anti-slip" mechanism, I use to pull the plane out of the hangar. Because it is slightly downhill and it is easier than unplugging the Battery Minder and rolling out  #3 below. 

3.  I use my (self designed and built) battery powered unit to push the pane back into the hangar. Because it is slightly uphill and just barely more than my physical capability. It moves at just about the right speed to move the plane in, and is quite maneuverable for lining up on the stripes into the hangar.

4.  If I need to move the plane more than 20 yards or so, I have a garden tractor with a ball, and a longer tow bar. It will tow the plane faster than I can walk, but the ability maneuver it backwards into the hangar is a PITA. I almost never use the tractor and keeping its battery on the Battery Minder and keeping fresh gas in it is also a PITA. 

[drapo]

I own a Minimax electric tug, powered by a DeWalt drill. Very good performer on my uphill tie-down when there is no or minimal snow or ice.

Price is good, paid around $700 for it, http://www.minimaxtugs.com/Mooney_Tug_p/010mooney.htm

[kmyfm20s]

I have a few depending on my mood. I pull my plane out by hand with a tow bar or if I'm feeling lazy I use an electric tow, i been pretty lazy lately. To put it back in the hanger I use a floor mounted winch which make it easier for me clear the wing tips from hitting the sides.

[minimax]

The Minimax tire driven tug for a 4 or 6 cylinder Mooney is one of the best on the market. They got a great write-up in the April print edition of Aviation Consumer magazine, page 10 and 11. Also in AOPA May edition.

 

Minimax article.pdf

[Marauder]

The Minimax tire driven tug for a 4 or 6 cylinder Mooney is one of the best on the market. They got a great write-up in the April print edition of Aviation Consumer magazine, page 10 and 11. Also in AOPA May edition.

And you of course don't have any association with Minimax -- we appreciate full disclosure here...

[rainman]

I don't know how to show it in the post, but if you look in my gallery, you'll see the tug I made from an old riding mower with the deck removed. I just had a couple of trailer hitch knobs welded on the front and back for push/pull ops. Works great and cost about $100 total to get it done. Ray(RAINMAN)

[Seth]

After using Alex's RedLine Sidewidner again, I may have to switch my vote - for getting in and out fo the hanger precisely, the sidewinder may be the way to go.

 

-Seth

[Flyin'There]

There are reviews (search: minimax tug reviews) on other forums discussing problems with Minimax and their tugs.  There's a Minimax video review on YouTube (www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OSBMS_D8_Y) showing several of the issues.  I'll go the used tractor mower turned aircraft tower route.

[Bravoman]

I have the nose draggers in electric and gas. The electric one came with the mooney. Also have an aero tow e-200 that I use one the fixed gear toga only. All are excellent in my opinion. The e-200 would probably be a tad underpowered for a Bravo if any kind of grade or floor lip had to be traversed

[DrBill]

Bill -- do you use the tail hook to pull it in? Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Yes.

When I installed it I had a Beech Sundowner and I tested the winch by chocking the mains and the winch pulled the plane over the chocks.   Good enough for me...

Since then I've broken the winch cable and replaced it with larger and longer cable. 

No further problems.

Bill

[gsxrpilot]

Toyota Tacoma with 8 ft. custom tow bar.

 

 

[Hank]

There's no option for "Manual Towbar, collapsible, fits in baggage compartment when traveling." Powered by self, requires frequent charging, sometimes unable to push aircraft to desired uphill location, and may require assistance to clear door rails at hangar door."

That's what I use.

[Houman]

If it helps, I hava powertow EZ 35 (former version of your power tow) and the long arms with the spring being old didn't like to stay fastented, so I have a bungie cord wrapped around the top of it once I hook it on near the landing gear to give added pressure and keep it connected to the airplane.  Low cost, added reliability solution - an no duct tape invovled!

 

-Seth

I do exactly the same with my EZ 35, it works with the bungie cord tightly rapped around the bars just an inch from the connecting part to the nose gear...