Towing your plane

[gkey]

Maybe I have jumped the gun a bit, but I have ordered a Robotow yesterday without gaining any peer advice. Only afterwards I realized I could have asked the group about what you use to tow your plane. Any happiness vs unhappiness with this particular product?

I have an ordinary towbar that I hook up to my quad at another airport for my other plane, but the quad is more in for repairs and maintenance than anything else (bought secondhand, and now I know why it was so cheap).

I like the Robotow, because it is light and can tow a plane easily 600 feet on one charge. It does not touch the ground, but instead has a drum that pushes down on the front wheel - the new Mellinium version apparently has a 'non-slip' design to the driving drum. It is the only power tower that has a claim to this 'non-slip' effect that I could find. It is important to me, as we get snow/ice up here for 5-6 months in a year.

My neighbour has another type with 2 fat wheels on the ground, hooking onto the plane like a normal towbar, but this thing slips terribly once the tires get any water/snow/ice. It runs on mo-gas, stinks up the hangar and it cost about double the price of the Robotow.

I've never had that problem since I've moved to South Carolina from Ohio. My golf cart works just fine down here! And even now, it's 50 degrees outside -- quite chilly. I feel a need for the Keys or Bahamas Maaan.
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[hharney]

http://www.tulsatowbots.com/faq.html

Here's what my neighboring hanger just bought. This thing is so cool it's unreal. Check out the videos on the website, amazing little unit. Now as for snow and ice ............ well he is going to find out real quick. Company said that they would take it back if he wasn't satisfied.

http://www.powertow.com/40ez1.html

The unit above is really the best tow out there for the money. Yes, it's gas but very simple. It also attaches without having to bend down and kneel on the ground. I don't have this one but wish I did. I have used this type a few times at some FBO's and such.

[WebMaster]

One of my neighbors has a powertow, and it is slick. It also is capable of moving my plane.

However, I don't have one of them. I do have a very long aluminum tow bar, and a lawn tractor, and it works very well.

[gkey]

I looked at Tulsatowbots, or the itowbot as it is also known. Very nice, very cool, very expensive. Had I lived in a warmer/drier climate, this would have been a very strong contender. In my neck of the woods however we have lots af snow/ice, and this unit would not fare well in those conditions (my guess). They actually mention that it is prone to slpping on too smooth surfaces.

That's why I also did not go for the units with their own wheels - they spin when towing on ice - no weight on their wheels. My neighbour has one, and does not like it.

The reason I like the Robotow is that it uses the plane's own weight, and merely rotate the front wheel with a knurled drum. And it is 'green' - very low carbon footprint.

I hope my theory proves itself...

[WebMaster]

Oh, one of those.
I have one, electric thingie, and it rides on the front tire. It's hard to keep it on the tire, it tends to walk to one side or the other. I have to lay on the ground to hook it to the front fork, takes 2 hands and a knee.

Taking it off is a pain, for the same reasons.
Hope yours is better than mine. Mine has a drum that is covered with rubber. The front wheel will slip on ice.

[hharney]

I used the one that Larry is describing and I wouldn't give 2 cents for it. If you are worried about wet and ice that unit won't work at all once the tire is wet. The powertow like I have has snow chains and they work pretty good. Once you have the unit on the front wheel you can leverage the weight of the plane to get your traction by pushing down on the tow handles. Works good.

[gkey]

Thanks for the replies. Well, I paid for the Robotow, so I guess it should arrive here soon. I will give it a try, and if it does not work, I will sell it...

[WebMaster]

E-Bay.com

I got something once, and immediately didn't like it, and posted it for sale on Ebay. Actually got close to the original purchase price.

[gkey]

A little update since my last entry: After weeks of fruitless waiting for my new Robotow to arrive, I finallay decided to call up Aircraft Spruce to cancel the order. They were very helpful, and did it right away.

Why did I cancel? Peer influence maybe. Some of the guys on my airfield have similar products, and they ALL are permanently stacked away in the corner of their hangars somewhere. They all now use tractor lawnmowers instead! Much better traction on ice & snow.

So I decided to let it go, and wait for Oshkosh 2008. There I should be able to do a head-to-head comparisson.

BTW, I have never been to Osh, do all the "types" of planes park together in assigned areas, or does everyone just park "in the next spot" as they arrive? We (4 x 337 drivers from Alberta) are still undecided about the camping-out-under-the-wing thing...

[Frank Benvin]

I built two wooden ramps for the main gear that slope about 5" from back to front and installed an electric winch. I roll the aircraft out an winch it back into the hangar.

Frank

Frank:

I'm facinated with your set up. Could you take a picture of it and post it or e-mail it to me please?

Thanks,

Keven
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Pornstars Stoya

[Frank Benvin]

Will post pictures when I get a chance It might be a while. I only flew 10 hr this year . Put 4500 miles on my new bike this year riding weekends only

Here is a link to the crash site of a Lockheed Ventura that crashed in 1944 . I road up to the site this year

http://www.nanaimoflyingclub.org/gal...ers/Mt+Bolduc/

[Frank Benvin]

I posted pictures today

http://www.337skymaster.com/messages...2091#post12091

[Learjetter]

Also available to Skymaster owners is the Redline Sidewinder at approx $1900.

https://redlineaviation.com/by-aircraft/cessna/